Database Management

An Introduction
What is Data?

What is Information?

What is Database?
Data Hierarchy

1. Bit
2. Byte
3. Field
4. Record
5. Database
6. File
Database Defined
Database:
A collection of related data organized in a way
that facilitates data searches.
What are some examples of Databases?

Types of Data Collected in a Typical Student Database

Database Processes

1. Entering Data
2. Querying Data
3. Creating Database Reports
Entering Data

Data Entry:
process of getting information into a
database
possible methods of data entry:
Data Entry Professional, Electronic Files, Historical
Records, or Web Based (Forms)
Querying Data
Querying:
how we get information from a database
Structured Query Language (SQL):
most common language used to interface
with databases
Example:
SELECT DISTINCTROW STUDENT_ID, GRADE
FROM GRADES
WHERE GRADE = 95
ORDER BY STUDENT_ID;
Querying Data continued
Query By Example (QBE)
enables you to fill out a grid, or template, in
order to construct a description of the data
you would like to retrieve.
Creating Database
Reports
Report:
A compilation of data from the database that
is organized and produced in a printed format.
Typically produced on paper, but also can be
displayed on-screen.
Example: Quarterly Sales Report
Data Structure
Database has two parts:
Data
Data Structure: how the data is organized.
Data Model:
representation of entities and their
relationships to the real world
Primary Key:
a unique identifier in the database
one or more fields
Data Structure continued

Primary Key is Student ID

Data Type
Data Type:
each field in the database needs to be of a
certain type
Examples: text, number, dates
Data Dictionary:
a document (often published online)
prepared by the database designers to aid
users in data entry.
 Data Dictionary Example:

Students Table
________________________________________________
Primary Key Field Name Field Type Field
Length
yes Student ID Number 9
no Last Name Text 20
no First Name Text 15
Database Management Systems
Approaches

The Hierarchical Model

The Network Model
Relational Model
Normalization
Associations
The Hierarchical Model

Records in parent entities can have many

child records, but each child can have only
one parent.

Parent

Child
The Network Model

In this case you can have multiple children

and parents
Parents

Children
The Relational Model
A good relational database design eliminates
unnecessary data duplications and is,
therefore, easier to maintain
Relationship: joining two tables on a common
field

Relationship
Data Relationships
A relationship is a logical link between
entities based on how they interact
Entity-Relationship Diagrams
One-to-one relationship (1:1)
One-to-many relationship (1:M)
Many-to-many relationship (M:N)
Cardinality
Cardinality notation
Crows foot notation
Unified Modeling Language (UML)
Data Relationships
Entity-Relationship Diagrams
Normalization
Normalization
Table design
Involves four stages: unnormalized design, first
normal form, second normal form, and third
normal form
Most business-related databases must be
designed in third normal form
A technique used to make complex databases
more efficient and easier to handle
Eliminates Redundant Data
Normalization
Standard Notation Format
Designing tables is easier if you use a
standard notation format to show a tables
structure, fields, and primary key

Example: NAME (FIELD 1, FIELD 2, FIELD 3)

