The Electronic File Cabinet: Database Basics and Beyond

1. Chapter 8 Database Applicationsand Implications

2. Topics The Electronic File Cabinet: Database Basics Beyond the Basics: Database Management Systems No Secrets: Computers and Privacy A look at Microsoft Access “The goal is information at your fingertips.” Bill Gates

3. The Electronic File Cabinet: Database Basics • Database software is… • application software (like word processing and spreadsheet software) • designed to maintain databases (collections of information) • A Database is… • a collection of information stored in an organized form on a computer

4. What Good Is a Database? • An electronic database allows you to: • store large quantities of information • retrieve information quickly • organize and reorganize information • print and distribute information in a variety of ways

5. Database Anatomy A database is a collection of one or more database files A file is a collection of related information (records)

6. Database Anatomy A record is the information relating to one person, product, or event A fieldis a discrete chunk of information in a record

7. Form View List View Database Anatomy The view is a display of the information in fields based on a particular layout of field data.

8. Database Operations • These operations are used to manipulate the information in the database: • Import: receives data in the form of text files • Browse: navigates through information • Query: finds records that match a specific criteria • Sort: rearranges records (alpha or numerically) • Report: printout of an ordered list of records

9. Beyond the Basics: Database Management Systems • Database Management Systems (DBMS) • is a program or system of programs that can manipulate data in a large collection of files • redundant information is stored as a key field • different users see different points of view • may be interactive

10. What Makes a Database Relational? • A database is relationalwhen files are relatedto each other, such as this Student ID field in the Student file.

11. The Privacy Problem • More than 15,000 specialized marketing databases contain 2 billion names. • These databases contain characteristics like age, income, religion, and even sexual preference.

12. Rules of Thumb:Your Private Right • Your social security number is yours – don’t give it away • Say no to direct mail and phone solicitations, sharing of personal information, and pollsters • Know your electronic rights

13. Big Brother and Big Business • Government uses record matchingto locate criminals ranging from tax evaders to mass murderers. • Credit bureaus collect information about us and allow us to borrow money where ever we go.

14. Big Brother and Big Business With the increased amount of information available: • Data errors are common • Data can become nearly immortal • Data isn’t secure

15. A look at Microsoft Access • An Access database consists of 7 objects. • The object selected on the left side of the screen has corresponding elements on the right side of the screen.

16. Tables • The fundamental structure of the database. • The Datasheet view looks much like a spreadsheet. • Use for data entry (Datasheet View) • Use for Data design (Design View)

17. Other Objects • Queries: used for finding data or answering questions about the data base. • Forms: a direct link to a table. Provides a friendlier user interface for entering or editing data. Allows users to view one record at a time. • Reports: used to summarize the data for printing or for presentation purposes.

18. Other Objects (continued) • Pages: creates Web pages for viewing or editing the data online. • Macros: used to automate tasks. • Modules: programs in Visual Basic to customize the database