Sql-server – SQL Server Unique Constraint on two columns with an exception

Querying a column that can contain nulls is more complex than querying a column that cannot. So also is querying multiple tables more complex than querying one table. I wouldn't let the avoidance of null drive the normalization.

For example, you mentioned that all devices will eventually be disposed and get a disposal date. If there are no other columns in the Disposal table, then in my mind it makes more sense to put DisposalDate in the Device table. Other tables like Sanitize might make more sense as separate tables because there are multiple data points that will not apply to some Devices.

Check constraints are great and should be used when possible, but there will always be times when a procedure is necessary.

I have modified ypercube's solution a little bit, so that both source and destination are not null, as is guaranteed by the original design. My CHECK constraints are commented out, as they apparently will not work in MySQL. I kept them as comments because they document my intent, and they will work on other RDBMS.

CREATE TABLE PointType
( PointTypeID tinyint unsigned NOT NULL,
  TypeDescription CHAR(20) NOT NULL,
  PRIMARY KEY (PointTypeID),
  UNIQUE (TypeDescription)
) ;

INSERT INTO PointType 
  (PointTypeID, TypeDescription)
VALUES
  (1, 'Source'), 
  (2, 'Destination') ;

CREATE TABLE PointUsageQuota
( RouteID int unsigned NOT NULL,
  PointTypeID tinyint unsigned NOT NULL,
  PointID smallint(5) unsigned NOT NULL,
  PRIMARY KEY (PointID),     -- and this is what all the fuss is about
  UNIQUE (RouteID , PointID, PointTypeID), -- target for the foreign keys
  FOREIGN KEY (PointTypeID)
    REFERENCES PointType (PointTypeID)
) ;

CREATE TABLE Route
( RouteID int unsigned NOT NULL,
  SourcePointID smallint(5) unsigned NOT NULL,
  SourceTypeID tinyint unsigned NOT NULL, 
      -- CHECK(SourceTypeID = 1),
  FOREIGN KEY (RouteID , SourcePointID, SourceTypeID) 
    REFERENCES PointUsageQuota (RouteID , PointID, PointTypeID) ,
  DestinationPointID smallint(5) unsigned NOT NULL,
  DestinationTypeID tinyint unsigned NOT NULL, 
      -- CHECK(DestinationTypeID = 2),
  FOREIGN KEY (RouteID , DestinationPointID, DestinationTypeID) 
    REFERENCES PointUsageQuota (RouteID , PointID, PointTypeID) ,
  --  other fields
  PRIMARY KEY (RouteID)
) ;

Testing:

insert into PointUsageQuota
values(1,1,666),(1,2,354);

INSERT INTO Route VALUES (1, 666, 1, 354, 2);
-- this fails:
INSERT INTO Route VALUES (2, 666, 1, 354, 2);
-- this fails too:
INSERT INTO Route VALUES (2, 354, 1, 666, 2);