Definition of Data Modelling

Data Modelling is the process of structuring and organizing data.

Thedata structures are then typically implemented in a
databasemanagement system. In addition to dening and
organising the data,data modelling may also impose constraints
or limitations on dataplaced within the structure.Managing large
quantities of structure and unstructured data is aprimary function of
information systems. Data Models describestructured data for
storage in data management system such asrelational databases.
They do not describe unstructured data such asword processing
documents, email messages, pictures, digital audio andvideo.

Concept of Data Modelling

Data modelling techniques and tools help to capture and
translatecomplex system designs into easily understood
representation of data flows and processes, creating a blueprint for
construction andre-engineering.Data Models provide a structure for
data used within informationsystem by providing specifc definition
and format.Data Model shows the dataow and logical
interrelationship amongdierent data elements.

Data Structure
A data model describes the structure of the data within a given
domain and, by implication, the underlying structure of that domain
itself.

Data Organisation
A data Model also describes how to organize data using a database
management system.

APPROACH IN DATA MODELLING

There are different approaches to data modelling, including;
Conceptual Data Modelling:
The conceptual data modelling identifies the highest level
relationships between different entities. This is the first step in
organising the data requirements.
Logical Data Modelling:
The logical Data modelling illustrates thespeci c entities, attribute
and relationships involves in a businessfunction. It serves as the
basis for the creation of the physical datamodel.
Physical Data Modelling:
The physical Data Modelling represents an application and
database-specifc implication of a logical data model and describes
the physical means used to store data

TOPIC: DATA MODELS II

TYPES OF DATA MODELLING
Flat Model:
The flat Model (or Table) model consists of a single, two-
dimensional array of data elements, where all members of a
givencolumn are assumed to be similar in values, and all member of
row are assumed to be related to one another.

Hierarchical model
In a hierarchical database, data is organized into an upside-down
tree-like structure, implying a single upward link in each record to
describe the nesting, and a sort field to keep the records in a
particular order in each same-level list. Hierarchical structures were
widely used in the early mainframe database management systems.

Network Model:
This model organizes data using two fundamental construct, called
records and sets. Records contain fields, and sets define one-to-
many relationships between records: one owner,many members.

Relational Model
The relational model or relational data base model is based on first-
order predicate logic. Its core idea is to describe a database as
acollection of predicates over a finite set of predicate variables,
describing constraints on the possible values and combinations of
values.

Object-Oriented Model
The object relational model is similar to relational database model,
butobjects, classes and inheritance are directly supported in
database schemas and in the query language. An object-relational
database can be said to provide a middle ground between relational
databases and object-oriented databases (OODBMS)

Star Schema
The star schema is the simplest style of data warehouse schema.
Thestar schema consists of a few “fact table” (possibly only one,
justifyingthe name) referencing any number of dimension tables”.
The starschema is considered an important special case of the
snowflake schema.

TOPIC: DATA MODELLING I

ORGANIZATION OF DATABASE USING MS ACCESS

To load Ms Access
Click on the Start Menu
Point to All program
Point to Microsoft Once
Click on Microsoft offce Access

Creating Database
1. From the displayed window, click on blank database.
2. By the right hand side of the windows, where the arrow is
pointing in the picture-screen above, click inside the file name text
box and type the desired database name.
3. Click on Create command button. A database with the name
given will be created. Files are created as tables in the database

Creating a file
1. Click on Create menu and select Table
2. At all Tables tab, right click on any of the table.
3. Select design View In the Save As dialog box, type a desired table
name (e.g. Student Table)in the Table Name text box and click ok.

Creating Database
Generally, creating database using any DBMS entails the following
basicsteps:
Define the Database Structure
The database structure specifes the type of database organization
that should be used. If the relational form is selected, the database
structure will include RDBMS, structure of table, number of
rows, number of columns, the key, and relationship of the database
etc.
Specify Field Type
When a database is being created, all fields are set to accept a
particulartype of input by specifying a field type. A field type is also
known as a Data type. The essence of a data type is to prevent a
wrong input from being stored in a database (i.e. database
integrity). Usually the name of a data type varies with DBMS but
portrays a general meaning.

