Database Design and Development

Question 1

What is a flat file database?

Answer 1

A database consisting of one table.

Question 2

Name some of the basic issues with a flat file database.

Answer 2

• Unnecessary repitition.

- An increased file size.

Question 3

What are the three basic ‘anomalies’?

Answer 3

• Insert anomaly
• Delete anomaly
• Update anomaly

Question 4

What is an ‘Insert Anomaly’?

Answer 4

Where a new piece of information cannot be added without adding an entire new row.

Question 5

What is a ‘Delete Anomaly’?

Answer 5

Where a singular piece of information cannot be removed without deleting it’s entire row.

Question 6

What is an ‘Update Anomaly’?

Answer 6

Where multiple, repeating pieces of information must be updated, but not all of them are. This causes inconsistency in the data.

Question 7

What is a linked database?

Answer 7

Where two or more tables are created an linked to form a database. This cancels out the three key anomalies of a flat file database.

Question 8

Name the five key fields used in a database.

Answer 8

• Text Field
• Number Field
• Date Field
• Time Field
• Boolean Field

Question 9

Field Name - - - Sample Data - - - Field Type
Forename - - - Malcolm - - - ( ? )
Start date - - - 24/12/2017 - - - ( ? )
Field duty - - - Yes - - - ( ? )
Hours worked - - - 55 - - - ( ? )

State the four field types used here.

Answer 9

1. Text.
2. Date.
3. Boolean.
4. Number.

Question 10

What is a primary key?

Answer 10

A unique ID that can be used to identify any individual record in the database.

Question 11

What is a foreign key?

Answer 11

A key that appears in more than one table, linking them together.

Question 12

What is a database?

Answer 12

An organised collection of information or data.