Database Design Week 11

Forms

Table Vs. Form Table Form Many records at a time 1 record at a time Some fields do not fit on one screen Column and row formatting only Can be confusing to new users Form 1 record at a time All fields can fit on 1 screen Any formatting options you set-up “User-friendly” and less-intimidating than tables

WHAT IS A FORM? • “Electronic Equivalent” to a paper form • allows you to create a custom layout for your data • more “visually appealing” for “Data Entry” • when you need to control which data is displayed or entered

Why Use Forms? Provide a “User-Oriented” interface to the data Only asks for specific information Ability to use “non technical” terms Should be designed around individual tasks

Fields in a Form Application for Employment The field labels in a form are like the labels on an application. The field text boxes are where you supply the data, like the blank lines on an application. First name: Last name: Address: City: State: Zip:

FORMS cont. Forms are made up of controls, such as text boxes, buttons, document tabs, and drop- down lists, grouped in a way that makes them easy to use The controls in the form are usually “bound”, or “linked”to the tables or queries in your database — but not always. For example, a control that displays “Customer data” is probably bound to either the “Customer” table, or to a query that retrieves Customer data. BUT: a form control that displays your corporate logo isn't bound to a table field; it just points to the image it displays.

Create Forms Watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3WHo7 DAOg0 this video demonstrates the forms window, and how to auto-create forms How To: Create a form Remove the sub form Change the title Change the layout Create a split form Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa4SySktJYM

Create Forms Exercise Exercise: Create forms for the Wk11_TableInstanceChart Example City entity Table 1 and Table 2 entities Students entity Create a form for the Northwind database employee table Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa4SySktJYM

Northwind Database

Students Work Through Access 2010 Formatting Forms http://www.gcflearnfree.org/access2010/14

REPORTS Ways of generating printed output Can create reports that show totals & grand totals of value in a particular field Reports give you the ability to present components of your database in an easy- to-read, printable format. Access 2010 lets you create reports from both tables and queries.

Hybrid / Homework Read Creating Reports Read Advanced Report Options Review Access Videos Database Assignment Part 3 (due Wk. 13 submitted as an EMAIL ATTACHMENT)

MYITLAB HOMEWORK: myitlab TRAINING: Access VOLUME 1- “Skill-Based TRAINING”   myitlab ASSIGNMENT: “GO series”