MySQL databases and Stored Procedures
From my position with my organization, I work with MySQL databases on a regular basis. I have to be honest with myself and say I do not have a working knowledge of SQL. In that, I understand the differences in the procedures each uses; with differences and similarities in functions, form and data processing. SQL stored procedures allow database programmers to avoid errors in creating queries for operations. According to Coronel & Robb in Database Systems Design, Implementation, and Management, the primary advantage gained from using stored procedures is encapsulation. Encapsulation streamlines the execution of a set of SQL statements improving performance and reducing the duplication of useful code unnecessarily (2005). Another benefit is the fact that stored procedures have been tested and debugged by database developers, improve the reliability of the procedures (Mandayam, 2005). In terms of Enterprise databases, stored procedures can be useful depending on whom one speaks to. According to a number of database administrators on Stackoverflow, in the case of Enterprise databases encapsulated queries lack the value add needed to be useful in large scale operations. Stored procedures are good at handling the simple CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update and Delete) but not Enterprise level queries (Karras, 2009). As an example of the converse, IBM’s DB2 Everyplace, which is designed for large scale databases uses pre-programmed procedures to for managing file subscriptions and application distribution (IBM, N.D.). Evaluating the needs of organization looking to implement a database will help determine the benefits stored procedures can offer. IBM. (N.D.). DB2 Everyplace: Features and benefits. IBM Information Management. Retrieved from, http://www-01.ibm.com/software/data/db2/everyplace/about.html Karras, C. (2009). Disadvantage of stored procedures. Stack Overflow. Online resource. Retrieved from, http://stackoverflow.com/questions/226859/disadvantage-of-stored-procedures Mandayam, P. (2005). Why use stored procedures? SearchSQLServer.com. Online resource. Retrieved from, http://searchsqlserver.techtarget.com/news/1052737/Why-use-stored-procedures Robb, P., & Coronel, C. M. (2005). Database systems design, implementation, and management. Boston, MA: Course...
Read MoreWeb-based services and Databases
According to BusinessWeek.com, web services is defined as an architecture or language used to provide function to users. Furthermore, the article in BusinessWeek.com goes on to say that web services share three types of programming in XML, Standard Object Access Protocol (SOAP) which is exemplified in HTTP and SMTP, and Web Services Definition Language (WSDL) (Bloomberg, 2008). In the development of DB solutions for online merchants and web based solutions, these web services give programmers the ability to provide needed functions for performing business tasks online. XML allows for integration and data sharing across systems. While SOAP enables a wide variety of solutions for displaying, accessing and sharing information. Lastly, WSDL performs the networked services and systems to communicate with each other. While DBs provide the information necessary to make ‘information’ valuable, these web services transform the information into useable forms that help users make decisions, purchase goods and complete needed processes. Bloomberg, L.P. (2008). So, what the heck are web services? Bloomberg Businessweek. Online resource. Retrieved from,...
Read MoreA little on Database Interfaces
In recent years the use of web based applications has resulted in a number of useful application technologies. As the book, Database Systems explains, there are several application interfaces that provide DB generated information (Coronel & Robb, 2005). In my work I work with Application Programming Interfaces (API) and Common Gateway Interfaces (CGI) which both use dynamic commands to communicate with an established database. CGI is beneficial when wanting a dynamic and scalable solution for a limited number of active users. While API reduces the server load but reduces the ability to be universal across multiple browsers. ODBC otherwise known as Open Database Connectivity, is a Microsoft SQL Access Group CLI that retrieves information from a number of relational databases using SQL. Because ODBC is Windows based, it is integrateble with a number of Windows environments because of the common DLLs. The web offers a means for collaboration and unlimited scalability but without the available DB interfaces, growth would be limited. Robb, P., & Coronel, C. M. (2005). Database systems design, implementation, and management. Boston, MA: Course...
Read MoreE-Commerce: A Valuable Opportunity
E-commerce is on an upward trend. In a global culture that has become accustom to having a ‘right here, right now’ commercial environment, e-commerce is an unavoidable necessity for any business. Just a few years ago, e-commerce was restricted to simple products such as books, small electronics and equipment, parts and shippable items. Nowadays, e-commerce systems like Magento, offer businesses, large and small, the ability to market, track and sell any type of product or service. The primary business motivation for moving to an e-commerce platform is the possibility of generating revenue 24/7 from a global community. An addition value is in the fact that running an online retail or product store front is considerably less costly than traditional store locations; with reduced or no overhead cost associated with running a ‘store.’ For companies utilizing e-commerce to truly maximize their online presence, they have to treat their e-commerce site(s) as they would a brick-and-mortar location. This includes staffing their ‘online store’ with customer service representatives (CSRs), finding prime real-estate (e.g. high organic ranking in search engine result pages [SERPs]), offering discounts and specials for ‘foot traffic’ to the online locations and even advertising online. The online culture is a community and society all its own, to disregard the importance of this ‘virtual reality’ in regards to the value it provides an organization is a grave...
Read MoreReflecting on The Basics – Meta Tags
As we began this year, I reflect on things that I do in my everyday. Am I making the most of my time as an online marketer? Do I meet my own expectations? So, wanting to be awesome, I decided that I should really figure out this whole online thing. Just like a coach teaching a new team would do, I am covering the basics. Trying to figure out what I am doing with my time I looked into the basics of working in an online market. Here are some of the sites I looked at and what I liked about the pages. Maybe it will help you, seeing as everyone (and their cat) has a web site now… http://www.webmarketingnow.com/tips/meta-tags-uncovered.htmlDo’s and don’ts of using meta tags. It also gives a description of the top 20 tags used frequently. The author (Jerry West) recommends the use of four basic tags: content, content type, content description, and language. Not recommended are tags that have no real impact on the quality of the site page (e.g. meta expires, meta rating, meta robots, and meta set cookie). http://www.highrankings.com/seo-trends?utm_source=feedburnerSite offering statistics related to search engine ranking algorithms and the associated change year over year of the SEO industry accepted practices. The importance of keywords is not important but may SEO’s and users, think it is. http://www.twresourcegroup.com/pubcon-day-3-content-creation-topics-and-search/Take away from PubCon from one marketing company concerning meta tags as having little to no impact in ranking. “Meta tags are not a factor in Google’s algorithm and are not even looked at.” http://www.pubcon.com/search/search.cgiSearch PubCon’s database of info. http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=79812What tags Google actually looks at and/or uses if they contain quality data as it relates to the web page. These tags are mainly just technical information. http://searchenginewatch.com/2167931This article dispels myths and beliefs about meta tags and data. In summary, the only tags to concern one’s self with are the meta robots (use only when removing a page from index), meta description and meta keywords (only read by a few crawlers now). http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com/2009/02/specify-your-canonical.htmlSpecifying links or pages that have duplicate...
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