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Web-Enabled Decision Support Systems

ntroduction to Databases
Prof. Name name@email.com
Position (123) 456-7890
University Name
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Overview
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Data, nformation, and Metadata
2.3 File-Based Approach
2.4 Database Approach
2.5 Database Development Process
2.6 Data Models
2.7 Summary
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ntroduction
The desire to collect, organize, and easily access information predates
computer technology
Oral records
Written records (books)
Computers, like books, have altered the way we collect, store, and
retrieve information
A database is a computer solution for fast, efficient, accurate, and
secure data access
Play a crucial role in the growing dominance of internet-based technology
Used for a variety of purposes:
Online shopping
Driving directions
Class enrollment and online grades
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Overview
2.1 ntroduction
2.2 Data, Information, and Metadata
2.3 File-Based Approach
2.4 Database Approach
2.5 Database Development Process
2.6 Data Models
2.7 Summary
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Data
The term data refers to known facts that can be recorded and preserved
nclude text, graphics, images, and/or video

ID Name Address City State
1 Andrew SW 16
th
Ave Orlando FL
2 Robert 23
rd
Terrace Boston MA
3 Bob 52nd Avenue Bronx NY
4 Lee Hung 52nd Avenue Albany NY
5 Richard 999 Palm Bay Detroit M
6 Tony 15th Avenue Austin TX
Data in Context
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nformation
Information is the processed data presented in a form suitable for
human interpretation
The same data can be processed in a variety of ways to generate different
kinds of information
nformation Pie Chart
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Metadata
Metadata is data about data
Process of information building demands an additional description of data to
be processed

