The Computer Revolution/Software/Database

reserved for group 4

Database management system

The Database management system (DBMS)is a collection of interrelated data together with a set of programs to access the data, also called database system, or simply database. A major purpose of a database system is to provide users with an abstract view of the data.That is, the system hides certain details of how the data are stored and maintained. Thereby, data can be stored in complex data structures that permit efficient retrieval, yet users see a simplified and easy-to-use view of the data. The lowest level of abstraction, the physical level, describes how the data are actually stored and details the data structures. The next-higher level of abstraction, the logical level, describes what data are stored, and what relationships exist among those data. The highest level of abstraction, the view level, describes parts of the database that are relevant to each user; application programs used to access a database form part of the view level. [[1]]

Free DBMS software

~Berkeley DB

~MySQL

~mSQL

~Firebird

~PostgreSQL

~SAP DB

~Xindice

~Apache Derby

~SQLite

~HSQLDB

What Is a Database?

It is a collection of related data kept on a computer and organized well enough to be easily retrievable. The data is organized into fields, records, and files. A field/column is a single type of data that is to be stored in a database, like a last name or telephone number. A record/row is a group of related fields, like the name, address, and major of Phyllis Hoffman. A table is a collection of related rows, like all student address data.

A Database

Creating a Database

First a files needs to be created, then the objects that the database is going to contain. Every time the Access is launched it gives the user the option of creating a new and blank database file/template or opening an already existing one. These will open in Datasheet view, which shows a table with rows and columns.

One of the easiest ways to create databases is to use Microsoft Access. When the program opens you are in a blank database. In the bottom right corner type the name of your database. After that you are shown in Datasheet View with a blank Database with just the Field ID as the Primary Key. To change the Primary Key text you double click in the field and type what you desire as the Primary Key. To add fields to the database you right click on the tab that says click to add fields. Then choose one of the field types: Text, Number, Currency, Date & Time, Yes/No, Lookup & Relationship, Rich Text, Memo, Attachments, Hyperlinks, Calculated Field, and Paste as Fields. Once you have chosen what you want to add to the Database you can type that form of data within the cell. To add lines to your database just press the Enter Key. Once you are done with your database you can add all the same formatting that you are used to in any other application within Microsoft. Some of them include Font Color, Background, Table Styles, Conditional Formatting, and Table Formatting. Every time you open the database it automatically updates your information stored within the database.

Marketing Database and Government Database

Add Description of Kexi, Addressbook

Marketing Database contain Marketing and demographic data about people, such as where they live and what products they buy. This type of information is used for marketing purposes, such as sending advertisements flyers by mail or email that fit each individual’s interests or trying to sign people up over the phone for some type of service. For example, when you subscribe a magazine, fill out a sweepstakes entry or any product registration card, or buy any product or service using a credit card, there is a good chance that the information will find its way into a marketing database. Marketing database is also used with Web activities such as social network activity and searches performed via Facebook, MySpace, Twitter etc data can be tracked and used for marketing purposes. Google also collect enormous amounts of data about individuals, worries many privacy advocates. Google may have data stored about your search history via search site, browsing history such as Google Chrome, e-mail – Gmail account, appointments such as Google calendar, telephone messages – Google voice, photos – Picasa Web Albums, reading history – Google books, and media history, and Google health.

Information about individuals is also available in Government databases. Some information such as Social Security earnings, income tax returns, is confidential and can legally be seen only by authorized individuals. Other information – such as birth records, marriage certificates, and divorce information, as well as property purchases, assessments, liens, tax values – is available to the public, as well as to marketing companies that specialize in creating marketing databases. Other government databases application is the creation of national ID system that link’s driver’s license databases, I-Pass ID is also linked to the State government databases. There is a big advantage of these online databases and one of them is checking the background of a potential employee or looking up a misplaced phone number etc. And also to keep an eye on hackers who is stealing all these information from these databases. In short, both these databases are useful and helpful to all these organizations.