TOPIC: DATA MODELING II

Signifcance of Data Model
Data model is a great communication tool because it facilitates
interaction and communication between the designers,
programmers and end users. In essence it does not allow one
party’s bias towards a certain view of a data (whether they consider
to be most important) to take hold.A well-developed data model can
even foster improved understanding of the organization for which
the database design is developed.Data model help in structuring
and organizing data. These data structure are then typically
implemented in a database

A standard data model or industry standard model (ISDM) is a data

model that is widely applied in some industry, and shared amongst
competitors to some degree. They are often defined by standard
bodies,database vendors or operating system vendors. The most
effective standard model have developed in the banking,
insurance,pharmaceutical and automotive industries, to reflect the
stringent standards applied to customer information gathering,
customer privacy,customer safety, or just in time
manufacturing.They enable easier and faster information sharing
because heterogeneous organizations have a standard vocabulary
and pre-negotiated semantics, format, and quality standards for
exchanged data.

Example of Standard Data Models

1. ISO 10303: ISO 10303 is an ISO standard for the computer-
interpretable representation and exchange of product
manufacturing information.
2. ISO 15926: The ISO 15926 is a standard for data
integration,sharing, exchange, and handover between computer
systems.
3. IDEAS Group: The IDEA Group is the international
DefenceEnterprise architecture Specification for exchange Group.
The deliverable of the project is a data exchange format for military
Enterprise Architectures.

TOPIC: NORMAL FORM

A database management system is a collection of computer
softwarethat enables users to define, create and maintain a
database. Defining a database involves specifying constraints for
the data stored in the database, and normalization is a logical
design method which minimizes duplicate, or redundant, data and
design flaws. Normalization is thecprocess of effectively organizing
data in a database. The primary purpose of normalization is to allow
update, insert and delete operations to be performed on a single
database table and propagated throughout the database by means
of the defined relationship.
There are two goals of the normalization process:
1. Eliminating redundant data ( for example storing the same data
inmore than one table)
2. Ensuring data dependencies make sense (only storing related
datain a table

NORMAL FORM
The normal form (NF) of relational drable it is. Each table has a
“Highest Normal Form”(HNF): byatabase theory provide critical for
determining a table’s degree of vulnerability to logical
inconsistencies and anomalies. The higher the normal form
applicable to a table, the less vulnerable. By defininition, a table
always meets the requirements of its HNF and all normal forms
lower than its HNF; also by definition, a table fails to meet the
requirement of any normal form higher than its HNF.
Normal form theory deal with how to reduce the amount of
redundancyof data within a given table. Each normal form
represents a level. To satisfy each the requirements for a certain
level, the requirements for the previous level must be met. To reach
the optimal normal form for thetables within a database, the creator
starts with a large list of all the data that is to be held in the
database, and then works through the normal forms until he can no
longer break the data down into smaller table.

TOPIC: NORMAL FORM II

Types of Normal Form

First Normal Form (1NF)

First Normal Form (1NF) says that all column values must be atomic.
It indictes that, for every row by column position in a given table,
there exist only one value, not an array or list of values i.e in 1NF,
the following rules are observed;
1. Eliminating repeating information
2. Create separate tables for related data.

Second Normal Form (2NF)

The second normal form (2NF) further addresses the concept of
removing duplicate data. The rule for the second normal form is;
1. Remove subsets of data that apply to multiple rows of a table and
place them in separate table.
2. Create relationships between these new tables and their
predecessors through the use of foreign keys

Third Normal Form (2NF)

There are two basic requirements for a database to be in Third
Normal Form:
1. The requirements of both 1NF and 2NF must have been met.
2. Remove columns that are not fully dependent upon the primary
key

KEY
A key is an attribute or field that can be used to identify a record in
adatabase table or file.The primary Keyis a unique attribute that can
be used to identify arecord in a database table. For Example, in the
student database tableabove, the attribute that is unique to identify
each record is the Student-ID or RegNo.
CONCEPTS OF FOREIGN KEY
A foreign key is a field in a relational table that matches a candidate
key of another table. A foreign key (FK) is a column or combination
of columns that is used to establish and enforce a link between the
data in two tables. You can create a foreign key by defining a
foreign key constraint when you create or modify a table. The
foreign key can beused to cross-reference table. The foreign key
identifies a column or set of columns in one (referencing or child)
table that refers to a column or set of column in another (referenced
or parent) table. The columns in the child table must reference the
columns of the primary key or other super key in the parent table.