ABSTRACT
Relational database management system are a great boon to data access. However, migrating data into a unified relational database can be quite challenging. Value inconsistencies are differences in values of corresponding schema items and can be identified only as data is moved and integrated from multiple sources into a single target file. Types of structural inconsistencies include naming issues, different abstraction levels, inconsistent coding structures, inconsistent data formats, and unneeded or missing data. However, if it is difficult to obtain and learn to use migration tools, hiring a service organization to migrate the data may be cost-effective. Retaining as much specificity as possible is recommended, so information from the source database is not lost as it is migrated to the target database. Database administrators should work closely with the service organization to develop the appropriate mappings between the source and target data and to resolve the data inconsistencies when detected.
