Chapter 1:

The Database
Environment
Prof. Ma. Ymelda C. Batalla

Introduction
Today, more than at any previous time,
the success of an organization depends on its
ability to acquire accurate and timely data
about its operations, to manage this data
effectively, and to use it to analyze and guide
its activities.

Definition of Terms:
Data
It is a stored representation of objects and events that have
meaning and importance in the users environment.
referred to facts concerning objects and events that could be
recorded and stored on computer media.
Structured: numbers, character, dates
Unstructured/Multimedia: images, sound, video segments,
documents, maps, emails

Information
It is a data that have been processed in such a way as to increase
the knowledge of the person who uses the data.

Figure 1-1a Data in context

Context helps users understand data

Figure 1-1b Summarized data

Graphical displays turn data into useful information

that managers can use for decision making and
interpretation

Definition of Terms: (Contd)

Database
It is an organized collection of logically related data.

Metadata
These are data that describe the properties or characteristics of
end-user data and the context of that data.
It is also refer to Data about data.

Descriptions of the properties or characteristics of the data,

including data types, field sizes, allowable values, and data
context

Hierarchy of Data
Bit
It is the smallest unit of data (0 and 1).

Byte
It consist of 8 bits; collection of bits; it is a character.

Field
It is a group of characters that form a word

Record
It is a collection of related field.

Files
It is a collection of records.

Database
It is collection of interrelated files.

File Processing Systems

A file processing system is the process of creating,
storing and accessing content of files.
It is also a collection of les and programs that
access/modify these les. Typically, new les and
programs are added over time (by dierent
programmers) as new information needs to be stored
and new ways to access information are needed.
File
It is a collection of related records.

Figure 1-2: Old file processing systems

at Pine Valley Furniture Company

Disadvantages of File Processing

Program-Data Dependence
All programs maintain metadata for each file they use

Duplication of Data
Different systems/programs have separate copies of the same
data

Limited Data Sharing

No centralized control of data

Lengthy Development Times

Programmers must design their own file formats

Excessive Program Maintenance

80% of information systems budget

Figure 1-2: Old file processing systems

at Pine Valley Furniture Company

Data Dependency / Duplicate Data

Problems with Data Dependency

Each application programmer must maintain his/her own
data
Each application program needs to include code for the
metadata of each file
Each application program must have its own processing
routines for reading, inserting, updating, and deleting
data
Lack of coordination and central control
Non-standard file formats

Problems with Data Redundancy

Waste of space to have duplicate data
Causes more maintenance headaches
The biggest problem:
Data changes in one file could cause inconsistencies
Compromises in data integrity

SOLUTION:
The DATABASE Approach
Central repository of shared data
Data is managed by a controlling agent
Stored in a standardized, convenient form

Requires a Database Management System

(DBMS)

Database Management System

A Database Management Systems is a software system
that is used to create, maintain, and provide controlled
access to user databases.
It facilitates the processes of defining, constructing, and
manipulating databases for various applications.
Defining a database involves specifying the data types,
structures, and constraints for the data to be stored in the
database.
Constructing the database is the process of storing the data itself
on some storage medium that is controlled by the DBMS.
Manipulating a database includes such functions as querying the
database to retrieve specific data, updating the database to
reflect changes in the miniworld, and generating reports from the
data.

Figure 1-3: DBMS approach

at Pine Valley Furniture Company

Order Filing
System

Invoicing
System

Payroll
System

DBMS

Central database
Contains employee,
order, inventory,
pricing, and
customer data

Advantages
Approach

of

the

Database

Program-Data Independence
The separation of data descriptions (metadata) from the
application programs that use the data.
Planned Data Redundancy

Improved Data Consistency

Improved Data Sharing
It facilitate a User View where it is a logical description of
some portion of the database that is required by a user to
perform some task.

Increased Application Development Productivity

Enforcement of Standards

Advantages of the
Approach (contd)

Database

Improved Data Quality

A constraint is a rule that cannot be violated by database users.

