CMSC 127
File Processing & Database System
Overview of File Processing System
Wk 2 – Lec 2
What is File Processing?
File processing consists of creating, storing, and/or retrieving the
contents of a file from a recognizable medium.
For example:
• to save word-processed files to a hard drive,
• to store a presentation on floppy disk,
• open a file from a CD-ROM.
What is File Processing?
Creating a File
1. Location. decide where it would be located. A file can be located on the root drive.
Alternatively, a file can be positioned inside of an existing folder. Based on security
settings, a user may not be able to create a file just anywhere in the (file system of
the) computer.
2. Name of the file. The user must give it a name following the rules of the operating
system combined with those of the file system. The most fundamental piece of
information a file must have is a name.
3. Operation. Once the file is created, it can be opened, updated, modified, renamed,
etc.
What is File Processing System?
• A file processing system is a collection of files and programs that access/ modify
these files.
• New files and programs are added (by programmers) over time as new
information needs to be stored and new ways to access information are needed.
• Each business application was designed to use one or more specialized data files
containing only specific types of data records.
• The data are organized, stored and processed in independent files of data record.
• Programs are customized to process these data.
Each department creates,
stores and maintains their
own data independent from
each other.
Each department use
software or develop
application/s to process
their data.
This will result to silos of
applications or apps that do
not interact with
other applications or IS.
A siloed application is any
software that functions on
its own to solve a problem.
What is File Processing System?
What is File Processing System?
Disadvantages of File Processing System
1. Program-data dependence
2. Duplication of data
3. Incompatibility of Files
4. Limited Data Sharing or Data Isolation
5. Lengthy development Time
6. Excessive Program Maintenance
7. Fixed Queries and Proliferation of Application Programs
8. Integrity Problems
Disadvantages of File Processing System
1. Program-Data Dependence
Disadvantages of File Processing System
3. Incompatibility of Files
• The structures are depended on the application programming
language since structure of files is embedded in the application
code
Disadvantages of File Processing System
7. Fixed Queries and Proliferation of Application Programs
• Dependent upon the application programmer
• Any queries or report that are required have to be written by the
programmer
8. Integrity Problems
• Data values must satisfy certain consistency constraints which
are specified in the programs
• Difficult to add/change the program to enforce new constraint.
Thank you!