Database

Management
Systems
Exercise - Label the Diagram
Database
Record
Database Administrator
Field
Table
Database Management System
Primary key
Character
What is a DBMS?

 A database management system is complex software

that constructs and maintains a database.
 It is application software that allows creation, access,
and management of a database
 List some examples
Examples of DBMSes
 Microsoft Access
 Oracle
 MySQL
 DB2
 SQL Server
 Visual Foxpro
 Informix
 Ingres
 Paradox
 Sybase
What is a character?
 A single byte which represents a number, letter,
punctuation mark or other symbol
 What is a field?
 A characteristic of an entity
 An entity is any person, place or thing that we capture data on.
 All fields must have a field/data type (give examples)
 Fields can have field properties
What is a primary key?
 A field or group of fields that uniquely identify a record
 Must have a value (cannot be null)
 Links to foreign key of another table
 Give some examples of fields that are unique
Examples of fields that are
unique
 TRN
 Student id number
 Employee id number
 License plate number
 Passport number
 NIS number
 Chassis number
 Engine number
 Part number
 Reference number
 International Standard Book Number (ISBN)
 Bar code
 Department id
What is a foreign key?
 The primary key of one entity that is placed in a second
entity for the purpose of accessing the first entity.
 In other words it is used to create relationships or link
tables.
What is a record?
 A group of related fields about a particular entity.
 It contains information about a given person, place, event or thing
What is a table?
 A group of related records
 It captures all of the records of a particular type of entity
 A table structure is made up of fields, data/field types, field
descriptions, primary key, field properties.
What is a database?
 A group of related tables
 An organized collection of data
Examples of databases in
society
 Common examples of databases in society include:
 Payroll, Employee data, Inventory management/Stock,
Sales, Customer data, Supplier data, Library book
management, Banking, Student record keeping, Hotel
guest list etc.
 In other words, every type of information system has a
database to store the data.
 Now you know why a DBMS is important.
Functions of a DBMS

 Data dictionary
 Retrieval and maintenance
 Query
 Forms
 Reports
 Security
 Backup & Recovery
A Query (showing criteria)
A Form
A Report
The Database Administrator

 Person who is responsible for the environmental aspects

of a database
 He/She coordinates the use of the database
 Implements (sets up) the DBMS
 Maintains the Database
 Monitors security
 Backup & Recovery
Advantages of a DBMS
 Less data redundancy
 Standardization
 Better/improved data integrity
 Shared data
 Easier and Faster access/retrieval
 Security
 Availability
 Extensibility

 Again, having a DBMS is very important

Disadvantages of a DBMS

 More memory, storage, processing power

 Inconsistencies
 Complexity
 Breach of confidentiality
 Payroll system database
structure
 Employee (TRN, Fname, Lname, DOB, Addr1, Addr2, Tel,
Sex, JobCode)
 Jobs (JobCode, JobDescription, Salary)
 Hours Worked (TRN, Date, TimeIn, TimeOut)

Create the table structure for the Employee

table
Group table structure
exercise
 Library management
 Student management
 Hotel management
 Doctor office management
 Banking
 Inventory management
Practice questions

 1.Which of the following is best

example of a primary key?
A. Gender
B. Date of birth
C. First name
D. NIS number

John’s name, id number and
2.
phone number together create his
_______.
A. Database
B. Field
C. Record
D. Table

3.All of the following are examples
of DBMS’s EXCEPT:
A. MS-Access
B. Oracle
C. MS-Excel
D. DB2

Which of the following is an
4.
advantage of a DBMS?
A. Requires less memory
B. Improved data integrity
C. Increased programming time
D. More data redundancy
 5. In which category would you place MS-Access?
A. System software
B. Application software
C. Operating System
D. Utility

Which of the following is the best
6.
example of a field?
A. House colour
B. “For sale” sign
C. Real Estate Agency brochure
D. Sale agreement for a house
 7. Software which constructs and maintains a database
in a controlled way is:
A. Database
B. Recording
C. DBMS
D. MS-Office
 8. Which data type would be most appropriate for your
address?
A. Text
B. Number
C. Yes/No
D. Date/Time
 9. Which of the following is NOT TRUE about primary
keys?
A. A primary key can be made up of more than one field
B. A primary key is a unique identifier
C. A primary key allows NULL values
D. A primary key is used to relate tables to each other
 10. A DBA does all of the following EXCEPT:
A. Backup the database
B. Enter user data
C. Issue user passwords
D. Monitor the database