TOPIC12: DATABASES
Database Management systems: refers a piece of software that manages
databases and lets you create, edit, maintain, and delete databases and their tables
and data. It can also be software which can be used to manage the data by storing it
on to the data base and by retrieving it from the data base.
Database is any collection of interrelated data that allows access, retrieval,
updating and manipulation; it can be words that you write on a piece of paper in a
digital form.
Popular examples of Database Management System software
Microsoft Office Access • Amazon simple DB IBM DB2
My Structured Query • File Maker Bento
Language(SQL) • Informix Borland Database
My SQL Server • ADABAS Engine
Oracle • Teradata DBase
Postgress • Microsoft SQL server FoxPro
SQLite Paradox
Functions of the Database Management Systems
Enables one to create summary reports
It provides an interface for a user to enter data
Enables the use to create forms
Allows easy access and retrieval of data
Allows querying/filtering of some data
Common types of databases
A flat file database is made up of only one table.
A relational database can take information from two or more database tables and
combine them into a new table or report through the use of a key field.
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Features of Database Management Software
Field-A field is a column in a table that contains a specific piece of information
within a record.
Record A record is a row in a table that contains information about a given person,
product, or event.
Validation rule-Is a method used to check that data falls within the appropriate
range or parameter defined by the database user.
Primary Key Is a field that uniquely identifies a record in a table. Before saving a
table, you should insert a primary key.
Foreign key: A key used in one table to represent the value of a primary key in a
related table.
Field name- Database feature assigned to each field to identify the different fields
Field properties-Determine how data is handled, stored and manipulated -Further
define data types and formats like field size, default values
Data type-Specify the kind of data a field can contain and how the field is used.
Queries-These allows you to filter and extract specified data from tables in the
databases
Relationships: These are mainly used in relation to relational databases.
Relationships allow relating tables with similar records and fields. One to one, One
to Many, many to many relationships can be created.
Forms allow you to enter or view data stored in your tables
Reports allow you to print data based on queries/tables that you have created
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Advantages of using electronic database system
A database can be used by many people at the same time.
Data is frequently updated after each single entry.
Data is automatically saved as soon as data is entered into a database.
Data can be retrieved in different formats e.g query, forms, reports, e.t.c
Disadvantages of using electronic database
They are very expensive to maintain and require initial cost
They are very complicated and complex to us.
They need technical requirements and knowledge.
Require extra cost of hardware and software
They consist of data failure.
Consumes a lot of space on the hard drives
Requires a lot of system currency and updating
Areas where a database can be used/applied
Report card generation: a database can be used by schools to generate
report cards and necessary academic summaries.
POS (Point of Sale): in a supermarket, a database is used to design and
automate a point of sale interface to manage money coming in, stock
movement, e.t.c. e.g. Standard Supermarket in Kampala.
Banks: a big database is used to manage details about a customer’s
transaction with the bank.
Electoral commission: it manages a database archive for all eligible voters
in a given country.
Data warehouses: information bureau use a database to manage and
distribute information to users for example information about air travel by
various air companies.
Stores: a database keeps consistent and reliable data. Very big stores used
databases to store, manage and automate store records.
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Data validation checks
a) Presence check is to make sure that data is actually present.
b) Length check is to make sure that the number of characters entered is within
the limit.
c) Range check is to make sure that the data entered lies within a certain range.
d) Type check (also known as character check or alphanumeric check) is to
make sure that the data entered is of the correct data type (e.g., numeric or
alphabetic).
e) A check digit is an extra digit appended to a code consisting of a series of
numbers or characters to detect errors arising from transcription
