134:, 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.
225:, 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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338:(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
237:. Additionally, DBA functions are often automated using restructuring tools that are tightly coupled to an active data dictionary.
57:, 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 (
255:, 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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Is-required (Boolean) - If 'true', the value can not be blank, null, or only white-spaces
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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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354:(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
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641:"Real Estate Transaction Standards (RETS) Web API"
262:to automate the creation of tables, indexes, and
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90:that is required to determine its structure
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693:"DDS documentation for IBM System i V5R3"
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178:) plus additional details, like the
41:A simple layout of a data dictionary
707:"Oracle Concepts - Data Dictionary"
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568:, 28 February 1985, Honeywell Bull
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517:Fundamentals of Database Systems
433:characteristics or specification
392:Field display order or tab order
320:National Association of REALTORS
130:is a data structure that stores
740:Data Dictionaries (Web archive)
424:or COBOL-style "PIC" statements
18:Data Description Specifications
1151:Business intelligence software
1030:Extract, load, transform (ELT)
1025:Extract, transform, load (ETL)
608:Base One International Corp.,
336:data description specification
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1099:Decision support system (DSS)
519:, 3rd. ed. sect. 17.5, p. 582
383:(string, integer, date, etc.)
352:free and open-source software
245:rapid application development
1125:Data Mining Extensions (DMX)
555:, 19 November 1985, AT&T
886:Ensemble modeling patterns
856:Single version of the truth
504:IBM Dictionary of Computing
141:Otherwise, it is called an
69:database management systems
55:IBM Dictionary of Computing
32:Dictionary (data structure)
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1240:Comparison of OLAP servers
598:What is a Data Dictionary?
534:What is a data dictionary?
330:Platform-specific examples
227:entity-relationship models
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794:Creating a data warehouse
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1284:Knowledge representation
736:Structured Analysis Wiki
610:Base One Data Dictionary
539:12 February 2009 at the
415:event-driven programming
298:and index utilization),
139:passive data dictionary.
30:Not to be confused with
1135:XML for Analysis (XMLA)
584:7 November 2007 at the
427:Description or synopsis
420:Format code, such as a
1067:Using a data warehouse
922:Operational data store
407:Is-read-only (Boolean)
316:RESO's Data Dictionary
174:) and their contents (
143:active data dictionary
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1084:Business intelligence
564:U.S. Patent 4769772,
551:U.S. Patent 4774661,
235:distributed databases
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900:Focal point modeling
872:Column-oriented DBMS
821:Dimensional modeling
627:5 April 2018 at the
506:, 10th edition, 1993
479:Vocabulary OneSource
369:Field name, such as
300:application security
53:, as defined in the
1205:Information factory
978:Early-arriving fact
895:Data vault modeling
846:Reverse star schema
484:Metadata repository
241:Software frameworks
204:CREATE UNIQUE INDEX
198:SQL Statements for
188:entity-relationship
182:and length of each
51:metadata repository
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422:regular expression
358:Typical attributes
231:query optimization
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282:and complex
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200:CREATE TABLE
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82:An integral
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1161:Spreadsheet
1094:Data mining
836:Star schema
716:13 February
671:nar.realtor
645:nar.realtor
264:foreign key
208:ALTER TABLE
159:application
93:A piece of
1268:Categories
1200:Bill Inmon
1004:Degenerate
973:Fact table
677:11 October
651:11 October
596:RADICORE,
490:References
373:field name
304:data types
292:Base One's
286:. For the
223:middleware
217:Middleware
106:The terms
95:middleware
1118:Languages
1104:OLAP cube
1089:Dashboard
1040:Transform
992:Dimension
947:Data mart
882:Data mesh
851:Aggregate
816:Dimension
744:Octopai,
734:Yourdon,
577:PHPLens,
530:SearchSOA
243:aimed at
153:Database
116:catalogue
84:component
65:databases
1289:Metadata
1233:Products
1077:Concepts
942:Metadata
931:Elements
877:Data hub
865:Variants
811:Database
804:Concepts
625:Archived
622:features
582:Archived
537:Archived
438:See also
387:Measures
344:sys.ts$
268:portably
233:against
172:entities
132:metadata
77:document
71:(DBMS):
1183:Related
1035:Extract
1018:Filling
983:Measure
296:caching
288:ASP.NET
276:scripts
272:objects
168:records
1193:People
379:Field
342:. The
176:fields
164:tables
60:Oracle
1144:Tools
917:ROLAP
912:MOLAP
907:HOLAP
502:ACM,
371:RDBMS
340:IBM i
284:joins
253:forms
249:menus
155:users
86:of a
49:, or
1045:Load
966:Fact
831:OLAP
826:Fact
718:2017
679:2020
653:2020
381:type
324:MLSs
180:type
157:and
122:and
110:and
88:DBMS
67:and
257:PHP
170:or
145:or
124:DML
120:DDL
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