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Identifying The Applications and The Database Schema

This chapter discusses how Oracle Forms Builder fits into the system development life cycle and how to identify the necessary applications, processes, and database schema through data modeling techniques. Specifically, it covers using data flow diagrams to identify application processes and data flows, using entity relationship diagrams to design the database schema by modeling entities and their relationships, and generating a data schema diagram from the ERD. The goal is to analyze system requirements and design the database before developing forms with Forms Builder.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
30 views36 pages

Identifying The Applications and The Database Schema

This chapter discusses how Oracle Forms Builder fits into the system development life cycle and how to identify the necessary applications, processes, and database schema through data modeling techniques. Specifically, it covers using data flow diagrams to identify application processes and data flows, using entity relationship diagrams to design the database schema by modeling entities and their relationships, and generating a data schema diagram from the ERD. The goal is to analyze system requirements and design the database before developing forms with Forms Builder.

Uploaded by

anikitab
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 36

Chapter 1

Identifying the Applications and


the Database Schema

Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder 1


In this chapter you will:

• Learn how Oracle Forms Builder is integrated into the


system development life cycle
• Use data flow diagrams to identify applications,
processes, and the data needed for the processes
• Use entity relationship diagrams to initiate the design of
the database schema
• Use the data schema diagram to identify the database
properties
• Learn how Forms Builder uses the Oracle9i database

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Integration of Oracle Forms Builder into the
System Development Life Cycle
• The system development life cycle (SDLC) consists of a
series of phases that describe the life of an information
system.

• Phases are:
 Project identification and selection
 Project initiation and planning
 Analysis
 Logical design
 Physical design
 Implementation
 Maintenance

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Integration of Oracle Forms Builder into the
System Development Life Cycle
• Rapid application development (RAD) is a subset of the
SDLC phases.

• RAD enables a developer to implement a system in a


shorter time period than traditional methods.

• Forms Builder 9i is a development tool that supports both


the traditional and RAD approaches.

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Integration of Oracle Forms Builder into the
System Development Life Cycle
• Systems have three types of applications:

 Forms or screens
 Reports
 Processes that run without being seen by a user

• Forms Builder 9i is used to develop forms.

• Forms Builder 9i allows the developer to prototype forms


early in the SDLC.

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Integration of Oracle Forms Builder into the
System Development Life Cycle
• Prototyping is a RAD approach that helps the designer
identify system requirements.

• Designer 9i is another Oracle tool used in the analysis


and design phases.

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Integration of Oracle Forms Builder into the
System Development Life Cycle
• Designer 9i is a computer-aided software engineering
(CASE) tool. It is used to:

 Develop data flow diagrams


 Create entity relationship diagrams
 Generate data schema diagrams
 Generate data definition language (DDL) commands
needed to create the database objects
 Generate form modules containing the data items
needed by the form

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Integration of Oracle Forms Builder into the
System Development Life Cycle

Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder 8


Using Data Flow Diagrams to Identify
Application, Processes, and Data
• Before a developer can begin a form, the developer must
first identify the following:

 The needed forms


 The data elements needed on the form
 The data elements that are output from the form
 Business rules that affect the data
 Tables that support the data structure

Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder 9


Using Data Flow Diagrams to Identify
Application, Processes, and Data
• A data flow diagram is a good place to start.

• The purpose of a data flow diagram is to identify the


processes in a system and the data that flows in and out
of the process.

• Processes that require interaction by an operator will


require a form.

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Using Data Flow Diagrams to Identify
Application, Processes, and Data
• Data flow diagrams consist of four symbols:

 External entity (source or sink) – Something outside


the system that sends in or receives data
 Process – An action performed in the system
 Data flow -- Data moving into or out of a process
 Data store -- Data at rest

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Using Data Flow Diagrams to Identify
Application, Processes, and Data
• A form’s data needs can be identified by reviewing the
process’ incoming and outgoing data flows.

• Data flow documentation consists of the data elements


contained in the flow as well as the entity associated with
the data elements.

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Using Data Flow Diagrams to Identify
Application, Processes, and Data

Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder 13


Using Entity Relationship Diagrams to
Initiate the Design of the Database Schema
• Before a form can be built the database must be
designed.

• An entity relationship diagram (ERD) is the tool used to


design and depict the conceptual design of the database.

• Database elements are associated with an entity.

• The set of entity attributes describes or models the entity.

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Using Entity Relationship Diagrams to
Initiate the Design of the Database Schema
• Entities are then associated with other entities. This
shows how they are related.

• Entities will eventually be turned into a table.

