8.2 Conventional Files and Databases

Before we proceed to the core of database design, we need to know the differences between conventional files and database. Both of these approaches have its own advantages and disadvantages, but since years ago, more organizations are moving forward choosing database as the data storage for the information system.

8.2.1 Conventional Files

Conventional files also known as file processing. It stores, manages data in one or more than one separate files. Organizations mainly use file processing to handle large volumes of structured data on a regular basis. Many older systems utilize the use of file processing because this approach is well suited to mainframe hardware and batch input. It's also because lower cost and more efficient than database. But, there is problems arise so organizations were changing to use database. Three major problems exist in file processing are :

i)	Data redundancy
	Occurs when the same data but stored in several places. It may cause mores storage for same data, and it will cost more when updating and maintaining data process. Sometimes, data updating is only be done at one place but not at all places.
ii)	Data integrity
	Occurs when updates are not applied in every file. Changing data in only certain places but not at all places will cause inconsistent data and result in incorrect information. It's because same entity should be refer to same data.

8.2 Conventional Files and Databases

iii)	Rigid data structure
	Business must make a decision based on company-wide data and manager often require information from multiple unit from the company. But, retrieving information from independent, file-based system is slow and inefficient.

8.2.2 Database System

A proper design of a database system will provide a solution for problems of file processing. In database environment several systems can be built around a single database. When designing a database, we need to consider what type of Database Management System will be used. A database management system (DBMS) is a collection of tools, features, and interfaces that enable users to add, update, manage, access, analyze and also delete the content of a set of data. Some of advantages of DBMS are :

i)	Scalability
	The system can be expanded, modified or downsized easily to meet the rapidly changing needs of an organization.
ii)	Better support
	In a client/server system, processing is distributed throughout the organization. It may require the power and flexibility of a database design.

8.2 Conventional Files and Databases

iii)	Economy of scale
	The use of database allows better utilization of hardware because database processing is at a lower cost.
iv)	Flexible data sharing
	Data can be shared among the parties, allowing more users to access more data, allows more than one user to access same information.