Database User

One person classically constructs, defines and manipulates the database.  Although several persons are included in the use, design and maintenance of a huge database with a few hundred users. In this section we recognized the people whose jobs involve the day-to-day use of a large database; we call them the actors on the scene. And also we consider people who should be called workers behind the scene those who work to maintain the database system environment but who are not actively interested in the database itself.

Database administrators

If any organization where several persons use the similar resources, there is a requirement for a chief administrator to manage and oversee these resources. In a database environment the main resource is the database itself and the secondary resource is the DBMS and related software. To Administering these resources is the responsibility of the DBA (database administrator).

The  DBA has a  responsibility  for  authorizing  access  to  the  database and  for  monitoring and coordinating  its use and for acquiring hardware and software resources as required. The DBA is accountable for problems like as breach of security or poor system response time. In hige organizations, the DBA is assisted through a staff which helps in carrying out these functions.

Database designers

Database designers are responsible for choosing appropriate structures to represent and for identifying the data to be stored in the database and store this data. These tasks are mainly undertaken before the database is really implemented. It is the responsibility of database designers to communicate with all prospective database users, in order to understand their needs, and to come up with a design that meets these requirements.

In several cases, the designers are on the staff of the DBA and should be assigned other staff responsibilities after the database design is finished. Database designers classically interact with each potential group of users and develop a view of the database which meets the data and processing requirements of this group. These views are then integrated and analyzed with the views of other user groups. The last database design must be capable of supporting the requirements of all user groups.

End Users

There are the persons whose jobs need access to the database for updating, querying and generating reports; the database mainly exists for their use. There are various categories of end users.

- Casual  end  users  occasionally  access  the  database  but  they  may  required  variant information each time. They use a sophisticated database query language to specify their requests and are typically middle or other occasional browsers high-level managers.

- Parametric or Naive end users make up a sizable portion of database end users.  Their major job function revolves around constantly updating and querying the database by using standard types of updates and quires called canned transactions which have been carefully programmed and tested. We are all accustomed to dealing with various kinds of such users. Bank tellers check balances and post withdrawals then deposits. Reservation clerks for hotels, airlines and car rental companies check availability for a providing request and make reservations. Clerks at getting stations for courier mail enter package identifications through descriptive information and bar code by buttons to update a central database of received and in-transit packages.

- Sophisticated end users involve engineers, business analysts, scientists and others who by familiarize themselves with the facilities of the Data Base Management System so as to meet their complex needs.

- Stand-alone users maintain personal databases through using ready-made program packages which gives easy-to-use menu or graphics-based interfaces. An instance is the user of a tax package which stores a variety of personal financial data for tax purposes.

A classical DBMS gives multiple facilities to access a database. Naïve end users require learning very little about the facilities provided through the DBMS; they have only to understand the kinds of standard transactions designed and implemented for their use. The Casual users learn only a few facilities which may use repeatedly. A Sophisticated users try to learn most of the DBMS facilities in order to achieve their complex requirements. Stand-alone users classically become very proficient in using a specific software package.

System Analysts and application programmers

System analysts determine the needs of end users especially parametric and naïve end users, and establish specifications for canned transactions which meet these needs. Application Programmers implement these specifications as programs; then they debug, test, maintain and document, these canned transactions. Such programmers and analysts should be familiar with the full range of capabilities provided through the DBMS to accomplish their tasks.

Workers behind the Scene

Additionally to those who use, design and administer a database others are related with the design, development and operation of the Data Base Management System software and system environment. These persons are classically not interested in the database itself. We known them the workers behind the scene and they involved the following categories.

DBMS Designers and Implementers

These  are  persons  who  implement  and design the  DBMS  interfaces  and modules  as  a software package. A Data Base Management System is a complex software system which consists of several components or modules, involving modules for implementing the catalog, interface processors, query language, security and data access. The DBMS must interface with other system software, like as the compilers and operating system for several programming languages.

Tool developers

Tools are software packages which facilitate database system design and use and help in improving performance of the software. Tools are optional packages which are frequently purchased separately. They involve packages for graphical interfaces, database design, natural language, performance monitoring or prototyping, simulation and test data generation. Tool developers involve persons who design and implement such tools. In several cases, independent software vendors develop and market these tools.

Operators and maintenance personnel

Who are responsible for the real running and maintenance these are the system administration personnel of the software and hardware environment for the database system.While the above types of workers behind the scene are instrumental in making the database system available to end users they typically do not use the database for their own purposes.