Computing Aspects of Data Management

B. E. Cooper

Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series C, 1972, vol. 21, issue 1, 65-75

Abstract: This paper considers some of the problems of managing data on a computer, concentrating mainly on the storage and accessing requirements of basic data structures such as the data matrix. The similarity between scans of these structures for different purposes will be noted and common operations identified. The distinction between the detailed structure of the data and the structure as assumed by the scanning program will be clarified and examples of structure scans for different purposes will be described. Related problems of the maintenance of directories keeping track of structures, and the differences between the use of magnetic tape and disc will be included. The main purpose of the paper is to stress the advantages of establishing the requirements of access to the data, identifying the characteristics of a scan of a data structure, and identifying the basic operations that make up such scans. The advantages of a systematic approach to the problems of data management include (1) a clearer program organization, (2) a clearer division of responsibilities for programming and debugging, (3) changing of programs to meet new requirements or the writing of new parts is much easier, (4) duplication of programming effort both within one program and between programs is avoided, (5) time‐consuming operations are better identified and defined and the chances of reducing the time they take are increased.

Date: 1972
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