• An entity instance relates to a record in a table.

Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder 15


Using Entity Relationship Diagrams to
Initiate the Design of the Database Schema
• There are three type of entities:

 Regular entity
 Weak entity
 Associative entity

Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder 16


Using Entity Relationship Diagrams to
Initiate the Design of the Database Schema
• Regular entities exist on their own. (Student)

• Weak entities must have a parent. (Courses offered,


parent is Courses)

• Associative entities relate two entities in a many to many


relationship. (Courses Taken relates Students with the
Courses Offered)

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Using Entity Relationship Diagrams to
Initiate the Design of the Database Schema

Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder 18


Using Entity Relationship Diagrams to
Initiate the Design of the Database Schema
• Regular and weak entities are often shown on a form in a
master-detail layout.

• The master form section contains unique entity instances.


(Student)

• The detail form section contains repeating weak entity


instances. (Courses Taken)

• Records in the master-detail layouts are related through


primary and foreign keys.

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Using Entity Relationship Diagrams to
Initiate the Design of the Database Schema
• An entity must have an identifier. The identifier must
have these features:

 Value must be unique


 Value must not be changeable
 Identifier must always contain a value

• Regular entities should have an identifier consisting of


one data element.

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Using Entity Relationship Diagrams to
Initiate the Design of the Database Schema

• Weak entities generally have an identifier consisting of


multiple data elements. One of which is the foreign key.

• A foreign key is a value that is the primary key in another


entity.

• Entities represent the actual databases tables.

Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder 21


Using Entity Relationship Diagrams to
Initiate the Design of the Database Schema
• Entities (and tables) are related to each other.

• ERDs depict three types of relationships.

 Unary - an entity is related to itself (i.e. an


Employee is managed by another employee)
 Binary - an entity is related to one other entity (i.e. a
Student has Courses Taken)
 U-nary - an entity is related to several different
entities

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Using Entity Relationship Diagrams to
Initiate the Design of the Database Schema

Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder 23


Using Entity Relationship Diagrams to
Initiate the Design of the Database Schema
• Entity or table relationships have two important
properties. These are:

 Cardinality
 Ordinality

Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder 24


Using Entity Relationship Diagrams to
Initiate the Design of the Database Schema
• Cardinality indicates the number of related instances. A
Student can have many Courses Taken instances.
However, a Courses Taken instance can only have one
Student.

• Ordinality indicates whether an instance of the related


entity must occur. A Student instance can occur with a
Courses Taken instance. However, a Courses Taken
instance cannot exist without a Student instance.

Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder 25


Using Entity Relationship Diagrams to
Initiate the Design of the Database Schema

Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder 26


Using Entity Relationship Diagrams to
Initiate the Design of the Database Schema
• Designer 9i has the ability to create a data schema
diagram from the entity relationship diagram.

• Designer 9i has forms used to document the data


elements in each entity.

• Designer 9i has forms used to document the entities that


support the data flow.

• Designer 9i takes the entity information and creates the


data schema diagram, the tables, and the table
constraints.
Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder 27
Using Entity Relationship Diagrams to
Initiate the Design of the Database Schema

Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder 28


Using Entity Relationship Diagrams to
Initiate the Design of the Database Schema

Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder 29


Using Entity Relationship Diagrams to
Initiate the Design of the Database Schema

Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder 30


Using Entity Relationship Diagrams to
Initiate the Design of the Database Schema

Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder 31


Using Entity Relationship Diagrams to
Initiate the Design of the Database Schema

Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder 32


Using Entity Relationship Diagrams to
Initiate the Design of the Database Schema
• Forms Builder has wizards that grab information from the
database when creating forms.

• Forms Builder gives form items their names based upon


the corresponding database table column.

• Forms Builder sets the data type and length of all data
items based on the database table columns.

Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder 33


Using Entity Relationship Diagrams to
Initiate the Design of the Database Schema

• Forms Builder ensures NOT NULL constrained form


items have the Required property set to YES.

• Forms Builder identifies the primary and foreign key


columns when creating master-detail forms.

Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder 34


Where You Are and Where You’re Going
• You have briefly reviewed the system development life
cycle.

• You have seen how Oracle Forms Builder fits within this
life cycle.

• You have seen how data flow diagrams are used to


identify applications processes and data.

• You were introduced to entity relationship diagrams and


data schema diagrams.

• You saw how Forms Builder uses the Oracle9i database.

Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder 35


Where You Are and Where You’re Going

• In the next chapter you will be introduced to Forms


Builder.

• You will learn how to build and execute a form.

• You will learn how to use wizards to create a simple form.

Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder 36

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