We introduce a new point of view into database schemes by applying systematically an old logical technique: translation schemes, and their induced formula and structure transformations, This allows us to re-examine the notion of dependency preserving decomposition and its generalization refinement. We have previously demonstrated the use-fulness of this approach by recasting the theory of vertical and horizontal decompositions in our terminology. The most important aspect of this approach, however, lies in laying the groundwork for a formulation of the Fundamental Problem of Database Design, namely to exhibit desirable differences between translation equiv-alent presentations of data and to examine refinements of data presenta-tions in a systematic way. The emphasis in this paper is not on results. The main line of thought is an exploration of the use of an old logical tool in addressing the Fundamental Problem.
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