materi SIA chapter 4


CHAPTER 4
          Relational Databases
          INTRODUCTION
          Questions to be addressed in this chapter:
        How are databases different than file-based legacy systems?
        Why are databases important and what is their advantage?
        What is the difference between logical and physical views of a database?
        What are the fundamental concepts of database systems such as DBMS, schemas, the data dictionary, and DBMS languages?
        What is a relational database, and how does it organize data?
        How are tables structured to properly store data in a relational database?
          INTRODUCTION
          Relational databases underlie most modern integrated AISs.
        They are the most popular type of database used for transaction processing.
        In this chapter, we’ll define the concept of a database.
          FILE VS. DATABASES
          Let’s examine some basic principles about how data are stored in computer systems.
        An entity is anything about which the organization wishes to store data.  At your college or university, one entity would be the student.
          FILE VS. DATABASES
        Information about the attributes of an entity (e.g., the student’s ID number and birth date) are stored in fields.
          FILE VS. DATABASES
        All the fields containing data about one entity (e.g., one student) form a record.
        The example below shows the record for Artie Moore.
          FILE VS. DATABASES
        A set of all related records forms a file (e.g., the student file).
        If this university only had three students and five fields for each student, then the entire file would be depicted below.
          FILE VS. DATABASES
        A set of interrelated, centrally coordinated files forms a database.
          FILE VS. DATABASES
          Database systems were developed to address the problems associated with the proliferation of master files.
        For years, each time a new information need arose, companies created new files and programs.
        The result:  a significant increase in the number of master files.
          FILE VS. DATABASES
          This proliferation of master files created problems:
        Often the same information was stored in multiple master files.
        Made it more difficult to effectively integrate data and obtain an organization-wide view of the data.
        Also, the same information may not have been consistent between files.
          If a student changed his phone number, it may have been updated in one master file but not another.
          FILE VS. DATABASES
          A database is a set of inter-related, centrally coordinated files.
          FILE VS. DATABASES
          The database approach treats data as an organizational resource that should be used by and managed for the entire organization, not just a particular department.
          A database management system (DBMS) serves as the interface between the database and the various application programs.
          FILE VS. DATABASES
          The combination of the database, the DBMS, and the application programs that access the database is referred to as the database system.
          FILE VS. DATABASES
          The person responsible for the database is the database administrator.
          As technology improves, many large companies are developing very large databases called data warehouses.
          IMPORTANCE AND ADVANTAGES OF DATABASE SYSTEMS
          Database technology is everywhere.
        Most new AISs implement a database approach.
        Virtually all mainframe computer sites use database technology.
        Use of databases with PCs is growing also.
          IMPORTANCE AND ADVANTAGES OF DATABASE SYSTEMS
          As accountants, you are likely to audit or work for companies that use database technology to store, process, and report accounting transactions.
        Many accountants work directly with databases and will enter, process, and query databases.
        Some will develop and evaluate internal controls necessary to ensure database integrity.
        Others will be involved in the design and management of databases.
          IMPORTANCE AND ADVANTAGES OF DATABASE SYSTEMS
          Database technology provides the following benefits to organizations:
        Data integration
          IMPORTANCE AND ADVANTAGES OF DATABASE SYSTEMS
          Database technology provides the following benefits to organizations:
        Data integration
        Data sharing
          IMPORTANCE AND ADVANTAGES OF DATABASE SYSTEMS
          Database technology provides the following benefits to organizations:
        Data integration
        Data sharing
        Reporting flexibility
          IMPORTANCE AND ADVANTAGES OF DATABASE SYSTEMS
          Database technology provides the following benefits to organizations:
        Data integration
        Data sharing
        Reporting flexibility
        Minimal data redundancy and inconsistencies
          IMPORTANCE AND ADVANTAGES OF DATABASE SYSTEMS
          Database technology provides the following benefits to organizations:
        Data integration
        Data sharing
        Reporting flexibility
        Minimal data redundancy and inconsistencies
        Data independence
          IMPORTANCE AND ADVANTAGES OF DATABASE SYSTEMS
          Database technology provides the following benefits to organizations:
        Data integration
        Data sharing
        Reporting flexibility
        Minimal data redundancy and inconsistencies
        Data independence
        Central management of data
          IMPORTANCE AND ADVANTAGES OF DATABASE SYSTEMS
          Database technology provides the following benefits to organizations:
        Data integration
        Data sharing
        Reporting flexibility
        Minimal data redundancy and inconsistencies
        Data independence
        Central management of data
        Cross-functional analysis
          DATABASE SYSTEMS
          Logical and Physical Views of Data
        In file-oriented systems, programmers must know the physical location and layout of records used by a program.
