Use of database Essay Example for Free

Use of database EssayComputer technology has given many precious gifts to mankind. One of them is the database technology. It has made administration, trade and commerce very easy, fine and fast. Operations which used to take large judgment of conviction, and were still profuse of errors, are now managed in few seconds, and are cent percent free of errors. At the heart of this remarkable success is the software schedule, which helps creation, segmentation , categorization and retrieval of databases. These computer programs are known as database management transcriptions, DBMS programs have a long history. Starting from very simple programs in 1960s they have developed into large, complex software packages like Oracle. succession the management functions remain the same, the utility survey and the facilities maintained in unuseder versions differ vastly from their predecessors. This essay briefly analyzes the DBMS program used in a particular department of an organizati on and proposes hoe improvements could be made over the existing use of DBMS program. The organization is a market research agency. One of the departments is pharmaceutical research. The function of this department is to gather prescriptions of doctors from various(a)geographic locations across the country, analyze the symptoms, diagnosis and the medicines prescribed by the Doctor. These prescriptions are codified according to standardized international codes. Based on this coding, a infer report is then prepared, which specifies which drug is used more in a given geographic location. This market research is very important to pharmaceutical companies for making their marketing strategies. Here, the database program used for coding the symptoms, diagnosis and drugs is taken as an example for analysis. First, the function of coding is explained with an example.Visits a doctor with a complaint of billow throat and difficulty in swallowing, coupled with fever. According to the dir ectory of codes of symptoms of the company, symptom soar throat has a code 3323, difficulty in swallowing has a code 1018 and fever has a code 1286. If the doctor diagonizes throat infection as the cause for these symptoms, the code for it, as specified by WHO is J029. (ICD-10). Now, the doctor prescribes MOX-500 capsules, a drug which has Amoxycillin as its main content. The code of this drug is 05377-73, as per the company specification.Those who do this coding job have to frequently refer to each code. The sum total of symptoms, diagnosis and drugs runs into a few thousand entries. Manual reference to these codes is very cumbersome. A database management program is designed to aids the computer programmers. The package used is Foxpro. It is a twain way system, wherein, the code could be traced if the stimulate is given as an input and the name is given as an fall output if the number is given as an input. So, the coder can trace the code from any name and conversely, the nam e can overly be traced with thehelp of a numeric code. Like all the state of matter ground programs, this program is a very robust program, and easy to use. Name to Number program This program contains all the data associate to the symptoms, diagnosis and the drugs. While the name and its respective code are the main parameters displayed, the drug table also reveals the type of drug e. g. syrup. Tablet, capsule, injection etc and its respective capacities e. g. 5 ml, 200mg etc. creation a DOS based program, the database is indexed by the computer, each time it is accessed. The key command for a new entry are alt-s keys on the keyboard. Even if the full name is non types, the program takes to the alphabetically ordered names of the data. For example, if only soar is typed as a new entry, the program gives and output of the first entry, out of all the entries starting from alphabets soar, or just typing pen will take the user to the first entry alphabetically listed with pen as the first three letters. The cursor needs to be taken down to locate the drug penicillin. Instructions regarding the keyboard controls for retrieval of information, traverse of the cursorand exit from the program are permanently displayed at the bottom of the entomb. These are the read only features. This means only three operations are possible on the program by the coder. Either he can type a name and get the code, or he can traverse the cursor or he can exit. It bears typical resemblance to the WordStar program, where the controls for operations were displayed whenever the program used to start. It is a completely textual program, simply because the basic software package, Foxpro/ Dos version, did not offer any GUI facilities. Like all otherDOS based programs, colors are non existent in this program. It is a black and white screen throughout its use. Number name program Many times the coder need a reverse retrieval to be performed. That is, given a number, the identical na me of the symptom, diagnosis and the drug is to be traced. This program offers this facility also. When the number is entered, its validity is checked and if it is a correct number corresponding to the database, then the name of the drug, diagnosis or the symptom is given out as an output. In the case of drug display, the other parameters likethe type e. g. syrup, tablet, capsule etc are also displayed. This part also has all the features and limitations typically associated with a DOS based program. This program, even in its present form, based on the technology of early nineties is extremely useful to the coders. Especially when it comes to coding few hundred prescriptions every day, this program helps in a speedy and precise coding procedure. The codes are create verbally manually by the coder on a printed form on paper. Improvements Several improvements are not only possible on the current system but it is a necessary demand of time.First, Windows 98 is soon expiring as the l ast GUI operating system which can support DOS based applications. The next most popular OS, Windows-XP does not support DOS based applications. Even the new and latest processors like the Dual Core by Pentium and motherboards, do not support Windows-98. Hence, technically, it will be impossible to run this program, the latest computers. It is the demand of time, that a Windows based DBMS used. This can be MS Access, Foxpro/ Win, or Oracle, but a switch over to GUI based application using is a must. Second, the codes, after being retrieved, are written manually.A new application needs to be developed, wherein the need to write the codes separately on a different sheet is eliminated. The coder inserts the name of the symptom, diagnosis or the drug and the corresponding number of the code should be automatically entered in the blank format of the form. The concept of relational database comes into picture over here. The database needs to be related to many blank forms, in such a way that a new form comes on the screen no sooner one is over. As soon as the name is typed in the form, the code must be retrieved by the software and entered in the form.The third factor is to add the utility shelter of the program. The same program can be extended to keep a record of the name of the coder who has accessed this program and the amount of work done by him/her. This feature facilitates speedy calculation of the monetary remuneration to be given to the coder. A record of signing in time and sign out time will also tell how much time the coder has put in. This record would be useful to gauge the efficiency of the coder. Seeing to the requirements of the improved version, a switch over to Oracle is more desirable, for the versatility and flexibility it offers.One more issue arises out of this discussion. Is the development in computers heading in the right burster? Despite all the progress in the software industry, no program has been able to replace the command. com fil e of DOS. All versions of Windows also rely upon DOS for their booting functions. Similarly, coders do not have any problem with the program they are working at present, which is over a decade old. The basic question is Is all the development necessary? Or is it that needs are first created and then devices are made to suffice them? Or is it that underthe umbrella of user friendly broadside Gates has prevented people from getting to know the inner aspects of a computer? A calculator was a good invention, but has it always helped mankind? Has it not put limitations on the mental calculating capacities? Our ancestors had no problems in adding 40 numbers , fast and precise. For the present generation it is impossible. The developments in computers, have reduced the computer, a PC, to a mere entertainment tool, and the internet has become a tool for chat and social networking for a vast majority of users. Any development is factual only if it helps in sharpening of minds, not rusting it