Limitations of file based system, Database Management System

Assignment Help:

Limitations of File Based System

The file-based system has some limitations. The limitations are listed as follows:

  • Isolation and separation of data: When the data is stored in separate files it becomes complex to access. It becomes very complex when the data has to be retrieved from more than two files as a large amount of data has to be looked for.
  • Duplication of data: Because of the decentralised approach, the file system varies to uncontrolled duplication of data. This is disagreeable as the duplication leads to wastage of a lot of storage space. It also money and cost times to enter the data more than once. For instance, the address information of student may have to be duplicated in bus list file data.
  • Inconsistent Data: The data in a file system can become inconsistent if more than one person changes the data simultaneously, for example, if any student changes the residence and the change is notified to only his/her file and not to bus list. Putting wrong data is also another reason for inconsistencies.
  • Data dependence: The physical structure and storage of data files and records are distinct in the application code. This means that it is very difficult to make changes to the existing structure. The programmer would have to recognize all the affected programs, change them and retest them. This characteristic of the File Based system is known as program data dependence.
  • Incompatible File Formats: As the structure of the files is embedded in application programs, the structure is fully dependent on application programming languages. Therefore the structure of a file generated by COBOL programming language may be quite dissimilar from a file generated by 'C' programming language. This incompatibility makes them hard to process together. The application developer may have to develop software to change the files to some common format for processing. Though, this may be time consuming and expensive.
  • Fixed Queries: File based systems are very much dependent on application programs. Any report or query needed by the organisation has to be developed by the application programmer. With type, the time, and number of queries or reports increases. Producing dissimilar types of queries or reports is not possible in File Based Systems. As a result, in some organisations the kind of queries or reports to be produced is fixed. No latest query or report of the data could be produced.

Besides the above, the maintenance of the File Based System is complex and there is no provision for security. Recovery is non-existent or inadequate.


Related Discussions:- Limitations of file based system

Define access time, Define access time. Access time is the time from wh...

Define access time. Access time is the time from when a read or write request is issued to when data transfer starts.

Create table employee and enter employee data in sql, Create table employee...

Create table employee and enter employee data in SQL? Consider the following relational schemas: EMPLOYEE (EMPLOYEE_NAME, STREET, CITY) WORKS (EMPLOYEE_NAME, COMPANYNAME, SAL

How does query tree represent relational algebra expression, How does a que...

How does a query tree represent a relational algebra expression?  Discuss any three rules for query optimisation, giving example as to when should each rule be applied.     Ans

Give the general form of sql query, Give the general form of SQL query? ...

Give the general form of SQL query? Select  A1, A2............., An From  R1, R2..............., Rm Where  P

What is the use of integrity constraints, What is the use of integrity cons...

What is the use of integrity constraints? Integrity constraints make sure that changes made to the database by authorized users do not result in a loss of data consistency. The

What disadvantage of odbc does ole db overcome, What disadvantage of ODBC d...

What disadvantage of ODBC does OLE DB overcome? By breaking the features and the methods of a DBMS into COM objects, OLE DB characteristic overcomes a main disadvantage of ODBC

Determine the subsystem design issue, Determine the Other System Design Iss...

Determine the Other System Design Issue How to realise subsystems; through hardware or software? How is object model mapped on chosen hardware software? Mapping

System Analysis and design, Using the questions found at the end of Chapter...

Using the questions found at the end of Chapter 9 in your textbook, complete this homework activity. Students will submit a Word document answering questions 2, 3, and 4.

Explain the outer join, Define Outer join Outer join - If there are any...

Define Outer join Outer join - If there are any type of values in the one table that do not have corresponding value(s) in the other, in an equi-join which will not be selected

Explain the term- signal-to-noise ratio, Explain the term- signal-to-noise ...

Explain the term- signal-to-noise ratio A signal-to-noise ratio of 20 dB means that S/N = 100. As log2101 is around 6.658, the Shannon limit is around 19.975 kbps. The Nyquist

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd