For Dummies 978-0-470-55741-9 Datasheet download pdf (Page 5)

Chapter 1: Relational Database Fundamentals

Flat Files

Where structured data is concerned, the flat file is as simple as it gets. No, a

flat file isn’t a folder that’s been squashed under a stack of books. Flat files

are so called because they have minimal structure. If they were buildings,

they’d barely stick up from the ground. A flat file is simply a collection of

data records, one after another, in a specified format — the data, the whole

data, and nothing but the data — in effect, a list. In computer terms, a flat file

is simple. Because the file doesn’t store structural information (metadata),

its overhead (stuff in the file that is not data but takes up storage space) is

minimal.

Say that you want to keep track of the names and addresses of your company’s

customers in a flat file system. The system may have a structure something

like this:

Harold Percival 26262 S. Howards Mill Rd Westminster CA92683

Jerry Appel 32323 S. River Lane Rd Santa Ana CA92705

Adrian Hansen 232 Glenwood Court Anaheim CA92640

John Baker 2222 Lafayette St Garden Grove CA92643

Michael Pens 77730 S. New Era Rd Irvine CA92715

Bob Michimoto 25252 S. Kelmsley Dr Stanton CA92610

Linda Smith 444 S.E. Seventh St Costa Mesa CA92635

Robert Funnell 2424 Sheri Court Anaheim CA92640

Bill Checkal 9595 Curry Dr Stanton CA92610

Jed Style 3535 Randall St Santa Ana CA92705

The value is not in the data, but in the structure

Years ago, some clever person calculated that

if you reduce human beings to their compo-

nents of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitro-

gen atoms (plus traces of others), they would be

worth only 97 cents. However droll this assess-

ment, it’s misleading. People aren’t composed

of mere isolated collections of atoms. Our

atoms combine into enzymes, proteins, hor-

mones, and many other substances that would

cost millions of dollars per ounce on the phar-

maceutical market. The precise structure of

these combinations of atoms is what gives them

greater value. By analogy, database structure

makes possible the interpretation of seemingly

meaningless data. The structure brings to the

surface patterns, trends, and tendencies in the

data. Unstructured data — like uncombined

atoms — has little or no value.

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