Databases

What do you think the word ‘database’

means?

Databases
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Databases Paper-based databases

What do you think the word ‘database’

means?

DEFINITION:
A database is a collection of data or
information which is stored in a logical
and structured way
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Paper-based databases Paper-based databases

Think of some advantages for paper-based Think of some advantages for paper-based
databases databases

ƒCheap to set up
ƒDon’t need electricity, so will work if you have a
power-cut
ƒDon’t need a computer – which is expensive
ƒCan carry them around with you
ƒDon’t need training to learn how to use them

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 Paper-based databases Paper-based databases
Think of some disadvantages for paper- Think of some disadvantages for paper-
based databases based databases
ƒCan be lost
ƒCan’t easily make back-up copies
ƒHard to update or make changes
ƒCard systems can get in a muddle if cards not
replaced in the correct order
ƒCan take a while to search for a particular record

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Computer-based databases Computerised databases

Think of some advantages for computerised
databases

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Computerised databases Computerised databases

Think of some advantages for computerised Think of some disadvantages for
databases computerised databases

ƒCan easily make back-up copies

ƒCan easily make changes
ƒCan easily sort data into order e.g. alphabetic
ƒCan search for particular records very quickly
ƒCan import or export data to/from other
packages

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 Computerised databases Database Terms
Think of some disadvantages for Your school keeps a lot of information
computerised databases about every student.
ƒCan be expensive to set up if you have to get a Think of some of the information they
professional to make it
keep about you.
ƒIf there is a power-cut, you can’t use it
ƒYou need to have a computer
ƒCannot carry it around with you – unless you
take a computer
ƒYou often need training to learn how to use them
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Database Terms Field

name
Your school keeps a lot of information
about every student. Each of these is one address
piece of information about d.o.b.
Think of some of the information they you. doctor’s
keep about you. name
parent’s Each of these different parent’s
name allergies names types of information is names
address phone
illnesses called a ‘Field’ number
doctor’s phone illnesses
d.o.b.
name number allergies
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Field Field
A shop selling DVDs has a database.
field field field
What would be the field names in their
Student
number
Surname First
name
D.O.B. Address Phone
number
Illnesses Allergies Doctor
database?
1042 Jones Emma 05/04/95 123 High 01234 Nuts Dr. Brown
Street 765555
1043 Smith Louise 12/08/95 45 Low 01234 Diabetes Dr. Green
Road 688674
1044 White Simon 26/06/95 67 Middle 01234 Wasp Dr. Yellow
Lane 984532 stings

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 Field Record
A shop selling DVDs has a database.
What would be the field names in their
‘fields’ are put together to
All of the
database? make a ‘record’

title of Running
DVD time A ‘record’ is all of the data about one
genre person or one thing.
price

actors how
many in
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stock © www.teach-ict.com All Rights Reserved

Record Record

record field
Student Surname First D.O.B. Address Phone Illnesses Allergies Doctor Student Surname First D.O.B. Address Phone Illnesses Allergies Doctor
number name number number name number

1042 Jones Emma 05/04/95 123 High 01234 Nuts Dr. Brown 1042 Jones Emma 05/04/95 123 High 01234 Nuts Dr. Brown
Street 765555 Street 765555
1043 Smith Louise 12/08/95 45 Low 01234 Diabetes Dr. Green 1043 Smith Louise 12/08/95 45 Low 01234 Diabetes Dr. Green
Road 688674 Road 688674
1044 White Simon 26/06/95 67 Middle 01234 Wasp Dr. Yellow 1044 White Simon 26/06/95 67 Middle 01234 Wasp Dr. Yellow
Lane 984532 stings Lane 984532 stings

record
record
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File Database Terms

‘records’ are stored
All of the A ‘database’ is a collection of data or
file information which is stored in a logical
together as a ‘file’ and structured way
Student Surname First D.O.B. Address Phone Illnesses Allergies Doctor
number name number
A ‘field’ is one type or piece of information
1042 Jones Emma 05/04/95 123 High 01234 Nuts Dr. Brown

A ‘record’ is all of the information about

Street 765555
1043 Smith Louise 12/08/95 45 Low 01234 Diabetes Dr. Green

one person or one thing

Road 688674
1044 White Simon 26/06/95 67 Middle 01234 Wasp Dr. Yellow
Lane 984532 stings
1045 Wood James 14/05/95 89 Uphill
Drive
01234
927347
Dr. Black
A ‘file’ is the collection of all the database
1046 Wythe Hannah 18/04/95 101 Down
Avenue
01234
836475
Asthma Plasters Dr. Blue
records on one topic or subject
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