Data Dictionary & DBMS

MIS Module 5
What is Data Dictionary?
• A data dictionary contains metadata i.e data about the
database.
• The data dictionary is very important as it contains information
such as what is in the database, who is allowed to access it,
where is the database physically stored etc.
• The users of the database normally don't interact with the data
dictionary, it is only handled by the database administrators.
Data Dictionary Contents
• The data dictionary in general contains information about the
following −
• Names of all the database tables and their schemas.
• Details about all the tables in the database, such as their owners, their
security constraints, when they were created etc.
• Physical information about the tables such as where they are stored
and how.
• Table constraints such as primary key attributes, foreign key
information etc.
• Information about the database views that are visible.
Example Data Dictionary
Types of Data Dictionary
• Active Data Dictionary
• If the structure of the database or its specifications change at any point
of time, it should be reflected in the data dictionary.
• This is the responsibility of the database management system in which
the data dictionary resides.
• the data dictionary is automatically updated by the database
management system when any changes are made in the database.
• Passive Data Dictionary
• A passive data dictionary is maintained separately to the database
whose contents are stored in the dictionary.
• Not automatically updated, it is manually updated.
DBMS – Database Management System
• The technology of storing and retrieving users data with utmost
efficiency along with appropriate security measures.
• Traditionally, data was organized in file formats.
• Database is a collection of related data and data is a collection
of facts and figures that can be processed to produce
information.
• A database management system stores data in such a way
that it becomes easier to retrieve, manipulate, and produce
information.
Characteristics of Modern DBMS
• Real-world entity
• Relation-based tables
• Isolation of data and application
• Less redundancy
• Consistency
• Query Language
Characteristics of DBMS
• ACID Properties − DBMS follows the concepts
of Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, and Durability (normally
shortened as ACID). These concepts are applied on
transactions
• Multiuser and Concurrent Access − DBMS supports multi-
user environment and allows them to access and manipulate
data in parallel.
• Multiple views − DBMS offers multiple views for different
users. A user who is in the Sales department will have a
different view of database than a person working in the
Production department.
• Security − Features like multiple views offer security to some
extent where users are unable to access data of other users
and departments.
Users of DBMS
3-tier Architecture
• Database (Data) Tier − At this tier, the database resides along
with its query processing languages. We also have the relations
that define the data and their constraints at this level.
• Application (Middle) Tier − At this tier reside the application
server and the programs that access the database. For a user,
this application tier presents an abstracted view of the
database. End-users are unaware of any existence of the
database beyond the application.
• User (Presentation) Tier − End-users operate on this tier and
they know nothing about any existence of the database beyond
this layer. At this layer, multiple views of the database can be
provided by the application. All views are generated by
applications that reside in the application tier.
Relational Model
• The most popular data model in DBMS is the Relational Model.
It is more scientific a model than others.
Database Schema
• A database schema
is the skeleton
structure that
represents the logical
view of the entire
database.
• A database schema
can be divided
broadly into two
categories −
• Physical Database
Schema
• Logical Database
Schema
Data Independence
• Logical Data Independence
• The data stored in the database, and its manipulation, is not affected
by mechanism and structure of the table.
• Independence refers to the fact that changing the format of table or
queries does not change the data stored in the tables.
• Physical Data Independence
• the actual data is stored in bit format on the disk. Physical data
independence is the power to change the physical data without
impacting the schema or logical data.
• Independence refers to the capability of changing the underlying
hardware technology without affecting the logical database structure
and data.
Word Processing
• the use of a program (software application) running on a computer that
allows users to create, edit, format, and store documents.
• The first word processing program was Electric Pencil, in 1976
• Wordstar came in 1978, and stayed as most popular software for next
20 years.
• WordPerfect and its competitor Microsoft Word replaced WordStar.
• The standard document extension is .doc
Basic Word Processing Functions
• Create Documents
• Edit Documents
• Merge Documents
• Add / Delete / Select / Cut / Copy / Paste Texts
• Format Text
• Find / Replace Texts
Spreadsheet Processing
• A spreadsheet is a computer application for computation,
organization, analysis and storage of data in tabular form.
• Spreadsheets were developed as computerized analogs of paper
accounting worksheets.
• The program operates on data entered in cells of a table. Each cell
may contain either numeric or text data, or the results of formulas
that automatically calculate and display a value based on the contents
of other cells. A spreadsheet may also refer to one such electronic
document
Popular Spreadsheet Software
• LANPAR was the first electronic spreadsheet package in 1969.
• Visicalc was the first most popular spreadsheet package in 1979.
• It was replaced by Lotus 123 which remained the leader for almost 2
decades, finally replaced by Microsoft Excel.
Spreadsheet Features
• A spreadsheet consists of a table of cells arranged into rows
and columns
• In modern spreadsheet applications, several spreadsheets,
often known as worksheets or simply sheets, are gathered
together to form a workbook.
• Storing data in tabular format, formulas, functions, charts, pivot
tables, data analysis etc are the key features.
Use of Computers in Managerial Operations
• In Business Planning
• In Record Keeping
• In Communication
• In Document Preparation
• In Data and Report Generation