[Metadatalibrarians] separating first and last names

[Paula Markes]

Hi Stacy...

I've seen single fields used when the task is mainly simple searching,  
the users are very used to and desire what I call the "Google action",  
and the software simply presents a one-box for searching approach.  If  
there are other needs, such as an advanced search option where  
searching by specific metadata fields is allowed, or there is a need  
for the use of the data down the road that would require quickly  
knowing the last name separate from the first name, etc., then I've  
seen the fields separated.

So, having the first and last name in separate fields  or together  
somewhat depends on the need and the software being used.  If there is  
a need for having both, one can work with a data modeler to physically  
create a first name field and a last name field to be used for data  
entry (by an application or person)....  Then, a field, virtual or  
otherwise, could be created that is only "filled" by concatenating the  
information found in the first name field and in the last name field,  
etc.  Your logical schema model could remain the same; but it could be  
physically implemented this way because of an application need.

I personally favor more granularity in any modeling activity, and  
normally only favor any type of denormalizing structures when specific  
needs warrant it.  I've found there can be more uses for data when  
each piece has it's own bucket, so to speak.  However, names can be a  
difficult to define especially if your application needs are global in  
nature.

Hope this is helpful!

-Paula
On Sep 25, 2008, at 12:31 PM, Stacy Wile wrote:

> I have developed a metadata schema for my company, which publishes  
> reprints of articles and book chapters for instructors. The metadata  
> describes each of these selections. I created separate fields for  
> the first and last names of the authors, but in surveying existing  
> metadata standards, it seems that they all define a single field for  
> personal names. I created separate fields to facilitate searching  
> and sorting, so that the software would not have to extract the last  
> name in real time. Can anyone tell me why single fields are so much  
> more common?
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