Re: What is this thing that is called a "Data Dictionary?" - Mailing list pgsql-novice

I just went to wikipedia.  That's what they say - a data dictionary is
metadata, and they say that within a DBMS it's represented as a set of
read-only tables and views.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_dictionary

They seem to indicate it's something that you build, though, not
something generated by the RDBMS.

Innnteresting...

-----Original Message-----
From: pgsql-novice-owner@postgresql.org
[mailto:pgsql-novice-owner@postgresql.org] On Behalf Of Richard Broersma
Jr
Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2007 3:29 PM
To: Jasbinder Singh Bali
Cc: Novice Postgresql-list
Subject: Re: [NOVICE] What is this thing that is called a "Data
Dictionary?"

Thanks Jas for the description,  it is very helpful.

Regards,
Richard Broersma Jr.

--- Jasbinder Singh Bali <jsbali@gmail.com> wrote:

> AFAIK, data dictionary is just the metadata (read only set) that
> contains the definitions of data elements like tables, views,
> trigggers, SPs, roles, general DB structuring, space allocation
> methodology of the DB etc (i mean any data element inside the DB).
>
> It can be viewed as a simple read only file defining the basic
> structure of the database actually, in lay men terms.
>
> Also most of the times, i've observed that its hidden from the users
> even though its read only. Only DBA should have access to such kind of

> file in secured systems. Thats how we implement it in our projects out
here.
>
> Bookkeeping is just synonymous to a data dictionary that would not
> contain the actual data but would essentially explain the way data
> would be managed and how.
>
> I hope this helps.
>
> Thanks,
> ~Jas
>
> On 5/2/07, Richard Broersma Jr <rabroersma@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >
> > Many of the ERD and SQL books that have have read refer to a data
> > dictionary.  However, I seem to be missing the point of what it
> > acuatally is.  IIRC, some books refer to it as a kind of document
> > created by a DB designer, and other suggest that it is a kind of
> > RBDMS created metadata.
> >
> > Can anyone please offer a consise description or provide a link to
> > that describes what it is?
> > Also, how is this information useful to a DBA?
> >
> > Thanks for the help!
> >
> > Regards,
> > Richard Broersma Jr.
> >
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