Chapter 12 Accessing Databases

Practical PC 6th Edition Chapter 12 Getting Started FAQs: What’s a database? Do I need database software? How would I create my own database? Can I really create databases with spreadsheet software? What about databases on the Web? Practical PC 6th Edition Chapter 12

Practical PC 6th Edition Chapter 12 What’s a database? A database is a collection of data Structured databases contain information that is organized as fields, records, and files A field contains a single piece of information A record contains fields of information about a single entity in the database A group of similarly structured records form a file A relational database allows you to store information for two or more different types of records and form a link between them Each record type is stored in a table For example, a video store database may include a table of customers and a table of movies When a customer checks out a movie, a link is made between the two tables Practical PC 6th Edition Chapter 12

Practical PC 6th Edition Chapter 12 What’s a database? Practical PC 6th Edition Chapter 12

Do I need database software? Database software provides a set of tools to enter and update information in fields Also called a database management system You can enter, delete, sort, and search for records You might access a product database when shopping online or a bank database at an ATM Database software offers a wealth of data management capabilities Requires a substantial learning commitment For simple files, you may be able to use MyDatabase, FileMaker Pro, and OpenOffice Base You can also use spreadsheet software for simple databases Practical PC 6th Edition Chapter 12

Do I need database software? Practical PC 6th Edition Chapter 12

How would I create my own database? Creating a database consists of two tasks: Creating the file structure to hold the data Adding the data A file structure is a specification for the database fields and their characteristics You’ll need to assign a name to each field You may also need to specify the data type and maximum field length You then enter the data carefully and consistently Be consistent with symbols, capitalization, categories, and abbreviations Compare onscreen data against the original documents Practical PC 6th Edition Chapter 12

How would I create my own database? Practical PC 6th Edition Chapter 12

Can I really create databases with spreadsheet software? You can use spreadsheet software to maintain files of information You cannot use it to join files or tables together to create a relational database You can use the Form View feature in spreadsheet software to view each row as a “card” containing a series of fields You can also filter the data, which is more complicated, but useful for creating reports that show only selected data Practical PC 6th Edition Chapter 12

Can I really create databases with spreadsheet software? Practical PC 6th Edition Chapter 12

What about databases on the Web? You’ll find many databases on the Web Look up your old roommate in a phone-book-style database Look up flights in a database of flight schedules Check the value of your car in a digital “Blue Book” When you use a browser to access databases on the Web, you’ll typically enter a query using an HTML form Practical PC 6th Edition Chapter 12

What about databases on the Web? You can also add data to an online database, a process that typically takes place when you register for an account at a Web site or when you check out from an e-commerce site Practical PC 6th Edition Chapter 12

Hardware: Tracking Devices Real-time locating systems are similar to baby monitors, and can keep an eye on children and pets Tracking device transmits signals to nearby base station Alerts tracker when trackee moves outside a designated area Practical PC 6th Edition Chapter 12

Hardware: Tracking Devices Mobile locating tracks the position of a cellular device based on its distance from cell towers Accuracy varies with number of towers and type of antenna Practical PC 6th Edition Chapter 12

Hardware: Tracking Devices GPS (Global Positioning System) technology is more accurate than cellular triangulation Includes smartphones, handheld GPSs and dash-mounted GPSs, and GPS loggers GPS devices receive signals transmitted by a collection of earth-orbiting satellites Must log on to four satellites to determine a location Requires line of sight to the sky Practical PC 6th Edition Chapter 12

Hardware: Tracking Devices Practical PC 6th Edition Chapter 12

Hardware: Tracking Devices RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is not location aware, and only transmits identification information An RFID tag is composed of a tiny read-only memory chip and transmitter incorporated on a flexible backing Stores a unique number Can be read from a distance Practical PC 6th Edition Chapter 12

Who owns information about me? What do you think? Can you identify an actual incident when you discovered that data about you had been distributed without your approval? Do you accurately fill out questionnaires that you encounter on the Web? Do you think that you have the right to be consulted before anyone distributes information about you? Practical PC 6th Edition Chapter 12