Master data, basic data or inventory data are data, which have existence, whose attributes are steady, thus static, over longer time to remain unchanged.

The Antonym to the inventory data are transaction data. They move (and thereby the inventory data changes), them are dynamic.

Master and transaction data

The terms originate from the early period of the electronic data processing, have however today still the same meaning.

• Example: The data of individual articles of a camp, which change rarely or never like article number, designation, unit, stock,"Â… are master data. When there were still no workstations for the direct input of master file alterations, master data were present as sorted punch card decks, as magnetic tape or also magnetic disk files. Changes at master data had to take place via processing of transaction datas, which were present on punch cards or magnetic tapes, by program. One calls these transaction datas contrary to master data transaction data.

The example shows directly that the distinction between master data and transaction data have direct influence on the data organization and storage form. Master data are in other files or data base tables than transaction data and exactly this circumstances make the distinction in master and transaction data necessary.

The criteria "longer time invariably" and "again and again used" are not rigid, but from application to application differently. Which in an application master data are can in another application transaction data be. Also in a conversational time sharing in that the stock several times per day, per minute or second to be changed can, belongs the existence nevertheless to master data, while associated transaction data seized at the screen and - outlets are.

Inventory data

Inventory data is master data, which refer to existence or existence such as stock, work time accounts or annual turnover.

In different laws (information and communication service law IuKDG, Teledienstedatenschutzgesetz TDDSG) master data are called deviating from the derivative from existence also inventory data, if they are necessary for the reason, execution or change of a contract over the transport of information. Examples of inventory data are customer data (name, address, reservation account etc.) and associated permanent system data (call number, attachment identification, passwords etc.). As one sees, inventory data is in this sense only another word for master data.

Examples of master and transaction data

In nearly each kind of application software master data are maintained as a condition of an economic application of the electronic data processing.

• In an application to stock management master data are e.g. the article or parts list data and transaction data stock items or change data for the execution of address changes.
• With a PPS system parts lists belong and schedules, open orders and orders to master data. Transaction data are the transaction datas also here for the execution of changes at parts list and schedules. Transaction data for orders and orders are delivery notes, partial deliveries, changes at orders.
• With a library system are the catalog and the data of the users (e.g. Name and address) master data, while the list of the entliehenen books of a user and the message of a return are transaction data.

Articles in category "Master data"

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