Assignment

On
“Database Management System”

(Applied Operations Research)

Submitted To: Submitted By:

Prof. Neha Ahuja Ravi Ahuja

CONTENTS
1. Definition of DBMS
2. Elements of DBMS
DATA - Known facts that can be recorded and that have implicit meaning.

DATABASE – Collection of related data. Ex: The names, telephone no. and addresses of all the
people I know.

A Database Management System can be defined as a collection of related records and a set of
programs that access and manipulate these records. A Database Management System enables
the user to enter, store and mange data. The main problem with the earlier DBMS packages
was that the data was stored in the flat file format. So, the information about different objects
was maintained separately in physical files. Hence the relations between these objects, if any,
had to be maintained in a separate physical file. Thus, a single package would consist of too
many files and vast functionalities to integrate them into a single system.

A solution to this problem came in the form of centralized database system. In a centralized
database system the database is stored in the central location. Everybody can have access to
the data stored in a central location from their machine. For example, a large central database
system would contain all the data pertaining to the employees. The accounts and the HR
department would access the data required using suitable programs. These programs or the
entire application would reside on the individual computer terminals.

DBMS- A Database is a collection of interrelated data, and a Database Management system is a

set of programs used to add or modify this data. Thus, a database management system (DBMS)
is software that allows databases to be defined, constructed or manipulated.

DBMS provides an environment that is both convenient and efficient to use when there is a
large volume of data and many transactions to be processed. Different categories of DBMS can
be used, ranging from small systems that run on personal computers to huge systems that run
on mainframes. Examples of database application include:

Computerized library systems

Automated teller machines
Flight reservation systems
Computerized parts inventory systems

Thus from the above examples it is clear that the management of data in database system is
done by means of general purpose software package called a Database Management System.
The Database Management System is the major software component of database system. Some
commercially available DBMS are Ingress, ORACLE, and Sybase. A database management
system, therefore is a combination of hardware and software that can be used to set up and
monitor a database, and can manage the updation and retrieval of database that has been
stored in it.
ELEMENTS OF DBMS

1. DATA SECURITY AND INTEGRITY- Data security is of utmost importance when there are
multiple users accessing the database. It is required for keeping a check over data access
by users. The security rules specify, which user has access the database, what data
elements user has access to, and data operation that the user can perform.
 Data in the database should contains as few errors as possible. For example, the
employee number for adding a new employee should not be left blank. Telephone
number should contain only numbers. Such checks are taken care by DBMS.
Thus, the DBMS contains functions, which handle the security and integrity of data in
the application. These can be easily invoked by the application and hence the
application programmer need not code these functions in the programs.

Data Security- The DBMS can prevent unauthorized users from viewing or updating the
database. Using passwords, users are allowed access to the entire database or a subset
of it known as a "subschema." For example, in an employee database, some users may
be able to view salaries while others may view only work history and medical data.

Data Integrity- The DBMS can ensure that no more than one user can update the same
record at the same time. It can keep duplicate records out of the database; for example,
no two customers with the same customer number can be entered.

2. Interactive Data Entry and Updating- A DBMS typically provides a way to interactively
enter and edit data, allowing you to manage your own files and databases. However,
interactive operation does not leave an audit trail and does not provide the controls
necessary in a large organization. These controls must be programmed into the data
entry and update programs of the application.

3. Data Independence- When a DBMS is used, the details of the data structure are not
stated in each application program. The program asks the DBMS for data by field name;
for example, a coded equivalent of "give me customer name and balance due" would be
sent to the DBMS. Without a DBMS, the programmer must reserve space for the full
structure of the record in the program. Any change in data structure requires changing
all application programs.

4. Interactive Query- A DBMS provides a (query language and report writer) that lets
users interactively interrogate the database. These essential components give users
access to all management information as needed
QUERY LANGUAGE- A language that allows a user to select records from a database. It
may be in the form of typed commands such as the widely used SQL language, a
predefined query menu or a query by example (QBE). Query languages are usually
included in DBMSs, and stand-alone packages are available for interrogating non-DBMS
files. 

REPORT WRITER- Software that prints a report based on a description of its layout. As a
stand-alone program or part of a file or database management system, it can sort
selected records into a new sequence for printing. It may also support the printing of
mailing labels. Once created, the report description is stored in a file for future use.

Reports Are Defined- A report is created by defining which data fields are placed into
which print columns and entering text for the page headers. Key fields and numeric
fields are selected for subtotals and totals. Whenever there is a change of data in the
key field, a subtotal of the numeric data is printed, and a total is printed at the end of
the report. Although there is no real programming required, mathematical expressions
are often used; for example COLUMN 1 = FIELD A + FIELD B.

Developed in the early 1970s, report writers, also called "report generators," were the
precursor to query languages. They were the first programs to generate computer
output without having to be programmed.