1. Databases

2. Today you will: Learn what a database is and how it is used
Learn how a database is organised
Learn about different field types

3. What is a database? Any ideas?
A database is any collection of information that has something in common. It does not matter whether or not this information is stored on a computer.
e.g. a telephone book, a set of top trumps cards

4. Any of you played Pokémon? The Pokédex is a database!

5. Can you think of any others?
An Address book.
Information about a CD or Video collection.
Information about pupils in a school.
A Library catalogue.
An encyclopaedia

6. Why are they used?
To get information about certain “things” for certain purposes
e.g. look up a telephone number for a specific person
Find out what medical conditions a certain pupil has

7. Example: Here is a database Sort the cards into alphabetical order
Now select the cards that have the names of animals that begin with the letter “D”
Now select all the animals that live in “Woodland”
Now select the cards with the animals that are “mammals” and begin with the letter “E”
Now select all the “birds” that begin with the letter “C” that live in “Woodland” that eat “Insects”

8. Any ideas what we could use to make this exercise a whole lot easier?
Use a Computer!!!!!

9. Can you think of any reasons why a computer is better than a paper based system?

10. It saves space
You can store hundreds and in some cases thousands of pages of information onto one floppy disc. You can store all the text of the 22 volume Encyclopaedia Britannica onto one CD Rom and still have space for pictures as well!

11. It can save time
If you type in a simple search query, you can look up information about a particular item such as a list of books written by Charles Dickens.
A computer can search through many records very quickly

12. You can quickly produce a list of information about parts of the database that have something in common.
For example a travel agent can produce a list of all the people who booked a holiday to Florida this year. He can then look further at that list to see if these people had anything else in common. For example, where do they live?

13. How do you go about setting a database up?
The first thing you have to do is decide what information you are going to collect.
You then have to decide how you are going to record this information.

14. What information can we collect from this application form?
Surname
Initials
Address
Postcode
Tel No
Subscription type
Sex
Date of Birth
Date
Membership Number

15. Looking at the form, we were required to input answers
e.g. in the boxes next to Surname we would be required to enter an answer….
The surname part is known in a database as a “Field”
The answer given is known as the “data”

16. Fields can contain different types of data….these are:
Text
whole numbers
decimal numbers
Dates
Yes/No (Logical) answers
Lookup / list

17. Here are the fields for the form again, what are the data types
Here are the fields for the form again, what are the data types? Text, whole numbers, decimal numbers, Dates, Yes/No (logical) answers, Lookup/List?
Surname Sex
Initials Date of Birth
Address Postcode
Tel No Subscription type
Date Membership Number

18. Here is an example of information stored in a computer database
Sandwich name
Price
Type
Date made
Message
Extra info
Egg and Tomato
£1.30
Sandwich
11/18/2004
Please consume on day of purchase
Suitable for vegetarians
£1.50
Roll
Ham and Salad
With Mayonnaise
Cheese and Tomato
£1.40
Cheese and Pickle
Chicken Salad
£1.70
Tuna with Sweet corn Salad
£1.60
MAY CONTAIN NUTS
Three Cheese
£0.00
Where are the fields?
Where are the data?

19. Records: all the information about something i.e. a row in the table
Fields i.e. the columns
Data
Sandwich name
Price
Type
Date made
Message
Extra info
Egg and Tomato
£1.30
Sandwich
11/18/2004
Please consume on day of purchase
Suitable for vegetarians
£1.50
Roll
Ham and Salad
With Mayonnaise
Cheese and Tomato
£1.40
Cheese and Pickle
Chicken Salad
£1.70
Chicken Salad
£1.50
Sandwhich
11/18/2005
Please consume on day of purchase
With Mayonnaise
Records: all the information about something i.e. a row in the table

20. Task:
Complete the worksheet to the best of your ability