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Computer and Technology |
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Relational Database Management Systems Presented by John Merrill John Merrill, Knightsbridge Solutions LLC, and Cyndi Merrill, CAS Systems, (pictured left), introduced the Area 2 Computer Users Group to the concept of Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS) and showed why they are so important, particularly to businesses. We are all familiar with flat files / spreadsheets. These work very well for simple databases but as the database becomes larger and larger it becomes much more difficult to work with efficiently. RDBMS respond quickly to simple queries rather than the slow and tedious procedures needed for complex spread sheet selects and sorts. RDBMS are also more scalable and make it possible to meet complex information needs, such as multiple business addresses, complex relationships among records such as supervisor, supervisee, CEO, multiple cities, etc., readily. John described a Relational Data Management System as a set of different sized tables, each somewhat like a spreadsheet, but with relationships which are sometimes quite complex among those tables. Relations between information items are explicitly specified as accessible attributes permitting ready access to data in all the tables in response to queries. He referred to this feature as a "Data-Centered Perspective." He then made a power point presentation describing various kinds of RDBMS with examples. Cyndi demonstrated in a very striking way the kinds of information that could be extracted readily from our CUG roster which had been fictionalized for the purpose of this presentation. |