Dr.

Saif Al-Hatim
Instructor:
Dr. Saif Al-Hatim
1
 DATABASE

• Database: Shared collection of logically related data (and a

Dr. Saif Al-Hatim

description of this data), designed to meet the information needs
of an organization.

• System catalogue (metadata): data that describes and gives

more information about the data – such as properties
and context.
• Logically related data comprises entities, attributes, and
relationships of an organization’s information.
 DATABASE

• Data – general term to represent stored objects and

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events
• Structured – numbers, text, dates, etc.
• Unstructured – images, video, documents, etc.
• Field – a single piece of data
• Record – a collection of related fields
• File – a collection of related records

• Information – data that has been processed in some

way to make it more meaningful to a user
 FILE PROCESSING

• File processing involves using flat files with various

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programs. Records and fields are used in programs to
process the data contain in the files to produce output.

DISADVANTAGES OF FILE PROCESSING

Duplication of data – many times a new file is created for a

new program, instead of just using file(s) that already exist;
those, lots of redundant data is created and stored – taking
up a lot of space.
Limited data sharing – most programs use their “own”
programs instead of using other files (similar to duplication
of data problem)
 DISADVANTAGES CONTINUED

• Program-data dependence – since programs have their own files,

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if a program or file needs to be changed – then the program will
need to be updated.
• Lengthy development times – for each program, a new file(s) must
also be created.
• Extensive program maintenance – because of the redundancy
problem, if a Name changes (such as last name if someone gets
married) – SEVERAL files must be updated, and programs rerun!!
• Problems with data consistency – same data has different names,
different definitions, etc.
 DATABASE APPROACH

Dr. Saif Al-Hatim

•Database arose because:
• Databases were created to solve the various problems with file processing
using flat files
• Instead of having lots of individual files – you will create a central
repository (storage) of data that can be shared by all programs!
• Data will be managed by a Data Base Management System (DBMS)
 ARE THERE ANY DISADVANTAGES

• Original installation costs are higher

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• Need to build in understanding of complexity of original
creation of the database
• If you are converting from flat files to databases – will have
conversion costs
• Need good backup and recovery
• Could have possible organizational conflict – where
enterprise areas thought they “owned” programs and data
for their area – now all is shared
 PEOPLE WORKING WITH A DATABASE

• Application developers – those that design software and

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databases

• Data/database administrators – personnel responsible for

creating and maintaining the data and database

• End users – those clients who use the applications and

databases
 HOW TO DESIGN & DEVELOP A DATABASE

• This should follow a regular system development life cycle

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• Analyze the data needs of the enterprise
• Diagram these needs in an Entity-relationship diagram
• Design elements of the model you choose – usually a
relational model
• Take the Entity-relationship diagram and normalize it into tables
• Develop/test the database – take the normalized tables and
convert them into the actual DBMS model using SQL
(structured query language) for relational tables; add data
into the tables; test the database tables in applications
COMPONENTS OF DBMS ENVIRONMENT

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 DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (DBMS)

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• A software system that enables users to define, create,
maintain, and control access to the database.

• (Database) application program: a computer program that

interacts with database by issuing an appropriate request
(SQL statement) to the DBMS.
DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (DBMS)

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COMPONENTS OF A DBMS

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13
 SUMMARY OF THE MAIN ACTIVITIES IN DATABASE SDLC

Dr. Saif Al-Hatim

Stages Main Activities
Database Planning how the stages of the lifecycle can be realized
Planning most efficiently and effectively.
System Specifying the scope and boundaries of database system.
Definition
Requirement Collection and analysis of the requirements for the new
collection and database system.
analysis
Database design Conceptual, logical and physical design of the database.
DBMS selection Selecting a suitable DBMS for the database system.
Application Design the user interface and the application program that
design use and process the database.
 SUMMARY OF THE MAIN ACTIVITIES IN DATABASE SDLC

Dr. Saif Al-Hatim

Stages Main Activities
Prototyping Building a working model of the database system.
Implementation Creating the physical database definitions and the
application programs.
Data conversion Loading data from old system to the new system.
and loading
Testing Database system is tested for errors and validated
against the requirements specified by the user.
Operational Database system is fully implemented and continuously
maintenance monitored.
 WHY DATABASE DESIGN IS IMPORTANT

• Database Design: Process of creating a design for a database

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that will support the enterprise’s mission statement and mission
objectives for the required database system.
• Database design focuses on design of database structure used
for end-user data
• Designer must identify database’s expected use
• Well-designed database:
• Facilitates data management
• Generates accurate and valuable information
• Poorly designed database:
• Causes difficult-to-trace errors