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UNIT5 DBMS File Structure

The document discusses the structure of files in a Database Management System (DBMS), detailing four types of file organization: Heap, Sequential, Hash, and Clustered. It also outlines file operations, including update and retrieval operations, as well as modes for opening files, locating data, reading, writing, and closing files. The organization of data within a file significantly affects how records are accessed and managed.

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2 views

UNIT5 DBMS File Structure

The document discusses the structure of files in a Database Management System (DBMS), detailing four types of file organization: Heap, Sequential, Hash, and Clustered. It also outlines file operations, including update and retrieval operations, as well as modes for opening files, locating data, reading, writing, and closing files. The organization of data within a file significantly affects how records are accessed and managed.

Uploaded by

sk87556171
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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2/12/2018 DBMS File Structure

DBMS - File Structure


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Relative data and information is stored collectively in file formats. A file is a sequence of
records stored in binary format. A disk drive is formatted into several blocks that can store
records. File records are mapped onto those disk blocks.

File Organization
File Organization defines how file records are mapped onto disk blocks. We have four types
of File Organization to organize file records −

Heap File Organization


When a file is created using Heap File Organization, the Operating System allocates
memory area to that file without any further accounting details. File records can be placed

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2/12/2018 DBMS File Structure

anywhere in that memory area. It is the responsibility of the software to manage the
records. Heap File does not support any ordering, sequencing, or indexing on its own.

Sequential File Organization


Every file record contains a data field (attribute) to uniquely identify that record. In
sequential file organization, records are placed in the file in some sequential order based
on the unique key field or search key. Practically, it is not possible to store all the records
sequentially in physical form.

Hash File Organization


Hash File Organization uses Hash function computation on some fields of the records. The
output of the hash function determines the location of disk block where the records are to
be placed.

Clustered File Organization


Clustered file organization is not considered good for large databases. In this mechanism,
related records from one or more relations are kept in the same disk block, that is, the
ordering of records is not based on primary key or search key.

File Operations
Operations on database files can be broadly classified into two categories −

Update Operations

Retrieval Operations

Update operations change the data values by insertion, deletion, or update. Retrieval
operations, on the other hand, do not alter the data but retrieve them after optional
conditional filtering. In both types of operations, selection plays a significant role. Other
than creation and deletion of a file, there could be several operations, which can be done
on files.

Open − A file can be opened in one of the two modes, read mode or write
mode. In read mode, the operating system does not allow anyone to alter data. In
other words, data is read only. Files opened in read mode can be shared among
several entities. Write mode allows data modification. Files opened in write mode
can be read but cannot be shared.

Locate − Every file has a file pointer, which tells the current position where the
data is to be read or written. This pointer can be adjusted accordingly. Using find
(seek) operation, it can be moved forward or backward.
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Read − By default, when files are opened in read mode, the file pointer points to
the beginning of the file. There are options where the user can tell the operating
system where to locate the file pointer at the time of opening a file. The very next
data to the file pointer is read.

Write − User can select to open a file in write mode, which enables them to edit
its contents. It can be deletion, insertion, or modification. The file pointer can be

located at the time of opening or can be dynamically changed if the operating
system allows to do so.

Close − This is the most important operation from the operating system’s point of
view. When a request to close a file is generated, the operating system

removes all the locks (if in shared mode),


saves the data (if altered) to the secondary storage media, and
releases all the buffers and file handlers associated with the file.

The organization of data inside a file plays a major role here. The process to locate the file
pointer to a desired record inside a file various based on whether the records are arranged
sequentially or clustered.

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