Name Data Type Size Description
D Number 4 Unique Student D
Name Text 50 Student name
Address Text 200 Mailing Address
City Text 50 Residential City
State Text 2 Residential State
ZP Number 5 ZP Code
Metadata
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Overview
2.1 ntroduction
2.2 Data, nformation, and Metadata
2.3 FiIe-Based Approach
2.4 Database Approach
2.5 Database Development Process
2.6 Data Models
2.7 Summary
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Evolution of Database Systems
Two approaches to convert data to information:
File-based
Developed in 1980's
Stores, manipulates, retrieves data from large flat files
Database (relational systems)
Developed by E. F. Codd of BM in the early 1980's
Widely used today
Evolution of
Database
Systems
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File-Based Approach
A fiIe is a collection of related information
A system of files and collection of application programs manipulating
them is a fiIe-based system
The University's
File-Based System
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Limitations of File-Based Approach
Efforts for query answering:
What is the average grade for Dr. John Doe's students?
List the activities for all students enrolled in EZZ 4162.
Which personnel are students as well as staff?
Other limitations:
Duplication of data
Data dependency
Slow development, high maintenance and fixed queries
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Overview
2.1 ntroduction
2.2 Data, nformation, and Metadata
2.3 File-Based Approach
2.4 Database Approach
2.5 Database Development Process
2.6 Data Models
2.7 Summary
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The Database System
Limitations of file-based approach tell us that:
Parameters defining data should be separately stored
There should be a way to control and manipulate data in isolation of the
application program
A database management system (DBMS) is a piece of software that
allows a user to define, create, and manage access to a database
Decouples application programs from data
The database stores all its data in one location, thereby limiting data
duplication
A database system can be defined as the combination of a database, a
DBMS, and application programs
Because of the advantages offered by a DBMS, businesses and
organizations prefer the database approach to the file-based approach
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University's Database System
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Components of a Database System
There are four components in any database system:
Users
Database application
DBMS
Database
Components of a
Database System
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Components of a Database System (cont.)
Database:
A collection of logically related data
Database management system (DBMS):
Software that allows users to define, create, and manage database access
Popular database management systems:
Access, Oracle, BM's DB2, and SQL Server
Database applications:
Computer programs that allow users to manipulate the data in a DBMS
through a user-friendly interface
Can be divided into four broad categories:
Personal: Restricted to a single user
epartmental: Referenced by hundreds of users over a shared system or network
nterprise: Extensions of departmental applications involving thousands of users
nternet: Largest form of information sharing wherein billions of users are involved
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Components of a Database System (cont.)
Database administrator, system developer, and end user:
A database administrator (DBA) is a person responsible for all the data
resources of an organization
Uses tools that come with a DBMS to improve the productivity and performance of
database planning and design
System deveIopers are a group of people responsible for the creation of
new application programs that cater to the user requirements
Use their own tools to write programs that communicate with the DBMS
nd-users in an organization can add, update, and delete data in a database
through application programs or directly through a DBMS
Use the application program to accomplish their day-to-day tasks
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Functions of a DBMS
A DBMS is primarily responsible for providing a logical view of underlying
data
Allows its user to store, retrieve, and update data in the database
Provides a clear and logical view of the process that manipulates the data
Other functionalities:
Data independence
Maintain segregation between the program and the data
Concurrency control
Recovery services
Utility services
Perform initialization and maintenance operations on a database
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Advantages and Disadvantages of
Database Approach
Advantages:
Segregation of the application program and the data
Minimal data duplication
Ability to retrieve data easily
Reduced development time and maintenance needs
Disadvantages:
Complexity
Size
Cost
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Overview
2.1 ntroduction
2.2 Data, nformation, and Metadata
2.3 File-Based Approach
2.4 Database Approach
2.5 Database DeveIopment Process
2.6 Data Models
2.7 Summary
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Database Development Process
1. Enterprise modeling:
Describes the data needed for database system
Conceptual database modeling:
Entity-relationship (E-R) modeling
1. Logical database design:
Relational data modeling is used to transform the E-R
diagram into a relational schema
2. Physical database design and creation:
Selection of software (DBMS) and hardware
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Schema
The process of database development can also be explained using
schema, an overall description of the database
Three types of schemas, defined by their levels of abstraction:
External schema:
Describes the database in terms of data viewed by different users
Conceptual schema:
Describes the database in terms of entities, attributes, and relationships, along
with its integrity constraints
nternal schema:
Describes the database in terms of stored records, data fields, and indexes
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Three-Tier Architecture
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Database Development Process
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Overview
2.1 ntroduction
2.2 Data, nformation, and Metadata
2.3 File-Based Approach
2.4 Database Approach
2.5 Database Development Process
2.6 Data ModeIs
2.7 Summary
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Data Models
A data modeI is a collection of concepts for describing data, its
relationships, and its constraints
Provides a clearer and more accurate description and representation of data
Standard platform that enables database designers and end-users to
communicate
Come in three varieties:
Object-based models (conceptual schema)
Record-based models (external schema)
Physical data models (internal schema)
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Object-Based Data Models
bject-based data modeIs use entities, attributes, and relationships to
present information
An entity is a living or non-living object in the real world
amples: Person, place, event
An attribute is a property of an entity
amples: Name, address of a person
A reIationship is an association between entities
ample: Register is a relationship between student and courses
Some common types of object-based data models include:
Entity-relationship data model
Functional data model
Object-oriented data model
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Entity-Relationship Data Model
The entity-reIationship modeI has emerged as one of the most popular
and widely used techniques in today's databases
Describes data in the form of an E-R diagram:
Entities are rectangles ("$tudent and "epartment)
Relationships are diamonds ("elongs to)
Attributes are ovals ("$$, "ame)
Cardinalities are constraints on relationships ("> and "|)
Entity-Relationship Diagram
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Record-Based Data Models
#ecord-based data modeIs use records to present data
A record is a structure that contains a fixed number of fields to hold a piece
of information
There are three main types of record-based data models:
Relational data models
Based on mathematical concepts of relations
Use tables (or relations) to represent data and relationships
Network data models
Hierarchical data models
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Relational Data Models
Each table consists of a fixed number of named columns (attributes) and
an arbitrary number of unnamed rows (records)
University
Relational
Data Model
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Transforming the E-R Data Model
to the Relational Data Model
The E-R model and the relational model are actually closely related:
Entities in the E-R model become tables in the relational model
Attributes of in the E-R model are the table columns in the relational model
Relationships in the E-R model are represented by a common attribute
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Overview
2.1 ntroduction
2.2 Data, nformation, and Metadata
2.3 File-Based Approach
2.4 Database Approach
2.5 Database Development Process
2.6 Data Models
2.7 Summary
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Summary
Data are known facts that can be recorded and preserved
nformation is the processed data presented in a form suitable for human
interpretation
Metadata is data about data
There are two approaches to convert data to information:
Traditional file-based approach
A system of files and the collection of computer programs manipulating them
Modern database approach
A database system consists of a combination of a database, a DBMS, and
application programs
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Summary (cont.)
A database is an organized collection of logically related data.
A database management system is software that allows users to define,
create, and manage database access.
Database applications are computer programs that allow users to
manipulate data in a DBMS through a user-friendly interface.
A database administrator (DBA) is a person or group of people
responsible for all the data resources of an organization.
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Summary (cont.)
The database development process consists of four steps:
1. Enterprise modeling
2. Conceptual database modeling
3. Logical database design
4. Physical database design and creation
The process of database development can also be explained through the
schema, an overall description of the database
External schema:
Describes the database in terms of data viewed by different users
Conceptual schema:
Describes the database in terms of entities, attributes, and relationships along
with integrity constraints
nternal schema:
Describes the database in terms of stored records, data fields, and indexes
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Summary (cont.)
A data model is a collection of concepts for describing data, its
relationships, and its constraints
Object-based data models use entities, attributes, and relationships to
present information
The entity-relationship data model is an example of object-based model and
describes data in the form of an E-R diagram
Record-based data models use records to present data
Relational data model is based on mathematical concepts of relations and is
an example of record-based model
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