LECTURE 1

INTRODUCTION TO PROCESSING SYSTEMS

Scope of Lecture
What is data? - definition - hierarchy of data What is information? - definition - sources of information Types of processing systems

Data
Data is fact about objects, people or entities - structured (character, number, date, etc) - unstructured (audio, video, maps, photo, etc) Hierarchy of data - bit - byte - field - record - file - database

Data in Context
Fig 1.1a Context helps users understand data

Data Operations
Capture Store Retrieve Classify Calculate Replicate Sort Summarise Validate Communicate

Information
The product of the analysis and synthesis of data

Data ->Information -> Knowledge -> Value

Sources of information - college - hospital - hotel - etc

Graphical displays turn data into useful information that managers can use for decision making and interpretation

Information Characteristics
Complete Accurate Relevance Timeliness

Types of Processing Systems

Manual processing system - definition a collection of records with common attributes stored in file cabinets or other non-electronic storage devices Disadvantages - not flexible - difficult to control (unwieldy)

File Processing Systems

Introduced in 1954 by UNIVAC I GE Definition - stores groups of records in separate electronic computer files Consists of a set of programs & a set of data files Use to reflect data processing requirements of a particular organisation or business enterprise

File Processing (Programming in C)

/*read formatted file data with fscan f()*/ #include <stdlib.h> #include <stdio.h> Main () { float f1, f2, f3, f4, f5; File * fp; if ((fp = fopen (INPUT.TXT,r)) == NULL) { fprintf (stderr, Error in opening file. \n); exit (1); }

..continue
fscanf (fp,%f%f%f%f%f,&f1,&f2,&f3,&f4,&f5); printf(The values are %f%f%f%f and %f\n.,f1,f2,f3,f4,f5); fclose (fp); return (0); }

Figure 1-1c Three file processing systems

Advantages of a File Processing Systems

Faster Accurate Automated Good file organisation

Disadvantages of a File Processing Systems

Program data dependence Data redundancy (duplication) leads to wastage of storage spaces Data inconsistency leads to lack of integrity Data sharing is limited leads to data availability constraints Data security is not guaranteed Data management problem in controlling data Lengthy development times Excessive program maintenance

Problems with Data Redundancy

Waste of space to have duplicate data Causes more maintenance headaches The biggest problem:
When data changes in one file, could cause inconsistencies Compromises data integrity