Databases

Question 1

A database consists of three parts, what are they?

Answer 1

 File
records
fields.

Question 2

What is a database file

Answer 2

 A database file stores all of the information on a particular subject. It is made up of records

Question 3

What is a database record?

Answer 3

 A record stores all the information about one person/thing. It usually consists of several different fields.

Question 4

What is a data base field?

Answer 4

 A field stores one piece of information such as: Forename, Surname, Address

Question 5

What is a flat file database?

Answer 5

• Flat file databases consist of one table. As a result, a large database will most likely have data which is repeated

Question 6

What is a linked database?

Answer 6

Separating the data into different tables makes it easier to manage. Two or more tables can be linked together. This prevents having to enter data more than once, having to update the same information many times, and possibly accidentally deleting data.

Question 7

What is a primary key?

Answer 7

a field used to uniquely identify every record in the database.

Question 8

What is a foreign key?

Answer 8

a primary key from one table that appears in another table to link the two together.

Question 9

What are four types of validation check?

Answer 9

Presence
Restricted Choice
Field length
Range check

Question 10

Presence check

Answer 10

A presence check makes the person using the database enter something in this field. It can’t be blank

Question 11

Restricted Choice check

Answer 11

Restricted choice cuts down on mistakes by only letting you select an option from a menu or list i.e. a dropdown box for months.

Question 12

Field Length check

Answer 12

Field length restricts the number of characters typed.

Question 13

Range check

Answer 13

A range check makes sure data entered is within certain limits. >

Question 14

Advantages of Searching and Sorting

Answer 14

Easy to add new information – a search tries to find matches for whatever you search for.

Easy to sort information – a sort orders the data on a field which you choose. You can sort in ascending order or descending order.

Easy to search through millions of records to find one specific match.

Question 15

Complex search

Answer 15

 A complex search is a search, or even a sort, which takes place in more than one field (ie two or more fields) – sometimes many details are entered in a search