Normalization
Repeating Groups and Unnormalized Design
Repeating group
Often occur in manual documents prepared by users
Unnormalized design
Normalization
First Normal Form
A table is in first normal form (1NF) if it does
not contain a repeating group
To convert, you must expand the tables
primary key to include the primary key of the
repeating group
Normalization
Second Normal Form
To understand second normal form (2NF), you
must understand the concept of functional
dependence
Field X is functionally dependent on field Y if
the value of field X depends on the value of
field Y
Normalization
Second Normal Form
A standard process exists for converting a
table from 1NF to 2NF
1. Create and name a separate table for each
field in the existing primary key
2. Create a new table for each possible
combination of the original primary key fields
3. Study the three tables and place each field
with its appropriate primary key
Normalization
Second Normal Form
Four kinds of problems are found with 1NF
description that do not exist with 2NF
Consider the work necessary to change a particular
products description
1NF tables can contain inconsistent data
Adding a new product is a problem
Deleting a product is a problem
Normalization
Third Normal Form
3NF design avoids redundancy and data
integrity problems that still can exist in 2NF
designs
A table design is in third normal form (3NF)
if it is in 2NF and if no nonkey field is
dependent on another nonkey field
Normalization
Third Normal Form
To convert the table to 3NF, you must
remove all fields from the 2NF table that
depend on another nonkey field and place
them in a new table that uses the nonkey
field as a primary key
Normalization continued
Database w/redundant data
Database after
Normalization
Recent Developments Affecting
Database Design and Use
Databases and Client / Server Computing
Object-Oriented Databases
Data Mining
Linking Web Site Applications to
Organizational Databases
 Databases and Client / Server
Computing
Database application is divided into two parts:
Database Server
where all data is stored on a powerful machine
PC Client
the program used to manipulate the data resides on an
individual users computer
Object-Oriented Databases
treat tables, queries, and other
components as generic reusable OBJECTS
(rather than data) that can be mixed and
matched and used in many applications
(e.g. MS Excel and MS Access).
Most of todays database applications have
some of these Object characteristics.
Data Mining
Allows companies to sort and analyze
information to better understand
customers, products, markets, or any other
phase of their business for which data has
been captured.
Example: Grocery Store Club Cards
Data Mining continued
Data Warehouses
An integration of multiple, large databases
and other information sources into a single
repository or access point that is suitable for
direct querying, analysis, or processing
Data Warehouse Examples
TELECOMMUNICATIONS REPRESENTATIVE COMPANIES
Analysis of the following: AT&T
Call volumes Ameritech
Equipment sales Belgacom
Customer profitability British Telecom
Costs Telestra AustraliaTelecom Ireland
Inventory Telecom Italia
Purchasing leverage with suppliers
Frequent buyer program management
Data Mining continued
Data Marts
A small-scale data warehouse that contains a
subset of the data for a single aspect of a
companys business
Examples: finance, inventory, or personnel
Linking Web Site Applications to
Organizational Databases
Example:
many companies are enabling users of their
Web Site to:
view product catalogs,
check inventory, and
place orders