          They must reference the location, length, and format of every field they utilize.
          When data is used from several files, this process becomes more complex.
          DATABASE SYSTEMS
          Database systems overcome this problem by separating the storage and use of data elements.
        Two separate views of the data are provided:
          Logical view
          DATABASE SYSTEMS
          Database systems overcome this problem by separating the storage and use of data elements.
        Two separate views of the data are provided:
          Logical view
          Physical view
          DATABASE SYSTEMS
          Database systems overcome this problem by separating the storage and use of data elements.
        Two separate views of the data are provided:
          Logical view
          Physical view
        Separating these views facilitates application development, because programmers can focus on coding the logic and not be concerned with storage details.
          DATABASE SYSTEMS
          The DBMS handles the link between the physical and logical views of the data.
        Allows the user to access, query, and update data without reference to how or where it is physically stored.
        The user only needs to define the logical data requirements.
          DATABASE SYSTEMS
          Separating the logical and physical views of data also means users can change their conceptualizations of the data relationships without making changes in the physical storage.
          The database administrator can also change the physical storage of the data without affecting users or application programs.
          DATABASE SYSTEMS
          Schemas
        A schema describes the logical structure of a database.
        There are three levels of schema.
          Conceptual level
          DATABASE SYSTEMS
          Schemas
        A schema describes the logical structure of a database.
        There are three levels of schema.
          Conceptual level
          External level
          DATABASE SYSTEMS
          Schemas
        A schema describes the logical structure of a database.
        There are three levels of schema.
          Conceptual level
          External level
          Internal level
          DATABASE SYSTEMS
          The DBMS uses the mappings to translate a request by a user or program for data (expressed in logical names and relationships) into the indexes and addresses needed to physically access the data.
          DATABASE SYSTEMS
          Accountants are frequently involved in developing conceptual- and external-level schema.
          An employee’s access to data should be limited to the subschema of data that is relevant to the performance of his job.
          DATABASE SYSTEMS
          The Data Dictionary
        A key component of a DBMS is the data dictionary.
          Contains information about the structure of the database.
          For each data element, there is a corresponding record in the data dictionary describing that element.
          DATABASE SYSTEMS
          Information provided for each element includes:
        A description or explanation of the element.
        The records in which it is contained.
        Its source.
        The length and type of the field in which it is stored.
        The programs in which it is used.
        The outputs in which it is contained.
        The authorized users of the element.
        Other names for the element.
          DATABASE SYSTEMS
  • Accountants should participate in the development of the data dictionary because they have a good understanding of the data elements in a business organization, as well as where those elements originate and how they are used.
          DATABASE SYSTEMS
          The DBMS usually maintains the data dictionary.
        It is often one of the first applications of a newly implemented database system.
        Inputs to the dictionary include:
          Records of new or deleted data elements.
          Changes in names, descriptions, or uses of existing elements.
        Outputs include:
          Reports that are useful to programmers, database designers, and IS users in:
        Designing and implementing the system.
        Documenting the system.
        Creating an audit trail.