Improved Data Accessibility and Responsiveness

Reduced Program Maintenance
Improved Decision Support

Costs and Risks of the Database

Approach

New, Specialized Personnel

Installation and Management Cost and Complexity
Conversion Costs
Need for Explicit Backup and Recovery
Organizational Conflict

Elements
Approach

of

the

Database

Data models
Graphical systems used to capture the nature and relationships
among data. (Entity, Attributes, Relationships)
Enterprise Data Modelhigh-level entities and relationships for
the organization
Project Data Modelmore detailed view, matching data structure
in database or data warehouse.

Relational Databases
A database that represents data as a collection of tables in which
all data relationships are represented by common values in
related tables.

Elements
Approach

of

the

Database

Database Applications
Application programs used to perform database activities for
database users.
Activities:
Create to add new data to the database.
Read to read current database data.
Update to modify current database data.
Delete to delete current data from the database.

Figure 1-4: Components of the Database Environment

Components of the
Database Environment
Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE) Tools

Software tools that provide automated support for some portion

of the systems development process.

Repository

A centralized knowledge base of all data definitions, data

relationships, screen and report formats, and other system
components; centralized storehouse of metadata.

Database

is an organized collection of logically related data, usually

designed to meet the information needs of multiple users in an
organization; storehouse of the data

Database Management System (DBMS)

is a software system that is used to create, maintain, and provide

controlled access to user databases; software for managing the
database

Components of the
Database Environment (contd)
Application Programs
Computer-based application programs are used to create and
maintain the database and provide information to users; software
using the data

User Interface

Text and graphical displays to users

Data/Database Administrators

Personnel responsible for maintaining the database

System Developers

Personnel responsible for designing databases and software

End Users

People who use the applications and databases

The Range / Categories

Database Applications

of

Personal Databases
It is designed to support one user. The purpose of these
databases is to provide the user with ability to manage (store,
update, delete, and retrieve) small amounts of data in an efficient
manner.

Two-Tier Client/Server Database

It is a relatively small team of people (typically fewer than 25
persons).

Figure 1-5: Two-Tier Client/Server Database

The Range / Categories of

Database Applications (contd)
Multitier Client/Server Databases
It is intended to support a department (such as marketing or
accounting) or a division (such as a line of business), which is
generally larger (typically between 25 and 100 persons).

Figure 1-6: Multitier Client/Server Database

The Range / Categories of

Database Applications (contd)
Enterprise Applications
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems
A business management system that integrates all functions
of the enterprise, such as manufacturing, sales, finance,
marketing, inventory, accounting, and human resources. ERP
systems are software applications that provide the data
necessary for the enterprise to examine and manage its
activities.
Data warehousing implementations
An integrated decision support database whose content is
derived from the various operational databases.

Figure 1-7: An enterprise data warehouse

The Range / Categories of

Database Applications (contd)
Web-Enabled Database
Extranet communication
Business-to-Consumer (B2C)
Business-to-Business (B2B)
Intranet communication

Table 1-8: Summary of Database Applications

Evolution of Database Systems

Figure 1-9: Evolution of database technologies

Evolution of Database Systems

(Contd)
Human beings began to store information very long ago.
Where programming became the foundation of creating
enterprise computer systems. The systems developed, needed
to store its data somewhere and the programmers designed
more or less proprietary and specialized solutions for this
purpose.
1960S
Two models:
Network Model, was designed by Charles Bachman at
General Electric called Integrated Data Store and standardized
by the Conference on Data Systems Languages (CODASYL) .
Hierarchical Model, Rockwell collaborates with IBM to create
the Information Management System (IMS).

Evolution of Database Systems

(Contd)
1970s
Ted Codd at IBMs San Jose Lab proposed relational models.
Peter Chen defined the Entity-relationship(ER) model (1976)

1980s
Structured Query Language (SQL), became the standard query
language.
Object-oriented DBMS (OODBMS) develops. (1985)

1990s
Incorporation of object-orientation in relational DBMSs. (Objectrelational)
First Internet database applications (1995)

2000s
Database applications continue to grow, the three leading database
companies in the western world are Microsoft, IBM, and Oracle.

Evolution of Database Systems

(Contd)

Figure 1-10: Pictorial representation of Database

Evolution over decades

The END