these are all actions that read and write to

the organizations databases.
Data Design Concepts
Before constructing an information system,
a systems analyst must understand basic
design concepts, including data structures
and the characteristics of file-oriented and
database systems, including Web-based
database design
Data Design Concepts
Data Structures
A file or table contains data about people,
places or events that interact with the system
File-oriented system
File processing
Database system
Data Design Concepts
Overview of File Processing
Some companies use file processing to
handle large volumes of structured data
Although less common today, file
processing can be more efficient and cost less
than a DBMS in certain situations
Data Design Concepts
Overview of File Processing
Potential problems
Data redundancy
Data integrity
Rigid data structure
Uses various types of files
Master file
Table file
Transaction file
Work file scratch file
Security file
History file
Data Design Concepts
Overview of Database Systems
A properly designed database system offers
a solution to the problems of file processing
Provides an overall framework that avoids
data redundancy and supports a real-time,
dynamic environment
Data Design Concepts
Overview of Database Systems
Data Design Concepts
Overview of Database Systems
A database management system (DBMS) is a
collection of tools, features, and interfaces
that enables users to add, update, manage,
access, and analyze the contents of a
database
The main advantage of a DBMS is that it
offers timely, interactive, and flexible data
access
Data Design Concepts
Overview of Database Systems
Advantages
Scalability
Better support for client/server systems
Economy of scale
Flexible data sharing
Enterprise-wide application database administrator
(DBA)
Stronger standards
Controlled redundancy
Better security
Increased programmer productivity
Data independence
Data Design Concepts
Database Tradeoffs
Because DBMSs are powerful, they require
more expensive hardware, software, and data
networks capable of supporting a multiuser
environment
More complex than a file processing system
Procedures for security, backup, and recovery
are more complicated and critical
DBMS Components
A DBMS provides an interface between a
database and users who need to access the
data
DBMS Components
Interfaces for Users, Database
Administrators, and Related Systems
Users
Query language
Query by example (QBE)
SQL (structured query language)
Database Administrators
A DBA is responsible for DBMS management and
support
DBMS Components
Interfaces for Users, Database
Administrators, and Related Systems
Related information systems
A DBMS can support several related information
systems that provide input to, and require specific
data from, the DBMS
Data Manipulation Language
A data manipulation language (DML) controls
database operations, including storing,
retrieving, updating, and deleting data
DBMS Components
Schema
The complete definition of a database,
including descriptions of all fields, tables, and
relationships, is called a schema
You also can define one or more subschemas
Physical Data Repository
The data dictionary is transformed into a
physical data repository, which also contains
the schema and subschemas
The physical repository might be centralized,
or distributed at several locations
Web-Based Database Design
Characteristics of Web-Based Design
In a Web-based design, the Internet serves as
the front end, or interface for the database
management system. Internet technology
provides enormous power and flexibility
Web-based systems are popular because they
offer ease of access, cost-effectiveness, and
worldwide connectivity
Web-Based Database Design
Connecting a Database to the Web
Database must be connected to the Internet
or intranet
Middleware
Macromedias ColdFusion
Web-Based Database Design
Data Security
Web-based data must be totally secure, yet
easily accessible to authorized users
To achieve this goal, well-designed systems
provide security at three levels: the database
itself, the Web server, and the
telecommunication links that connect the
components of the system
Data Design Terminology
Definitions
Entity
Table or file
Field
Attribute - Common field
Record
Tuple
Data Design Terminology
Key Fields
Primary key
Combination key
Composite key
Concatenated key
Multi-valued key
Candidate key
Nonkey field
Foreign key
Secondary key
Data Design Terminology
Referential Integrity
Validity checks can help avoid data input
errors
In a relational database, referential integrity
means that a foreign key value cannot be
entered in one table unless it matches an
existing primary key in another table
Steps in Database Design
1. Create the initial ERD
2. Assign all data elements to entities
3. Create 3NF designs for all tables, taking
care to identify all primary, secondary,
and foreign keys
4. Verify all data dictionary entries
. After creating your final ERD and
normalized table designs, you can
transform them into a database
Database Models
Hierarchical and Network Databases
In a hierarchical database, data is organized
like a family tree or organization chart, with
branches representing parent records and
child records
A network database resembles a hierarchical
design, but provides somewhat more
flexibility
Database Models
Relational Databases
The relational model was introduced during
the 1970s and became popular because it
was flexible and powerful
Because all the tables are linked, a user can
request data that meets specific conditions
New entities and attributes can be added at
any time without restructuring the entire
database
Database Models
Object-Oriented Databases
Many systems developers are using object-
oriented database (OODB) design as a natural
extension of the object-oriented analysis
process
Object Data Standard
Object Database Management Group (ODMG)
Each object has a unique object identifier
Data Storage
Data Warehousing
Data warehouse - dimensions
Without a data warehouse it would be difficult
for a user to extract data that spans several
information systems and time frames
Allows users to retrieve and analyze the data
easily
Data Storage
Data Mining
Works best when you have clear, measurable
goals
Increase average pages viewed per session
Increase number of referred customers
Reduce clicks to close
Increase checkouts per visit
Increase average profit per checkout
Data Storage
Logical and Physical Storage
Logical storage
System flow (processes)
Characters
Date element or data item
Logical record
Physical storage
Hardware-related
Physical record or block
Blocking factor
Data Storage
Data Storage Formats
Binary digits
Bit
Byte
EBCDIC and ASCII
Unicode
Data Storage
Data Storage Formats
Binary
Binary storage format
Integer format
Long integer format
Other binary formats exist for efficient storage of
exceedingly long numbers
Data Storage
Selecting a Data Storage Format
In many cases, a user can select a specific
data storage format
For example, when using Microsoft Office, you
can store documents, spreadsheets, and
databases in Unicode-compatible form by
using the font called Arial Unicode MS
Selecting the right data storage format
depends on the situation
Data Storage
Date Fields
Most date formats now are based on the
model established by the International
Organization for Standardization (ISO)
Can be sorted easily and used in
comparisons
Absolute date
Best method for storing date fields depends
on how the specific date will be printed,
displayed or used in a calculation
Data Control
File and database control must include all
measures necessary to ensure that data
storage is correct, complete, and secure
A well-designed DBMS must provide built-in
control and security features, including
subschemas, passwords, encryption, audit
trail files, and backup & recovery procedures
to maintain data