Files Vs Databases

Recap
In previous session, you have learnt about
- A system
- Information System
- Health information system
- Why have a Hospital Information System
- Categories of Hospital Information Systems
- Importance of Hospital Information System
Learning Objectives
In this session, you are going to learn about
- Databases Hierarchy of Data
- Database
- Data Entities, Attributes and Keys
- Traditional approach Versus Database approach
- Advantages of the database approach
- Disadvantages of the database approach
- Types of databases
- New trends in Databases
Files and Databases Hierarchy of Data

Data are logically organized into:

1. Bits
2. Byte(Character)
3. Field
4. Record
5. Files
6. Databases
Files and Databases Hierarchy of Data

Bits
- a bit is the smallest unit of data representation
- value of a bit may be a 0 or 1

Example
1 or 0
Files and Databases Hierarchy of Data

Byte
- Character
- Eight bits make a byte which can represent a character
or a special symbol in a character code.
- One byte = eight bits

Example
10001100 represents F
Files and Databases Hierarchy of Data

Field(s)
- Know as attributes
- A field consists of a grouping of characters.
- A data field represents an attribute of some entity.

Example
Surname
First_name
Age
Files and Databases Hierarchy of Data

Record(s)
- A record represents a collection of attributes that
describe a real-world entity.
- A record consists of fields, with each field describing an
attribute of the entity.
Example

SGB101420 John Andrew 25 MDB HI1

Files and Databases Hierarchy of Data

File(s)
- A group of related records.
- Files are frequently classified by the application for
which they are primarily used (employee file).
Example
SGB101420 John Andrew 25 MDB HI1
SGB101421 Edward Tshepo 21 MDB CHA
SGB101425 Mpho Oribile 23 DCO HI2
Files and Databases Hierarchy of Data

Database
- A group of related files
Example
- Student_Registration
- Student_Personal_Details
- Student_Performance
- Student_Fees_Details
- Student_Library_Details
Files and Databases Hierarchy of Data

Figure 7-1
Database

Definition
A database is a collection of information
that is organized so that it can be easily
accessed, managed and updated.

Database Management System

A database management system (DBMS) is Database
system software for creating and managing
databases
Database Management System

Examples
• Microsoft Access
• SQL Server
• Oracle Database
• Sybase
• MySQL
Data Entities, Attributes, and Keys

Entity: A generalized class of people, places, or things

(objects) for which data is collected, stored, and maintained
Attribute: a characteristic of an entity
Data item: the specific value of an attribute
Key: a field or set of fields in a record that is used to identify
the record
Primary key: a field or set of fields that uniquely identifies the
record
Data Entities, Attributes, and Keys
The Traditional Approach Versus the
Database Approach
Traditional approach:
• separate data files are created and stored for each
application program
• Results in data redundancy: duplication of data in separate
files
• Data redundancy conflicts with data integrity (the degree to
which the data in any one file is accurate)
Database approach:
• approach whereby a pool of related data is shared by
multiple application programs; offers significant advantages
over traditional file-based approach
The Traditional Approach to Data Management
The Database Approach to Data Management
Types of Databases:

Types of Databases:
• Relational DBMS
• Hierarchical DBMS
• Network databases
Types of Databases:

Relational DBMS
• A relational database is a collection of tables
• Relational databases afford flexibility across the data and
are easy to understand and modify.
• Relates data across tables based on common data element

Examples:
DB2, Oracle, MS SQL Server
Types of Databases:
Types of Databases:

Hierarchical DBMS
• Organizes data in a tree-like structure
• Supports one-to-many parent-child relationships
• Records are dependent and arranged in multilevel
structures, consisting of one root record & any number of
subordinate levels.
Types of Databases:
Types of Databases:

Network DBMS
- Can represent more complex logical relationships, and is
still used by many mainframe DBMS packages
- Allows many-to-many relationship among records.
Activity - New Trends with Databases

1. Distributed databases
2. Data warehousing
3. Big Data
4. Rich databases (includes object-oriented databases)
Quiz

By using a set of applications which systems are used to

manage a database,
a. Database
b. Database Management System
c. Data Storage System
d. Health Management System

Answer: Database Management System

Quiz

The Database Management System software interacts with the

database and _______________.
a. Application Program
b. System Program
c. Operating System Program
d. System Database

Answer: Application Program

Quiz

Which of the following statement is correct regrading to

Database Management System,
a. Data is dependent on programs
b. Data redundancy increases
c. Data is integrated and accessed by multiple application
d. All the above

Answer: Data is integrated and accessed by multiple

application
Quiz

Which software refers to Database management system,

a. Oracle
b. Foxpro
c. Access
d. All the above

Answer: All the above

Quiz

Before using Database management system, the information's are

stored in

a. Data Systems
b. File Management Systems
c. Cloud Systems
d. None of these

Answer: File Management Systems

Quiz

The hierarchical database scheme is

a. A graph
b. A tree
c. A relation
d. None of these

Answer: A tree
Quiz

A top-to-bottom approach relationship is implemented in a

database is established by a
a. Network Schema
b. Hierarchical Schema
c. Relational Schema
d. Database Schema

Answer: Hierarchical Schema

Quiz

The degree to which the data in Data Lack of data

any one file is accurate redundancy integrity

A situation in which program Lack of data

and data organized for one integrity Program-data
dependence
application are incompatible
with programs and data
organized differently for another
application
Duplication of data in separate Program-data Data
files dependence redundancy
New Trends - Distributed databases

Distributed databases are databases that are spread across

several physical locations.
In distributed databases, the data are placed where they are used
most often, but the entire database is available to each
authorized user.
These are databases of local work groups (LAN), and departments
at regional offices (WAN), branch offices, manufacturing plants,
and other work sites.
These databases can include segments of both common
operational and common user databases, as well as data
generated and used only at a user's own site.
New Trends - Data warehousing

• A data warehouse stores data from current and previous years

that has been extracted from the various operational and
management databases of an organization.
• It is a central source of data that has been standardized and
integrated so it can be used by managers and other end user
professionals from throughout an organization.
• The objective of a corporate data warehouse is to continually
select data from the operational databases, transform the data
into a uniform format, and open the warehouse to the end
users through a friendly and consistent interface.
New Trends – Object oriented/Rich databases

• As the processing and storage capabilities of computer

systems expand and as the telecommunications capacities
grow, it is possible to support knowledge work more fully
with rich data.
These include:
1. Geographic information systems
2. Object-oriented databases
3. Hypertext and hypermedia databases
4. Image databases and text databases