MS112 2

MS112 – DATA MODELING AND DESIGN
CHAPTER 1
File-based System
Master of Science in Information Technology

Before the Advent of Database Systems
2
The way in which computers manage data has come a

long way over the last few decades.
Today’s users take for granted the many benefits found
in a database system.
However, it wasn’t that long ago that computers relied
on a much less elegant and costly approach to data
management called the file-based system.
© ISBAT UNIVERSITY – 2020. 12/1/2021

File-based System
3
One way to keep information on a computer is to store

it in permanent files.
A company system has a number of application
programs; each of them is designed to manipulate data
files. These application programs have been written at
the request of the users in the organization.
New applications are added to the system as the need
arises. The system just described is called the file-
based system.
4
Consider a traditional banking system that uses the

file-based system to manage the organization’s data
shown in Figure 1.1. As we can see, there are different
departments in the bank. Each has its own applications
that manage and manipulate different data files.
For banking systems, the programs may be used to
debit or credit an account, find the balance of an
account, add a new mortgage loan and generate
monthly statements.

Figure 1.1
5
Figure 1.1. Example of a file-based system used by banks to manage data

Disadvantages of the file-based approach
6
Using the file-based system to keep organizational

information has a number of disadvantages. Listed
below are five examples.
1- Data redundancy

7
1- Data redundancy
Often, within an organization, files and applications
are created by different programmers from various
departments over long periods of time.
This can lead to data redundancy, a situation that
occurs in a database when a field needs to be updated
in more than one table.
:

8
This practice can lead to several problems such as:

➢Inconsistency in data format
➢ The same information being kept in several different
places (files)
➢ Data inconsistency, a situation where various copies
of the same data are conflicting, wastes storage
space and duplicates effort

2- Data isolation
9
Data isolation is a property that determines when and

how changes made by one operation become visible to
other concurrent users and systems. This issue occurs
in a concurrency situation. This is a problem because:
It is difficult for new applications to retrieve the
appropriate data, which might be stored in various
files.

3-Integrity problems
10
Problems with data integrity is another disadvantage

of using a file-based system. It refers to the
maintenance and assurance that the data in a database
are correct and consistent. Factors to consider when
addressing this issue are:
• Data values must satisfy certain consistency
constraints that are specified in the application
programs.
• It is difficult to make changes to the application programs in order to
enforce new constraints.
4-Security problems
11
Security can be a problem with a file-based approach

because:
• There are constraints regarding accessing privileges.
• Application requirements are added to the system in
an ad-hoc manner so it is difficult to enforce
constraints.

5-Concurrency access
12
Concurrency is the ability of the database to allow multiple

users access to the same record without adversely affecting
transaction processing. A file-based system must manage, or
prevent, concurrency by the application programs. Typically,
in a file-based system, when an application opens a file, that
file is locked.
This means that no one else has access to the file at the same
time. In database systems, concurrency is managed thus
allowing multiple users access to the same record. This is an
important difference between database and file-based systems.

13
Database Approach
The difficulties that arise from using the file-based
system have prompted the development of a new
approach in managing large amounts of organizational
information called the database approach.
Databases and database technology play an important
role in most areas where computers are used, including
business, education and medicine.

Key Terms
14
 concurrency: the ability of the database to allow

multiple users access to the same record without
adversely affecting transaction processing
 data element: a single fact or piece of information
 data inconsistency: a situation where various copies
of the same data are conflicting

15
 data isolation: a property that determines when and

how changes made by one operation become visible
to other concurrent users and systems
 data integrity: refers to the maintenance and assurance that the data
in a database are correct and consistent
 data redundancy: a situation that occurs in a database when a
field needs to be updated in more than one table
 database approach: allows the management of large amounts of
organizational information

Fundamental Concepts on Database
16
What Is a Database?
A database is a shared collection of related data used
to support the activities of a particular organization.
A database can be viewed as a repository of data that
is defined once and then accessed by various users as
shown in Figure 2.1.

17
Figure 2.1. A database is a repository of data.

18
Database Properties
A database has the following properties:
➢It is a representation of some aspect of the real world
or a collection of data elements (facts) representing
real-world information.
➢ A database is logical, coherent and internally consistent.
➢ A database is designed, built and populated with data for a specific
purpose.
➢ Each data item is stored in a field.
➢ A combination of fields makes up a table. For example, each field in
Database Management System
19
A database management system (DBMS) is a

collection of programs that enables users to create and
maintain databases and control all access to them.
The primary goal of a DBMS is to provide an
environment that is both convenient and efficient for
users to retrieve and store information.

Database Management System (cont.)
20
With the database approach, we can have the

traditional banking system as shown in Figure 2.3. In
this bank example, a DBMS is used by the Personnel
Department, the Account Department and the Loan
Department to access the shared corporate database.

21
Figure 2.3. A bank database management system (DBMS).

22
Thank you

MS112 2

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

MS112 2

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

MS112 2

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

MS112 – DATA MODELING AND DESIGN

Master of Science in Information Technology

The way in which computers manage data has come a

© ISBAT UNIVERSITY – 2020. 12/1/2021

One way to keep information on a computer is to store

Consider a traditional banking system that uses the

© ISBAT UNIVERSITY – 2020. 12/1/2021

Figure 1.1. Example of a file-based system used by banks to manage data

© ISBAT UNIVERSITY – 2020. 12/1/2021

Using the file-based system to keep organizational

© ISBAT UNIVERSITY – 2020. 12/1/2021

© ISBAT UNIVERSITY – 2020. 12/1/2021

This practice can lead to several problems such as:

© ISBAT UNIVERSITY – 2020. 12/1/2021

Data isolation is a property that determines when and

© ISBAT UNIVERSITY – 2020. 12/1/2021

Problems with data integrity is another disadvantage

Security can be a problem with a file-based approach

© ISBAT UNIVERSITY – 2020. 12/1/2021

Concurrency is the ability of the database to allow multiple

© ISBAT UNIVERSITY – 2020. 12/1/2021

© ISBAT UNIVERSITY – 2020. 12/1/2021

 concurrency: the ability of the database to allow

© ISBAT UNIVERSITY – 2020. 12/1/2021

 data isolation: a property that determines when and

© ISBAT UNIVERSITY – 2020. 12/1/2021

© ISBAT UNIVERSITY – 2020. 12/1/2021

Figure 2.1. A database is a repository of data.

A database management system (DBMS) is a

© ISBAT UNIVERSITY – 2020. 12/1/2021

With the database approach, we can have the

© ISBAT UNIVERSITY – 2020. 12/1/2021

Figure 2.3. A bank database management system (DBMS).

© ISBAT UNIVERSITY – 2020. 12/1/2021

© ISBAT UNIVERSITY – 2020. 12/1/2021

You might also like