C Database Development

C Database Development provides all the tools programmers need for writing C data base programs. This book covers data base design in depth, using the features of C language to implement a Data Definition and Data Manippulation Language.

In terms programmers understand, Al Stevens teaches data base theory and design and provides a complete package of data base management software in C language source code. The code has been tested with over ten different compilers, including Turbo C, Microsoft C, Lattice C, and Aztec C86. In addition, the author provides details on how to adapt the code for particular compilers.

Stevens gives you CDATA, The Cheap Data Base Management System, which includes:

• Database Base Schema Compiler
• B-Tree Index Files
• Data Base Manager
• Full-Screen Data Entry Query
• Data File Manager
• Report Generator and Utilities

An additional feature is the Consultant's Billing System, a sample application that demonstrates how the applications programs are built with the CDATA data base management system.

1. Introduction
• Data Base Management
• Chapter Overviews
• The C Compilers
• Summary
2. Data Base Fundamentals
• The Data Base
• The Data Element
• The Data Element Dictionary
• Data Element Types
• Data Element Names
• Data Value Representation
• Files
• The Data Base Schema
• The Specification of Data Files
• Key Data Elements
• Interfile Requirements
• Summary
3. Designing a Data Base
• The Nine Steps of Data Base Design
• Identify the Basis for the Data Base Requirements
• Starting from an Existing Solution
• Starting from Scratch
• Write Down the Basics
• Define the Data Base Functional and Performance Requirements
• Functional Requirements
• Performance Requirements
• Identify the Data Items
• Separate the Data Elements from the Files
• Build the Data Element Dictionary
• Gather the Data Elements into Files
• Identify the Retrieval Characteristics of Each File
• Specific Key Retrieval
• Key Range Searches
• Boolean Query Retrievals
• File Scans: Select, Sort, and Display
• Multiple -File Retrievals
• Identify the Relationship Between Files
• Develop the Schema for the DBMS You  are Using
• Summary
4. The Data Base Management System
• The DBMS
• Commercial DBMS Packages
• An Alternative to the DBMS Package
• Data Base Management System Fundamentals
• The Data Definition Language
• Data Models
• The Data Manipulation Language
• DBMS Utility Programs
• Summary
5. C as a Data Definition Language
6. Cdata: The Cheap Data Base Management System
• The Cdata Data Definition Language
• The Cdata Data Element Dictionary
• File Specifications
• Index Specifications
• The Cdata DDL Compiler
• The Cdata DDL
• Comments
• DDL Directives
• Data Element Dictionary
• File Specifications
• Index Specifications
• The Cdata DBMS Header Source Files
• The Compiler, schema.c
• Application Software Architecture
• Cdata File Formats
• Data Files
• Index Files
• Cdata System Architecture
• Cdata: The Data Manipulation Language Functions
• Cdata Source Listings
• Data Base Manager (database.c)
• File Manager (datafile.c)
• Index Manager (btree.c)
• Keyboard Header File (keys.h)
• System Subroutines (sys.c)
• Summary
7. Cdata Utility Programs
• The Data Base Size Calculator (dbsize.c)
• Data Base Initialization (dbinit.c)
• Data Entry and Query (qd.c)
• Data Base File Report Program (ds.c)
• Index Builder (index.c)
• Some Useful Utility Functions
• Parse Command Line Data Element List (ellist.c)
• Screen Manager (screen.c)
• File-Listing Utilities
• Parse File Name
• Summary
8. An Application: The Consultant's Billing System
• Consultant's Billing System Requirements
• Consultant's Billing System Software Design
• Consultant's Billing System Data Entry
• Consultant's Billing System Reports
• The Data Posting Programs
• The Invoice program
• Summary
9. Building the Software
• C Compilers
• The Differences Between Compilers
• Choosing a Compiler
• Assemblers
• Linkers
• Debuggers
• Memory Models
• Object Librarians
• Editors
• Make Utilities
• Library Source Code
• One-Line Compiler Programs
• Aztec C
• Computer Innovations C-86
• Datalight C
• DeSmet C
• Eco-C88
• High C
• Lattice C
• Let's C
• Microsoft C
• Mix C
• QC88
• Turbo C
• Whitesmith's C
• Wizard C
• Summary

This is so old that it points out differences between MS and Lattice C compilers. Avoid at all costs.