CHAPTER 4: CONCEPTS OF DBMS

4.1 Databases defined

4.1.1 Introduction
Database: A database is an organized collecton of facts or data items. In other words it is a
collection of information arranged and presented to serve an assigned purpose.

4.1.2 Fundamental Concept of Database

Computer uses database by using a set of well defined rules. A database contains records, each of
which in turn has fields in it.

 Field: The smallest piece of meaningful information in a file is called a data item or field. A data
item is generally used for a group of alphanumeric characters.

 Record: A collection of related fields is called a record.

 File or table: A collection of related records that are used for getting information is called a file
or a table.

4.2 Relational Databases defined

Relational Database: Relational database means joining multiple tables used in an information
retrieval process according to some relationship specified by the user.
Visual FoxPro is a relational database manager, and gives you the choice to use one or more than one
files a time.
It enables to define relationships between two or more files.

4.3 Visual FoxPro 5.0

Visual FoxPro is a powerful and flexible database management system package. It includes a
programming language, an engine for relational database and an integrated development environment
(IDE), which allows developers to do absolutely everything they need. Visual FoxPro has an
excellent compatibility: a code written 5 years ago and still can with a minimum of work to be
maintained and improved. Visual FoxPro is also a tool for rapid development (and sustainable)
application (RAD) that enables developers to design applications sophisticated appearance with
minimal effort. Visual FoxPro is a leading database Management System. It is windows based
Graphical User Interface (GUI) RDBMS. The database is a broader concept in Visual FoxPro in
which the information is stored in related tables.

4.4 Starting Visual FoxPro

In order to start with Visual FoxPro, you must ensure that Visual FoxPro system is already installed
on your computer. To invoke Visual FoxPro, Double click the My Computer Icon on the Desktop
Window. Then double click C: drive. Now, click on Program Folder and then Microsoft Visual
Studio. Now double click the Microsoft Visual FoxPro icon as shown

Start->Program->Microsoft Visual FoxPro->Microsoft Visual FoxPro 5.0

Visual FoxPro Window Elements:

Title bar: Located at the top of a window, it displays the window name and the application window
title bar displays the name of the program.
Application window: It provides an interface between the user and the program.

Command Window: Command window is normally placed at the bottom right corner of the screen.
It is used for typing commands

Maximize/Restore button: It is located in the upper-right corner of each window. It controls size of
the window.

Minimum Button: Located in the upper right corner of each window. It reduces the window to an
icon.

Close Button: It closes the Visual FoxPro main window and returns to window desktop icon.

Menu bar: Located below the menu bar. It contains buttons for performing the most common
actions in Visual FoxPro
Standard Bar: Located below the menu bar. It contains buttons for performing the most common
actions in Visual Foxpro.

Status Bar: Located at the bottom of the application window. It displays various types of the
information related to the window that is currently opened..

4.5 File Type In Visual FoxPro

1. Project - used to hold other files such as tables, forms, reports, etc.

2. Database - collection of data files

3. Table - Table is a file used to store data

4. Query - help you ask questions about tables

5. Connections, View and Remote View

6. Form - Customize the way you view and edit table data

7. Report - enables you to group, summarize and print table data

8. Label - help create mailing labels

9. Program - Plain text file to hold Visual FoxPro programming code

10. Class - used in object oriented program

11. Text - plain text file

12. Menu - custom menu for application

4.6 Toolbar

1. New

2. Open

3. Save

4. Print

5. Print Preview

6. Spelling

7. Cut

8. Copy

9. Paste

10. Undo

11. Redo

12. Run
4.7 Command Window and View Window
You can issue commands by typing commands into the command window. View window is a quick
way of open
•Modify Command is the standard Text Editor of the Visual FoxPro.
•In short it is also called modi comm. It allows you to create and modify text. Using this text editor
you can code or modify a Visual FoxPro program.

Questions:
Q1. What is Database?
Q2. Explain:

a. Field

b. Record

c. Table

Q3. What is relational database?