123:, i.e., (structured) data about information. The software package for a stand-alone data dictionary or data repository may interact with the software modules of the DBMS, but it is mainly used by the designers, users and administrators of a computer system for information resource management. These systems maintain information on system hardware and software configuration, documentation, application and users as well as other information relevant to system administration.
27:
214:, which communicates with the underlying DBMS data dictionary. Such a "high-level" data dictionary may offer additional features and a degree of flexibility that goes beyond the limitations of the native "low-level" data dictionary, whose primary purpose is to support the basic functions of the DBMS, not the requirements of a typical application. For example, a high-level data dictionary can provide alternative
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The data dictionary consists of record types (tables) created in the database by systems generated command files, tailored for each supported back-end DBMS. Oracle has a list of specific views for the "sys" user. This allows users to look up the exact information that is needed. Command files contain
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In an active data dictionary constraints may be placed upon the underlying data. For instance, a range may be imposed on the value of numeric data in a data element (field), or a record in a table may be forced to participate in a set relationship with another record-type. Additionally, a distributed
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features provides the ability to use DataDictionaries as class files to form middle layer between the user interface and the underlying database. The intent is to create standardized rules to maintain data integrity and enforce business rules throughout one or more related applications.
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When a passive data dictionary is updated, it is done so manually and independently from any changes to a DBMS (database) structure. With an active data dictionary, the dictionary is updated first and changes occur in the DBMS automatically as a result.
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developers can benefit from an authoritative data dictionary document that catalogs the organization, contents, and conventions of one or more databases. This typically includes the names and descriptions of various
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such as min and max values, display width, or number of decimal places. Different field types may interpret this differently. An alternative is to have different attributes depending on field type.
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is closely coupled with the DBMS software. It provides the information stored in it to the user and the DBA, but it is mainly accessed by the various software modules of the DBMS itself, such as
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comply with through its policy handbook. This intermediate mapping layer for MLSs' native databases is supported by software companies which provide API services to MLS organizations.
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Some industries use generalized data dictionaries as technical standards to ensure interoperability between systems. The real estate industry, for example, abides by a
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Automated query optimization method using both global and parallel local optimizations for materialization access planning for distributed databases
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327:(DDS) to describe data attributes in file descriptions that are external to the application program that processes the data, in the context of an
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sometimes include high-level data dictionary facilities, which can substantially reduce the amount of programming required to build
226:. Additionally, DBA functions are often automated using restructuring tools that are tightly coupled to an active data dictionary.
46:, is a "centralized repository of information about data such as meaning, relationships to other data, origin, usage, and format".
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In the construction of database applications, it can be useful to introduce an additional layer of data dictionary software, i.e.
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If a data dictionary system is used only by the designers, users, and administrators and not by the DBMS Software, it is called a
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table in Oracle stores information about every table in the database. It is part of the data dictionary that is created when the
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DBMS may have certain location specifics described within its active data dictionary (e.g. where tables are physically located).
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compilers, the query optimiser, the transaction processor, report generators, and the constraint enforcer. On the other hand, a
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defines it as a collection of tables with metadata. The term can have one of several closely related meanings pertaining to
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tailored to suit different applications that share a common database. Extensions to the data dictionary also can assist in
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data dictionary provides cross-DBMS facilities for automated database creation, data validation, performance enhancement (
244:, reports, and other components of a database application, including the database itself. For example, PHPLens includes a
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for multiple databases. Another PHP-based data dictionary, part of the RADICORE toolkit, automatically generates program
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diagrams (ERDs), or if using set descriptors, identifying which sets database tables participate in.
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Here is a non-exhaustive list of typical items found in a data dictionary for columns or fields:
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Various event handlers or references to. Example: "on-click", "on-validate", etc. See
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Reference table name, if a foreign key. Can be used for validation or selection lists.
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Entity or form name or their ID (EntityID or FormID). The group this field belongs to.
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Set of metadata that contains definitions and representations of data elements
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There is no universal standard as to the level of detail in such a document.
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Prompt type, such as drop-down list, combo-box, check-boxes, range, etc.
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343:(FOSS) for structured and transactional queries in open environments.
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that extends or supplants the native data dictionary of a DBMS
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indicate a more general software utility than a catalogue. A
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Displayed field title. May default to field name if blank.
