Introduction to Computers Lesson 10B. home Database A collection of related data or facts.

Introduction to Computers

Lesson 10BLesson 10B

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Database

A collection of related data or facts

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Database Management System (DBMS)

A software tool that lets you store,

access and process data or facts into

useful information

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Important Database Terms

Fields

Records

Tables

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Two Kinds of Databases

Flat-file

Relational

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Flat-file Database

A database file that has a single data

table

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Relational Database

A database made up of a set of tables

A common field in two tables creates a

relationship between the tables

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Three Categories of Data Management

Entering data into the database

Sorting the data

Obtaining data subsets

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Data Management Interface Tools

Creating tables

Viewing records

Sorting records

Creating queries

Generating reports

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Steps for Creating Fields

Name the field

Specify the field type

Specify the field size

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Types of Fields

Text

Numeric

Date or time

Logical

Binary

Counter

Memo

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Form

Custom view of the table that shows

one record at a time

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Mask

Also known as picture or field format

Accepts only valid characters and

controls the entry’s display format

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Filter

Displays a selected list or subset of

records from a table

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Query

User instructions that describe data and

set criteria for the DBMS, which then

constructs information based on the

instructions

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Examples of Queries

Allow the DBMS to locate records

Establish relationships or links between tables to update records

List a subset of records

Perform calculations

Delete obsolete records

Perform other data management tasks

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Ways to Perform Queries

SQL

Xbase

QBE

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SQL

English-like query language that lets the

user query a database without knowing

much about the underlying database

structure

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Xbase

Generic query language derived from

the query/programming language used

in Ashton Tate’s Dbase family of

database products

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Query by Example (QBE)

Graphic query interface using a form or

a grid

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Report

Printed information that, like a query result, is assembled by gathering data based on user-supplied criteria

Report generators in most DBMSs create reports from queries

Lesson 10BLesson 10B

Database Management Database Management SystemsSystems

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Review Questions

What is a DBMS?

What are the two kinds of databases?

What is a form?

What is a query?