Database Users

MMS 144 – Principles of Multimedia Information Management

Revision History
February 2024 : Converted to slides – Ria Borromeo
February 2020 : Main content – Reginald Recario
Learning Outcomes
1. Database Users
2. Actors on the Scene
3. Workers on the Scene
4. References

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Learning Outcomes
At the end of this topic discussion, the student should able to:
• Enumerate and differentiate the two types of database users
• Enumerate and explain the different actors in the scene
• Enumerate and explain the different workers behind the scene

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 Database Users
There are two types of database users:
(1) Actors on the scene
(2) Workers behind the scene

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Actors on the Scene

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Actors on the Scene
Actors on the scene are users who:
(1) Use and control the database content
(2) Design, develop and maintain database applications

Examples: Database administrators (DBAs), Database designers, End-

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Actors on the Scene
Database Administrators (DBAs)
• Authorizes access to the database
• Coordinates and monitors the use of the database system
• Acquires software and hardware resources
• Monitors efficiency of operations

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Actors on the Scene
Database Designers
• Defines the content, structure, constraints, and functions or
transactions against the database
• Communicates with end-users to understand their needs

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Actors on the Scene
End-users use the database for queries and reports. Some of them also
update the database content. They can be categorized as follows:
1. Casual – accesses the database occasionally when needed
2. Naïve or Parametric – uses previously well-defined functions in the form
of canned transaction against the database
3. Sophisticated – users who are thoroughly familiar with the DBMS
capabilities. Many of the muse tools in the form of software packages
that work closely with the stored database. Examples: business analysts,
scientists, engineers,
4. Stand-alone – they mostly maintain personal databases using ready-to-
use packaged applications

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Actors on the Scene
System Analysts
• Users who determine the requirements of end-users and develop
specifications for canned transactions that meet these requirements.

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What are canned transactions?
They are are pre-written, standardized transactions that are used
frequently in a database system. They are designed to perform
specific operations on a database, such as retrieving data or
updating records. These transactions are pre-written by database
administrators or developers and can be used repeatedly without
modification.

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Actors on the Scene
Application Programmers
• Implement the specifications as programs
• Test, debug, document, and maintain the canned transactions

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Workers Behind the Scene

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Workers Behind the Scene
Workers behind the scene are users who:
(1) Design and develop the DBMS software and related tools
(2) Operate the computer systems

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Workers Behind the Scene
Database system designers and implementers
• Design and implement the DBMS modules and interfaces as a
software package

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Workers Behind the Scene
Tool Developers
• Design and implement the tools or software packages that facilitate
database modeling, database system design, and improved
performance
• Examples of tools; DBVusualizer, Easy SQL Data Compare

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Workers Behind the Scene
Operator and maintenance personnel
• Responsible for the actual running and maintenance of the hardware
and software environment for the database system

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References
• R. Elmasri and S.B. Navathe. 2016. Fundamentals of
Database Systems. 7th Edition. Addition Wesley.
• P. Muneesawang, N. Zhang and L. Guan. 2014. Multimedia
Database Retrieval: Technology and Applications. Springer
International Publishing.
• V. S. Subrahmanian. 1998. Principles of multimedia database
systems. Morgan Kaufmann Publishers Inc., San Francisco,
CA, USA.

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What type of user are you?

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