          DATABASE SYSTEMS
          DBMS Languages
        Every DBMS must provide a means of performing the three basic functions of:
          Creating a database
          Changing a database
          Querying a database
          DATABASE SYSTEMS
          DBMS Languages
        Every DBMS must provide a means of performing the three basic functions of:
          Creating a database
          Changing a database
          Querying a database
          DATABASE SYSTEMS
          Creating a database:
        The set of commands used to create the database is known as data definition language (DDL).  DDL is used to:
          Build the data dictionary
          Initialize or create the database
          Describe the logical views for each individual user or programmer
          Specify any limitations or constraints on security imposed on database records or fields
          DATABASE SYSTEMS
          DBMS Languages
        Every DBMS must provide a means of performing the three basic functions of:
          Creating a database
          Changing a database
          Querying a database
          DATABASE SYSTEMS
          Changing a database
        The set of commands used to change the database is known as data manipulation language (DML).  DML is used for maintaining the data including:
          Updating data
          Inserting data
          Deleting portions of the database
          DATABASE SYSTEMS
          DBMS Languages
        Every DBMS must provide a means of performing the three basic functions of:
          Creating a database
          Changing a database
          Querying a database
          DATABASE SYSTEMS
          Querying a database:
        The set of commands used to query the database is known as data query language (DQL).  DQL is used to interrogate the database, including:
          Retrieving records
          Sorting records
          Ordering records
          Presenting subsets of the database
        The DQL usually contains easy-to-use, powerful commands that enable users to satisfy their own information needs.
          DATABASE SYSTEMS
          Report Writer
        Many DBMS packages also include a report writer, a language that simplifies the creation of reports.
        Users typically specify:
          What elements they want printed
          How the report should be formatted
        The report writer then:
          Searches the database
          Extracts specified data
          Prints them out according to specified format
          DATABASE SYSTEMS
          Users typically have access to both DQL and report writer.
          Access to DQL and DML are typically restricted to employees with administrative and programming responsibilities.
          RELATIONAL DATABASES
          A DBMS is characterized by the type of logical data model on which it is based.
        A data model is an abstract representation of the contents of a database.
        Most new DBMSs are called relational databases because they use the relational model developed by E.F. Codd in 1970.
          RELATIONAL DATABASES
          The relational data model represents everything in the database as being stored in the forms of tables (aka, relations).
          RELATIONAL DATABASES
          This model only describes how the data appear in the conceptual- and external-level schemas.
          The data are physically stored according to the description in the internal-level schema.
          RELATIONAL DATABASES
          Alternatives for Storing Data
        One possible alternate approach would be to store all data in one uniform table.
        For example, instead of separate tables for students and classes, we could store all data in one table and have a separate line for each student x class combination.
          RELATIONAL DATABASES
          Alternatives for Storing Data
        Another possible approach would be to store each student in one row of the table and create multiple columns to accommodate each class that he is taking.
          RELATIONAL DATABASES
          Basic Requirements of a Relational Database
        Every column in a row must be single valued.
          In other words, every cell can have one and only one value.
          In the student table, you couldn’t have an attribute named “Phone Number” if a student could have multiple phone numbers.
          There might be an attribute named “local phone number” and an attribute named “permanent phone number.”
          You could not have an attribute named “Class” in the student table, because a student could take multiple classes.
          RELATIONAL DATABASES
          Basic Requirements of a Relational Database
        The primary key cannot be null.
          The primary key uniquely identifies a specific row in the table, so it cannot be null, and it must be unique for every record.
          This rule is referred to as the entity integrity rule.
          RELATIONAL DATABASES
          Basic Requirements of a Relational Database
        A foreign key must either be null or correspond to the value of a primary key in another table.
          This rule is referred to as the referential integrity rule.
          The rule is necessary because foreign keys are used to link rows in one table to rows in another table.
          RELATIONAL DATABASES
          Basic Requirements of a Relational Database
        All non-key attributes in a table should describe a characteristic of the object identified by the primary key.
          Could nationality be a non-key attribute in the student table?
          Could advisor’s nationality be a non-key attribute in the student table?
