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Data Base

Flat file databases store data in plain text files with records separated by delimiters. They have a simple structure but cannot contain multiple tables like a relational database. While easy to use, flat file databases become inefficient as more data is added since there is no organization of data into folders or paths. Relational databases offer more complex storage and querying capabilities through languages like SQL.

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Awais Bin Asif
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20 views

Data Base

Flat file databases store data in plain text files with records separated by delimiters. They have a simple structure but cannot contain multiple tables like a relational database. While easy to use, flat file databases become inefficient as more data is added since there is no organization of data into folders or paths. Relational databases offer more complex storage and querying capabilities through languages like SQL.

Uploaded by

Awais Bin Asif
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Flat files are data files that contain records with no structured relationships.

Additional
knowledge is required to interpret these files such as the file format properties. Modern database
management systems used a more structured approach to file management (such as one defined by the
Structured Query Language) and therefore have more complex storage arrangements. In flat file data
base management system data is stored in a plain text file. Each line of the text file holds one record,
with fields separated by delimiters, such as commas or tabs. While it uses a simple structure, a flat file
database cannot contain multiple tables like a relational database can. Fortunately, most database
programs such as Microsoft Access and FileMaker Pro can import flat file databases and use them in a
larger relational database.

Flat file is also a type of computer file system that stores all data in a single directory. There are
no folders or paths used organize the data. While this is a simple way to store files, a flat file system
becomes increasingly inefficient as more data is added. The original Macintosh computer used this kind
of file system, creatively called the Macintosh File System (MFS). However, it was soon replaced by the
more efficient Hierarchical File System (HFS) that was based on a directory structure.

Flat File Database Advantages


 A flat file database is a one record per line text file, a binary file (or a combination of both
text and binary) file which separates columns by using "delimiters" which separate the fields in a
standard recognizable way. This helps in searching through records for information. Records can
also be delimited by fixed length. If a record is too short, some form of field-padding can be used
so that the length of the record is the same as the next. This allows for a uniform byte-length
from one field to the next.

Configuration files are often stored in XML (Extended Markup Language), which is a flat file
database with some quite specific delimiters, such as "greater than" and "less than" (<>)
symbols. These XML files are often used to build specific modules on a website, when the
standard build follows a very specific pattern that is configured by a single value stored in an
XML file, or a series of related values.

Flat File Database Disadvantages


 Databases accessed on a network share are useful for access by many people who are looking
for information. Flat file databases are not usually accessed like this since they belong with
offline entities and form the machinery of operating systems and local devices. Also, there are no
transactions in a flat file database, so it is limited in what it can actually do as a database entity.
So a flat file database is disadvantageous to a network user, who is accessing a multi-access,
multi-tasking relational online database which can be viewed from many different aspects.

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