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Coordinates on screen (if a positional or grid-based UI)
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Database management system with active data dictionary
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is created. Developers may also use DDS context from
625:"Real Estate Transaction Standards (RETS) Web API"
251:to automate the creation of tables, indexes, and
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68:describing a database or collection of databases
1229:Data warehousing products and their producers
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79:that is required to determine its structure
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677:"DDS documentation for IBM System i V5R3"
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730:Data Dictionary vs. Business Glossary
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499:Ramez Elmasri, Shamkant B. Navathe:
167:) plus additional details, like the
30:A simple layout of a data dictionary
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691:"Oracle Concepts - Data Dictionary"
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1114:MultiDimensional eXpressions (MDX)
552:, 28 February 1985, Honeywell Bull
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501:Fundamentals of Database Systems
422:characteristics or specification
381:Field display order or tab order
309:National Association of REALTORS
119:is a data structure that stores
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724:Data Dictionaries (Web archive)
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413:or COBOL-style "PIC" statements
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1014:Extract, load, transform (ELT)
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325:data description specification
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1083:Decision support system (DSS)
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372:(string, integer, date, etc.)
341:free and open-source software
234:rapid application development
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1109:Data Mining Extensions (DMX)
539:, 19 November 1985, AT&T
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870:Ensemble modeling patterns
840:Single version of the truth
488:IBM Dictionary of Computing
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130:Otherwise, it is called an
58:database management systems
44:IBM Dictionary of Computing
21:Dictionary (data structure)
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1224:Comparison of OLAP servers
582:What is a Data Dictionary?
518:What is a data dictionary?
319:Platform-specific examples
216:entity-relationship models
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1268:Knowledge representation
720:Structured Analysis Wiki
594:Base One Data Dictionary
523:12 February 2009 at the
404:event-driven programming
287:and index utilization),
128:passive data dictionary.
19:Not to be confused with
1119:XML for Analysis (XMLA)
568:7 November 2007 at the
416:Description or synopsis
409:Format code, such as a
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906:Operational data store
396:Is-read-only (Boolean)
305:RESO's Data Dictionary
163:) and their contents (
132:active data dictionary
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1068:Business intelligence
548:U.S. Patent 4769772,
535:U.S. Patent 4774661,
224:distributed databases
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884:Focal point modeling
856:Column-oriented DBMS
805:Dimensional modeling
611:5 April 2018 at the
490:, 10th edition, 1993
463:Vocabulary OneSource
358:Field name, such as
289:application security
42:, as defined in the
1189:Information factory
962:Early-arriving fact
879:Data vault modeling
830:Reverse star schema
468:Metadata repository
230:Software frameworks
193:CREATE UNIQUE INDEX
187:SQL Statements for
177:entity-relationship
171:and length of each
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411:regular expression
347:Typical attributes
220:query optimization
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189:CREATE TABLE
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1078:Data mining
820:Star schema
700:13 February
655:nar.realtor
629:nar.realtor
253:foreign key
197:ALTER TABLE
148:application
82:A piece of
1252:Categories
1184:Bill Inmon
988:Degenerate
957:Fact table
661:11 October
635:11 October
580:RADICORE,
474:References
362:field name
293:data types
281:Base One's
275:. For the
212:middleware
206:Middleware
95:The terms
84:middleware
1102:Languages
1088:OLAP cube
1073:Dashboard
1024:Transform
976:Dimension
931:Data mart
866:Data mesh
835:Aggregate
800:Dimension
728:Octopai,
718:Yourdon,
561:PHPLens,
514:SearchSOA
232:aimed at
142:Database
105:catalogue
73:component
54:databases
1273:Metadata
1217:Products
1061:Concepts
926:Metadata
915:Elements
861:Data hub
849:Variants
795:Database
788:Concepts
609:Archived
606:features
566:Archived
521:Archived
427:See also
376:Measures
333:sys.ts$
257:portably
222:against
161:entities
121:metadata
66:document
60:(DBMS):
1167:Related
1019:Extract
1002:Filling
967:Measure
285:caching
277:ASP.NET
265:scripts
261:objects
157:records
1177:People
368:Field
331:. The
165:fields
153:tables
49:Oracle
1128:Tools
901:ROLAP
896:MOLAP
891:HOLAP
486:ACM,
360:RDBMS
329:IBM i
273:joins
242:forms
238:menus
144:users
75:of a
38:, or
1029:Load
950:Fact
815:OLAP
810:Fact
702:2017
663:2020
637:2020
370:type
313:MLSs
169:type
146:and
111:and
99:and
77:DBMS
56:and
246:PHP
159:or
134:or
113:DML
109:DDL
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