          RELATIONAL DATABASES
          The preceding four constraints produce a well-structured (normalized) database in which:
        Data are consistent.
        Redundancy is minimized and controlled.
          In a normalized database, attributes appear multiple times only when they function as foreign keys.
          The referential integrity rule ensures there will be no update anomaly problem with foreign keys.
          RELATIONAL DATABASES
          An important feature is that data about various things of interest (entities) are stored in separate tables.
        Makes it easier to add new data to the system.
          You add a new student by adding a row to the student table.
          You add a new course by adding a row to the course table.
          Means you can add a student even if he hasn’t signed up for any courses.
          And you can add a class even if no students are yet enrolled in it.
        Makes it easy to avoid the insert anomaly.
          Space is also used more efficiently than in the other schemes.  There should be no blank rows or attributes.
          RELATIONAL DATABASES
          Deletion of a class for a student would cause the elimination of one record in the student x class table.
        The student still exists in the student table.
        The class still exists in the class table.
        Avoids the delete anomaly.
          RELATIONAL DATABASES
          There are two basic ways to design well-structured relational databases.
        Normalization
        Semantic data modeling
          RELATIONAL DATABASES
          There are two basic ways to design well-structured relational databases.
        Normalization
        Semantic data modeling
          RELATIONAL DATABASES
          Normalization
        Starts with the assumption that everything is initially stored in one large table.
        A set of rules is followed to decompose that initial table into a set of normalized tables.
        Objective is to produce a set of tables in third-normal form (3NF) because such tables are free of update, insert, and delete anomalies.
        Approach is beyond the scope of this book but can be found in any database textbook.
          RELATIONAL DATABASES
          There are two basic ways to design well-structured relational databases.
        Normalization
        Semantic data modeling
          RELATIONAL DATABASES
          Semantic data modeling (covered in detail in Chapter 15)
        Database designer uses knowledge about how business processes typically work and the information needs associated with transaction processing to draw a graphical picture of what should be included in the database.
        The resulting graphic is used to create a set of relational tables that are in 3NF.
          RELATIONAL DATABASES
          Advantages over simply following normalization rules:
        Semantic data modeling uses the designer’s knowledge about business processes and practices; it therefore facilitates efficient design of transaction processing databases.
        The resulting graphical model explicitly represents information about the organization’s business processes and policies and facilitates communication with intended users.
          RELATIONAL DATABASES
          Creating Relational Database Queries
        Databases store data for people and organizations.
        To retrieve the data, you query the database and its tables.
        Chapter 4 of your textbooks provides some samples of database queries in Microsoft Access.
        Try these on your own and/or with your instructor in class.
          DATABASE SYSTEMS AND THE FUTURE OF ACCOUNTING
          Database systems may profoundly affect the fundamental nature of accounting:
        May lead to abandonment of double-entry accounting, because the redundancy of the double entry is not necessary in computer data processing.
        May also alter the nature of external reporting.
          EXAMPLE:  External users could have access to the company’s database and manipulate the data to meet their own reporting needs.
          DATABASE SYSTEMS AND THE FUTURE OF ACCOUNTING
          The use of accounting information in decision making will be enhanced by:
        Powerful querying capabilities that accompany database packages.
        The ability to accommodate multiple views of the same underlying phenomenon.
        The ability to integrate financial and operational data.
          DATABASE SYSTEMS AND THE FUTURE OF ACCOUNTING
          Accountants must become knowledgeable about databases so they can participate in developing the AIS of the future.
          They must help ensure that adequate controls are included to safeguard the data and assure its reliability.
          SUMMARY
          You’ve learned how databases differ from file-based legacy systems.
          You’ve learned why databases are important and what advantages they offer.
          You’ve learned how the logical and physical views of a database differ.
          You’ve learned about fundamental concepts of database systems such as DBMS, schemas, the data dictionary, and DBMS languages.
          You’ve learned what a relational database is and how it organizes data.
          You’ve learned how tables are structured to properly store data in a relational database.

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