| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Field of research:
Databasemanagementsystems |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
 |
|
Adjustment problems when the data model changes:
To change something to the database, so all programs that access this data must be converted from also. |
An important area of the data base sector are the so-called ad hoc queries. Especially on the top levels of a company, it is important to be able to quickly execute flexible and independent queries which – due to their great number and complexity – cannot possibly be all defined in advance. This also shows the need for simple solutions in this area.
It has to be noted that due to the great demand there already exist numerous tools, both from renowned as well as from smaller providers. All of these tools, however, are as a matter of principle bound to existing data structures and require a basic knowledge of these structures. One of the most difficult tasks for developers is the merging of different data base systems, for example of two data bases of different companies. Two independent data bases have completely different data structures and sometimes completely different table fields. Merging such different data bases is a task of several months, despite all relevant tools.
Starting from these problems, which many medium-sized and large companies have to struggle with, we have been able to develop a series of methods that can remedy the situation in this area to a considerable extent. A few of these methods have already been protected by patent by the company “mediareif”. However, the developments in this area have not yet come to a stillstand. |
|
|
| |
Relational data bases, especially those that have been used for many years, are constantly growing
and have to be adapted to new circumstances again and again.
In this context, the term "new circumstances" for example denotes those cases in which adaptations become necessary due to new requirements, new legal regulations, new business models, company mergers or also as a consequence of velocity problems. Even when assuming that such cases do not occur daily in individual companies, their solution is extremely time-consuming and entails high costs. Furthermore, there exists an extremely high number of companies having to deal with such problems.
One good example out of many is the Basel-2 project in the banking sector; the implementation of this project in the data base sector is estimated to entail costs of billions of Euro. Currently existing programs were developed anew as in most cases the underlying data structures had changed. These changes of the data structures themselves were implemented quickly, however, the adaptation of existing statements and program flows constituted the greatest part of the implementation efforts. (illustration)
To be able to represent internal company processes and a company’s external contacts data bases with up to several hundred tables and a multiple number of linkages (relations) between these tables are required. SAP which administers about 30,000 tables may be named as one of the most popular examples. For an expert dealing with such data bases it has become almost impossible to keep a complete data structure in his/her head and carry out all related administrative tasks on his/her own.
This is shown by the fact that large data bases require the work of several programmers, each of them responsible for a specific area. It is not uncommon to have a team of twenty or more experts responsible for the maintenance of one data base. In many cases fundamental system changes have to be carried out over work periods of several months, followed by a test phase of the same length.
Therefore, savings in this area have important consequences for the overall maintenance costs. |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
|
|
