1. Introduction to Computers Lesson 10B

2. home Database A collection of related data or facts

3. home Database Management System (DBMS) A software tool that lets you store, access and process data or facts into useful information

4. home Important Database Terms Field – a single unit of data stored as part of a database record. Fields make up records. Examples: your name, your ID#, your birthdate Record – a complete set of fields. Records make up tables. Examples: each student Table – Stores information in a database. Examples: grades, class rosters, medical records, discipline records, demographics

5. home Two Kinds of Databases Flat-file Relational

6. home Flat-file Database A database file that has a single data table

7. home Relational Database A database made up of a set of tables A common field in two tables creates a relationship between the tables

8. home Three Categories of Data Management Entering data into the database Sorting the data Obtaining data subsets

9. home Data Management Interface Tools Creating tables Viewing records Sorting records Creating queries Generating reports

10. home Steps for Creating Fields Name the field Specify the field type Specify the field size

11. home Types of Fields Text Numeric Date or time Logical Binary Counter Memo

12. home Form Custom view of the table that shows one record at a time

13. home Mask Also known as picture or field format Accepts only valid characters and controls the entry’s display format

14. home Filter Displays a selected list or subset of records from a table

15. home Query User instructions that describe data and set criteria for the DBMS, which then constructs information based on the instructions

16. home 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

17. home Ways to Perform Queries SQL Xbase QBE

18. home SQL English-like query language that lets the user query a database without knowing much about the underlying database structure

19. home Xbase Generic query language derived from the query/programming language used in Ashton Tate’s Dbase family of database products

20. home Query by Example (QBE) Graphic query interface using a form or a grid

21. home 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

22. Lesson 10B Database Management Systems

23. home Review Questions What is a DBMS? What are the two kinds of databases? What is a form? What is a query?