Relational Database Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Relational Database - Essay Example The data stored in such databases includes the past data and archives too along with the current one. Object oriented databases have now become very popular as they provide a greater degree of flexibility in data storage and also provide a resource efficient storage mechanism. The data storage in the object oriented databases is in the form of objects instead of storing as rows and columns. The integration and connectivity of individual systems provide support to connect stand alone machines. In the current environment, the databases are all linked at the backend. This provides for client-server database architecture which gives a whole new dimension to existing database structure. The databases today are based on client-server architecture and provide support for multimedia content. They are huge in size as storage costs are not of much concern today. Data warehouses act as archives and analytical tool for the historical data. Relational database was a revolution in the field of databases. The idea of having a tabular structure composed of rows and columns was a ground breaking proposition to make storage and retrieval easier than ever before. Peter Rob in his book describes the relational database in terms of storage and representation. The relational database model allows the designer to focus on the logical representation of the data and its relationships than the physical storage details. The tables are all logical, having the similar physical storage mechanisms at the backend. Each table is referred to as relation, and hence called relational database, having a unique attribute(s) which make up the primary key. Each table is linked to one or more tables through the primary key and foreign key architecture. The relational databases use the concept of indexing for making the search faster and easier. The indexes are not the keys, but are attributes used for faster

In what ways, and for what reasons, did the form and function of the Essay

In what ways, and for what reasons, did the form and function of the printed book change during the first hundred years of its existence in Europe - Essay Example There are different purposes for printing: to inform, educate, sell, and entertain or to impress. The function aspect of printing includes the audience, copywriting the message and cost of printing (Grendler 1993, p43). Form and function have to work together in order to accomplish a printing goal. Print has a rich and long history, dating back to 500-800 AD, when Chinese used woodblock kind of printing. This printing was called the woodblock method (Eisenstein 2005, p52). It involved engraving the background on wood. This was used for both illustrations and text. Page normally consisted of multiple wood blocks joined together. When the page was complete, it would then be inked and a printing surface such as a sheet of paper placed over it. This kind of printing usually consumed a lot of time and effort and it was also not durable (Moran 1973, p45). Printing as we know it could not have been possible without the important invention of Johann Gutenberg. This German inventor came up with a printing press that completely changed the world of printing (Childress 2008, p37). The printing press is a machine that integrates several technologies such as ink and paper and movable type printing. The printing press also changed the function and form of the printed book during the first h undred years of its existence in renaissance Europe (Grendler 1993, p45). This paper aims at exploring the ways in which the printed book’s form and function changed during this time. It also analyses the reasons that led to this change. In order to print one has to have type. The types used in printed books were somewhat different from those used in Manuscripts. Type fonts were created depending on the local scripts that were in use (Grendler 1993, p61). Much of the type used in the early years of printing was usually calligraphic, meaning that it imitated handwriting. In 1476, the Englishman William Caxton