1

Chapter 1 The Worlds

of Database Systems
File Systems and Databases
Prof. Sin-Min Lee
Dept. of Computer Science

1
Tuesday Thursday
10:15 11:30

Your evaluation in this course is determined by:

30%

Class Presentation

10%

Presentation report

5%

??!

Text

Book

NARAYAN

S.
UMANATH &
RICHARD W.
SCAMELL, DATA
MODELING AND
DATABASE
DESIGN, 2007
Thomson

GOOD

REFERENCE

A. Silberschatz, H.F. Korth, S. Sudarshan: Database System

Concepts, 5th Ed., McGraw-Hill, 2006.

The

mediocre teacher tells.

The

good teacher explains.

The

superior teacher
demonstrates.
The

great teacher inspires.

Files and Databases

File: A collection of records or documents dealing

with one organization, person, area or subject
(Rowley)
Manual (paper) files
Computer files

Database: A collection of similar records with

relationships between the records (Rowley)

Bibliographic, statistical, business data, images, etc.

Introducing the Database

Major Database Concepts

Data and information

Data - Raw facts

Information - Processed data

Data management

Database

Metadata

Database management system (DBMS)

Sales per Employee for Each of ROBCORS Two Divisions

1
Figure 1.1

Database Systems
Types of Database Systems

Number of Users

Single-user
Desktop database

Multiuser
Workgroup database
Enterprise database

Scope

Desktop
Workgroup
Enterprise

Database Systems
Types of Database Systems

Location

Centralized
Distributed

Use

Transactional (Production)
Decision support
Data warehouse

Database

A Database is a collection of stored operational data

used by the application systems of some particular
enterprise (C.J. Date)

Paper Databases

File-Based Data Processing Systems

Still contain a large portion of the worlds knowledge

Early batch processing of (primarily) business data

Database Management Systems (DBMS)

Why DBMS?
History

50s and 60s all applications were custom built for particular
needs
File based
Many similar/duplicative applications dealing with collections
of business data
Early DBMS were extensions of programming languages
1970 - E.F. Codd and the Relational Model
1979 - Ashton-Tate and first Microcomputer DBMS

File Based Systems

Application

Delivery
List
Coal
Estimation
Just what
asked for

File
Toys
Addresses

Naughty

Nice Toys

From File Systems to DBMS

Problems with file processing systems

Inconsistent data
Inflexibility
Limited data sharing
Poor enforcement of standards
Excessive program maintenance

DBMS Benefits

Minimal data redundancy

Consistency of data
Integration of data
Sharing of data
Ease of application development
Uniform security, privacy, and integrity controls
Data accessibility and responsiveness
Data independence
Reduced program maintenance

Terms and Concepts

Data independence

Physical representation and location of data and the use of

that data are separated

The application doesnt need to know how or where the

database has stored the data, but just how to ask for it
Moving a database from one DBMS to another should not have
a material effect on application program
Recoding, adding fields, etc. in the database should not affect
applications

Database Environment

CASE
Tools

Repository

User
Interface

DBMS

Application
Programs

Database

Database Components
DBMS
===============

Design tools

Database

Database contains:
Users Data
Metadata
Indexes
Application Metadata

Table Creation
Form Creation
Query Creation
Report Creation
Procedural
language
compiler (4GL)
=============
Run time
Form processor
Query processor
Report Writer
Language Run time

Application
Programs

User
Interface
Applications

Types of Database Systems

PC databases
Centralized database
Client/server databases
Distributed databases
Database models

PC Databases

E.g.:
Access
FoxPro
Dbase
Etc.

Centralized Databases

Central
Computer

Client Server Databases

Client

Client

Network
Database
Server
Client

Distributed Databases
Location C

computer

computer
Location A

Location B

computer

Homogeneous
Databases

Distributed Databases
Client

Heterogeneous
Or Federated
Databases
Database
Server

Remote
Comp.

Local Network
Comm
Server
Client

Remote
Comp.

Introducing the Database

Importance of DBMS

It helps make data management more efficient

and effective.

Its query language allows quick answers to ad

hoc queries.

It provides end users better access to more and

better-managed data.

It promotes an integrated view of organizations

operations -- big picture.

It reduces the probability of inconsistent data.

The DBMS Manages the Interaction

Between the End User and the Database

1
Figure 1.2

Introducing the Database

Why Database Design Is Important?

A well-designed database facilitates data

management and becomes a valuable information
generator.

A poorly designed database is a breeding ground

for uncontrolled data redundancies.

A poorly designed database generates errors that

lead to bad decisions.

Historical Roots
Why Study File Systems?

It provides historical perspective.

It teaches lessons to avoid pitfalls of data

management.

Its simple characteristics facilitate understanding

of the design complexity of a database.

It provides useful knowledge for converting a file

system to a database system.

Contents of the CUSTOMER File

1
Figure 1.3

Table 1.1 Basic File Terminology

Data

Raw facts that have little meaning unless they have been
organized in some logical manner. The smallest piece of data
that can be recognized by the computer is a single
character, such as the letter A, the number 5, or some
symbol such as; ? > * +. A single character requires one
byte of computer storage.

Field

A character or group of characters (alphabetic or numeric)

that has a specific meaning. A field might define a telephone
numbers, a birth date, a customer name, a year-to-date
(YTD) sales value, and so on.

Record

A logically connected set of one or more fields that describes

a person, place, or thing. For example, the fields that
comprise a record for a customer named J. D. Rudd might
consist of J. D. Rudds name, address, phone number, date
of birth, credit limit, unpaid balance, and so on.

File

A collection of related records. For example, a file might

contain data about ROBCOR Companys vendors; or, a file
might contain the records for the students currently enrolled
at Gigantic University.

Contents of the AGENT File

1
Figure 1.4

A Simple File System

1
Figure 1.5