what was used to create a database before the advent of DBMS? Please show me how to make a relational database

Answer 1

A database is a database is a database.... the only thing that current software has done, is to take away the process of writing actual code, and automated several reporting features.

You start out by writing code to receive data... "Input Fields"
Then you write code telling the computer where to save your data
Then you write code telling the computer how to sort the information for a report, and what that report should look like.

What code you use, will depend on the computer you are using. I learned how to do all this in Basic, and COBOL.... nothing has changed since then, except the actual computer language, and, as Ive already mentioned, making things easier for those who do not know how to "write code".

Imagine, if you will, creating an "intake form"... lets use an address book for an example, its a nice simple version of a database. You need to define what information you are seeking... lets say, name (first and last), phone number, mailing address, gender, we can even throw in some interesting tidbits, like what company do they work for, or what hobbies do they have? Once you have your intake form prepared, you are ready to enter data into your database.

Now, youve got to decide how to store the "records"... each intake form, creates 1 "record". In most cases, the early programs simply stored the information in the order it was entered. Think of a filing cabinet, if you will, and the forms are simply stuffed into the back of the drawer, as you fill them out.

Ok,... now you need to decide what kinds of reports you want to generate from this information. Perhaps you want a simple report, sorting the infromation alpabetically? You then instruct the computer to go thru the records, and give them to you in alphabetical order... on the really old systems... this would be a printout. (waaaaay back before we had monitors, lol) Maybe you want ONLY names and phone numbers in that list....so you have your report generated that way. Or... maybe you'd like to know everyone in your database that has the same hobby. You see? There isnt anything special about data base management... databases were around long before there were computers.... computers just sped things up, and made it easier to retrieve the information.

I suggest you check a library for some programming books. Look for anything on BASIC, or even some of the very early data base software packages. (Used book stores usually have a few of these) All of the current software packages have tutorials in them. I'd also recommend that you take a computer programming class, if you really want to learn how to do this.

Have Fun!

Answer 2

Before the advent of the current crop of databases was the Codasyl database. Links are not dynamically assigned between tables.
Before that, it was pretty much file based access instead of record based.
Showing you how to do this is easy if you have Microsoft Access. Put your data in normal form in tables and then draw links between the tables. You will have a relational database.