Methodology for Handling Data Errors and Inconsistencies in Database Conversions

摘要

A database management system (DBMS) can have numerous errors and inconsistenciesin its data. Examples of errors and inconsistencies that may be contained in a DBMS are: Referential integrity violations, logical inconsistencies, redundancies and out-of-range values. During a conversion of database management systems, the errors and inconsistencies in the source system must be corrected so the data entered into the new target DBMS will be accurate. The goal of this thesis is to examine a source database management system to determine what errors and inconsistencies are possible, to propose a methodology to detect them, and to correct such errors and inconsistencies prior to entering the data into the target DBMS. In applying my proposals, the thesis will examine the specific systems utilized by the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York. The Academy uses a UNISYS 1100/72 mainframe computer in support of its existing network model DBMS. West Point proposes to convert network model to a relational model system. The thesis will also address the general applicability of this methodology to other database management system conversions.