BP#5 - SQL

Data is information about anything that could be related to an object. For e.g. it could be your height, name, weight, gender etc. A picture or a pdf file could also be considered data. A database is systematic collection of data. An online phone directory keeps systematic data about phone numbers, names and other contact information. A database could also contain data about properties of different window types or structural beams. Databases supports manipulation and storage of data and it makes management of data easy.

Programs that allows users to access database, manipulate data and report data are called Database Management System (DBMS). There are four major types of DBMS, where Rational DBMS is one of them. A rational DBMS is the most popular. It defines the relationships in database in form of tables (relations). This kind of DBMS does not support many relationships. An example of a relational DBMS is Microsoft SQL Server database (Structured Query language). When using SQL programming, database records can easily be deleted, updates, inserted or searched. SQL is in other words used to communicate with databases. 

Some of the most common relational database management systems that uses SQL are:

• Access
• Microsoft SQL Server
• Oracle
• Sybase
• Ingres 

Some advantages for SQL are:

• No coding is required in SQL. When using standard SQL it is easy to manage database systems. No extra coding is needed.
• SQL is portable. The data from SQL is supported by PCs, laptops, tablets and servers, which means, that the database can easily be moved from one device to another by using SQL.
• SQL databases uses a well defined standard, which is used by ANSI and ISO.
• SQL makes it possible to have multiple data views of the structure for different users.

Sources:

https://www.guru99.com/introduction-to-database-sql.html

http://www.sqlcourse.com/intro.html

https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-SQL

Comments on others:

Julie Hansted Andersen: I like your description of how a relational database is put together. It gives a nice overview and the picture is a good illustration.

M Kaptue: I like how you link the databases to Revit, since this is the program we have just been working with!

YIDI LI: For construction firms it is very important to keep track of many projects at the same time and planning and the right information is key to not get delayed and loose money. I like how you incorporate the DBM in the use in construction firms.