Introduction to Database Tonga Institute of Higher Education NOS 215

Topics  Database  Database Management System (DBMS)  Advantage of a Database management systems

Database  A Database is a collection of related data that has been organized to allow easy access. Eg  Telephone book

Database  In computing, a file system is a method for storing and organizing computer files and the data they contain to make it easy to find and access themcomputing computer files  In a flat file system, everything is stored at the same level on the media

What is meant by Database Management Systems (DBMS)  A DBMS is a computer software package which provide the user with a set of powerful tools for Storing Retrieving, Editing Sorting Presenting Manipulating data easily and quickly as required

Database Management Systems  DBMS enables the user to:  Create a Database  Add, edit and remove data from database  View and modify the database  Create reports  Derive a specific output such as displaying only certain criteria

DBMS Applications  Maintain general records - such as name and contact.  Stock Maintenance – include retail items in store.  Cataloguing items such as books in a Library  Preparing mailing List  And so on

RDBMS  Proposed by Ted Codd 1970  Any data can be stored in a form of a table called Relation.  Later companies base on Codd’s proposal, develop what we now called Relational Database.

Relational Database management Systems (RDBMS)  Most powerful DBMS use what is called a “relational” database structure.  “Relational” means that relationships can be found and created between different sets of data.

Example  You might have a set of data about students and one about classes.  If the class table saved who was in the class, you could look up and see where that student lived, using the student table. This is a relationship

Relational Database management Systems (RDBMS)  Stores Data in many related tables  It allows you to ask questions utilizing data from one or more table  Receive answers as queries, forms and report.

DBMS Packages  Access (Windows)  Approach (Windows)  dBASE III PLUS and dBASE IV  Foxpro  Paradox  Quest

Task  Not count for final assessment but for your own good  Find other database packages.

Database Terminology  Data management software (databases) help organize, sort, store, and update data.  A “record” holds the data for a single entity. If we had a database for students, a single “record” would save all the information about one student  A “field” holds one item of data called attributes. The students name would be a field. So would his age, or address

Database Term Each information on a Card eg address is called a field Each Card is called a record All Cards make up the Customer File

View in a Table format CustomerF/NameAddressSuburbPostcodePhone AndersonJulie14 Pool Street Research

Advantage of DBMS  In terms of storing – All the old records can be replaced by one computer  In term of searching – easily speedily and efficiently search.  And others

Summary  Database  Database Management System  Advantages