Adapted from Jeffery A.

Hoffers
Modern Database Management,
12th Edition
Lecture # 5
Components of DB environment
Range of DB

Lecturer
Shermeen Adnan

1
 Components of DB Environment
Data Modeling and Design Tools
Automated tools used to design DBs and application
programs
Help in creating data models
Automatically generates code needed to create DB
CASE tools
Repository
Centralized knowledge base of all data definitions, data
relationships, screen and report formats and other system
components
Contains extended set of metadata
Definition of data
 Components of DB Environment
DBMS
Software system used to create, maintain and
provide controlled access to user DB
Database
Organized collection of logically related data
Designed to meet information needs of multiple
users in an organization
Occurrences of data
 Components of DB Environment
Application Programs
Computer based application program used to create
and maintain DB and provide information to users
User Interface
Includes languages, menus and other facilities by
which user interact with various system components
Data Administrators
Person responsible for overall management of data
resources in an organization
 Components of DB Environment
Database Administrators
Responsible for physical DB design and for managing
technical issues in the DB environment
System Developers
Persons who design new application programs i.e system
analysts, programmers
End Users
Person throughout the organization who add, delete and
modify data in the DB
Request and receive information from DB
All user interactions of end users with the DB must be
routed through the DBMS
Components of DB Environment
Several methods for people to
interact with data in DB.

Users can directly interact with

DB using UI provided by DBMS

Users
issue commands against the
database
Examine results
Store in MS Excel or Word

This interaction is known as

adhoc querying

User need to learn query

language
Components of DB Environment
Most business users dont
possess specialized knowledge

They access database using

application program

Key components of application

program
GUI
Business logic
Machine running user interface/
client

Machine running DBMS and

containing DB/ DB Server
 Range of DB Applications
The range of DB applications are divided into 3
categories
Location of client
Location of DB software
Personal Database
Multitier Client/Server Databases
Enterprise Database
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems
Data warehousing implementations
Web-enabled Database
Range of DB Applications
 Personal Database
Support one user (PCs)
Provides the user wit the ability to manage( store,
update, delete, and retrieve) small amounts of data
efficiently
Example : simple DB application that stores customer
information and other details can be
used from a PC
Transferred from one device to another for backup
purpose etc
Improve personal productivity
The data can not easily be shared with other users
Usable for small sales company where data sharing is
unlikely to arise
PC Databases

e.g.
Access,
FoxPro etc.