The Benefits of using a referential database (Your Opinion)

[B-Master]

Hi Everyone, i am not so much looking for help on a database more of your professional opinions on a question, I am writing an assignment and almost complete but i thought i would ask the masses there opinion on the subject to gain varied arguments. Your answers will greatly assist in the completion of my assignment. More importantly how you would go about the question below.


Question: Explain the benefits to users of relational database systems, especially when compared to traditional file-based approaches to data (MS word/Excel). How would you best convince a client that a relational database is better for them than there current method of data entry.

Thank you for taking the time to read this your input will enable me to add reflection to my assignment

[June7]

Google: advantages of relational database

http://www.teach-ict.com/as_as_compu...iniweb/pg8.htm

[B-Master]

Thanks June7 for taking the time to reply and "googling", i do appreciate that however i am looking for peoples professional opinions on how they would convince a client that a referential database is better than traditional methods. i am therefore looking for experienced peoples opinions on this question not something you can gain from a Google search.

[June7]

I agree with the reasons in that article and it is stated so much better than I could express.

Maybe the one that people can most easily comprehend is the efficiency gained during data entry by not having to repetitively enter the same data for multiple records. Say you have 5 orders from customer A. In a flat file it would necessary to enter the customer number, name, address, phone number, etc. in all 5 rows. Sure, can do copy/paste or drag cells in a spreadsheet but in a relational database even that additional activity would not be needed. Just pick the customer name from a combobox and the customer number is saved with the order record. When the related customer info needs to be viewed build a query that joins the related tables.

[Rawb]

While there is more setup involved, relational databases provide much greater data fidelity and higher performance. And once the setup part is done, they are easier and faster to enter data into and can provide more checks to ensure data validity than a flat file document does.

Additionally, I don't know of ANY copy of Word or Excel that could open a 2GB document. Access, however, can!