What is a database?

Two main uses: Two main uses: Storing information Storing information Sorting information Sorting information

What kind of information could we store in a database? Patient information Patient information Telephone numbers Telephone numbers Car registration plate owners Car registration plate owners Business clients Business clients Name and phone numbers of friends Name and phone numbers of friends Parents contact information for children in a school Parents contact information for children in a school

Key words Each persons information is separate and that is called a record e.g. Name – Jo Bloggs Address – 33 Wood Lane, Haworth Phone number –

What kind of things could we do with these records? A search – this is called a query A search – this is called a query Example 1 – a child is ill at school – we need to find out if they have any medical conditions quickly Example 1 – a child is ill at school – we need to find out if they have any medical conditions quickly Example 2 – we need to find who owns a car that has been caught speeding on the motorway Example 2 – we need to find who owns a car that has been caught speeding on the motorway

How do you create a database? First you need to decide which fields you want to use First you need to decide which fields you want to use Name is a field Name is a field Colour could also be field Colour could also be field Then habitat could be our last field Then habitat could be our last field You could also have picture as a field You could also have picture as a field

Then what? In softease database we can use the wizard to create a database In softease database we can use the wizard to create a database We want to create a new database We want to create a new database Not based on another one Not based on another one Then we can select our fields Then we can select our fields

Now we can add the information This is the symbol for a new record This is the symbol for a new record

Once all the records have been added we can start a query Click the button with a ? Click the button with a ? Choose which field to search Choose which field to search And what you want to search for And what you want to search for

Finally You can switch been two views: You can switch been two views: Form and Report Form and Report What is the difference between them? What is the difference between them?