DATABASE DESIGN

SALWA BINTI AWANG SHARINA AB WAHID NUR FAEZAH OSMAN NUR AMALINA MOHAMED ANAWA

Database design plays a major rule in application systems. Almost all courses/programs, which are related to software development and information technology, include at least one module on database systems.

DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Database Management System (DBMS) is a software system, which manages database construction, update, access control and maintenance. Examples of DBMS are My SQL, MS Access, Oracle, etc. Some DBMS are licensed software and some others are open source. You have to choose a DBMS as the database tool for your final year project if you are going to develop a database application

RDBMS VS OO DBMS

The most common DBMSs in market are Relational Database Management Systems(RDBMS). However, nowadays, there are Object Oriented Database Management System(OODBMS). RDBMS or OODBMS? If you about to do an ordinary application and you do not have previous background on OODBMS, and if your methodology is not object-oriented, do not think about using an OODBMS. Unless you have strong reason and desire to use OODBMS and it can give more facility that is not provided by RDBMS. If you choose to use RDBMS, choose the well-known RDBMS especially which you already had some experience. Some RDBMSs support Object Relational Models(ORM), you can use ORM only if the DBMS supports it.

DATA MODELLING

Data modeling which is also called conceptual database design is a core activity database application. It is comparable with the importance and the role of foundations of constructions in civil engineering. Assume you have had at least one module or course about database design before you start your final year project. However, this familiarity cannot guaranty that your database design is proper. Below you can find some tips on data modeling. Tips on data modeling: Use an automated tool, preferably the one that your chosen DBMS provides, for your data model. Apply normalization rules and normalize your database design at least to the third normalization form or to BCNF. Use understandable names for relations or tables and attributes or fields. Use proper data types and apply DBMS provided restrictions rules such as Not Null. Use proper naming for Foreign Keys and Relationships. Check your design by providing data through DBMS interface and control the expect outputs by running some Structured Query Language (SQL) commands on the provided data.

DATABASE DESIGN

Physical database design Data model = DBMS independent model Should be prepared according to a specific DBMS Attribute types Length Key types Attributes’ default values

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