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Advanced Databases Introduction. Dawn Squires Brooks County High School. What is a database?. Software containing a collection of data that can be manipulated and/or retrieved as needed and in a specified manner. Access is one type of database software that we will use.
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Advanced Databases Introduction Dawn Squires Brooks County High School
What is a database? • Software containing a collection of data that can be manipulated and/or retrieved as needed and in a specified manner. • Access is one type of database software that we will use. • Other examples of database software are: • QuickBase – from the makers of QuickBooks (Intuit) • dQuery • Alpha Five • FileMaker Pro 10
What are key features of Access? • Easy to enter and update data • Easy to ask questions of the database and have it give you answers. • Easy to create nice looking forms to view and enter/update data. • Easy to create classy-looking reports. • Can even be utilized via the web.
Review of what you already know . . . Fields – columns that contain specific information inside of a record Record – rows that contain info about a specific person, product, etc.
What I’ve found . . . • From my years of experience working as an administrative assistant in various types of offices, I have found that usually one doesn’t start out to design a database and begin entering data. Usually, you have data in Word documents and Excel files that you realize would be more useful if you had them incorporated into a database. If they were in a database, you would be able to extract only the information needed at a particular time. A database is born!
What I’ve found continued . . . • I’ve compiled data in various types of file formats that we will incorporate into a database. This data will be used for both Access units on forms and reports. • Have fun!