Chapter 7 UNDERSTANDING AND DESIGNING FORMS

Input Forms: Content and Organization Need for forms Event analysis and forms Relationship between input forms and tables Types of input forms: Single-record entry form Tabular entry forms Multi-table entry forms

Input Forms: Content and Organization Means of data entry: 4 ways to enter data 1. Internal agent types in the data 2. Internal agent selects data to be entered using a look-up table, radio button, or check box 3. Internal agent scans the bar code of a product or the identification card of a customer 4. User enters the data using a form at the company’s Web site

Input Forms: Content and Organization Identifying forms required: The need depends on What data need to be collected and How the data will be collected A UML use case is a sequence of steps A use case diagram is a graphical presentation providing a list of use cases that occur in an application CRUD framework: a tool used as an aid in developing use case diagrams

Input Forms: Content and Organization Documenting form content and organization - form design template: Attributes recorded in tables Attributes displayed from tables Calculated fields Foreign keys Queries

Interaction with Forms: Controlling AIS Inputs Form interface elements: Text boxes Labels Look-up feature Command buttons Radio buttons Check boxes

Interaction with Forms: Controlling AIS Inputs Improving accuracy and efficiency of data entry: Primary key Look-up feature Scanning Record-checking Confirmation Referential integrity Format checks Validation rules

Interaction with Forms: Controlling AIS Inputs Improving accuracy and efficiency of data entry: Defaults Application-level default Agent-level default Transaction-level default Prohibit blank fields Computer-generated values Prompt user to accept/reject data

Interaction with Forms: Controlling AIS Inputs Input controls and workflow controls: Key difference Input controls refer to checks performed automatically by the computer itself

Designing Forms Identify and document forms required Single-record date entry form – maintenance of manager table Single-record form – deposit form Tabular data entry form – inventory maintenance Multi-table entry form

K E Y T E R M S Check boxes Command buttons Computer-generated values Confirmation CRUD Default

K E Y T E R M S Form Form interface elements Format checks Join query Look-up feature Main form Multi-table entry form Radio buttons Record checking

K E Y T E R M S Referential integrity Single-record entry form Subform Tabular entry form Use case Use case description Use case diagram Validation rule