Summary CHAPTER 9: DATABASE AND FILE CONCEPTS (A level IT 9626)

The first year of Cambridge Assessment International Examination (CAIE). These series of Notes are comprehensive, Detailed, Summarized and Easy to Understand. Students finds it very helpful as they prepare for examination. A lot of resources and research have been put together to develop this summary. So it's not restricted to the traditional text book. We have taken the pain to take the work off you. What you just need to do is to relax and go through the slides/pdf as everything has been broken down in simple terms for you to understand. Let's GO!!!:) SUMMARY CHAPTER 9: DATABASE AND FILE CONCEPTS (A level IT 9626) What to expect and what you will be getting: Complete and in-depth slide presentation on (A level IT 9626): Database and file concepts Create a database • assign a data type and an appropriate field size to a field (including: text, alphanumeric, numeric (integer, decimal), date/time, Boolean) • describe the three relationships: one-to-one, one-to-many and many-to-many • create and use relationships (including: one-to-one and one-to-many) • create and interpret an entity relationship diagram • evaluate the difference between a flat file and a relational database and why one might be preferred in certain situations • create a relational database • analyse the function of key fields (including: primary key, compound key, foreign key) • set keys (including: primary key, compound key, foreign key) • define and use referential integrity and explain its importance validate and verify data entry – use validation rules (see 1.5) – test validation applied to a database – verify data entry (see 1.5) • perform searches – simple query on single criterion – complex queries using multiple criteria – queries using static parameters – queries using dynamic parameters – nested queries – summarise data (including: cross-tab query/pivot table) – using text, numeric, date, time, wildcard, Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT), ., ,, =, .=, ,= • use arithmetic operations, numeric and logical functions to perform calculations within a database (including calculated controls and calculated fields) • sort data – ascending, descending, grouped • design, create and evaluate an appropriate data entry form (including: appropriate font styles and sizes, spacing between fields, character spacing of individual fields, use of white space, radio buttons, drop down menus, highlighting key fields, use form controls, create linked subforms) • design, create and evaluate database reports including grouped reports • design, create and evaluate a switchboard/menu within a database • import data (including: .csv, .txt, .rtf) • export data (including: table, query, report, export as .csv, .txt, .rtf) Also, we would go ahead and look at: Normalisation to third normal form (3NF) • describe the characteristics of data in unnormalised form (0NF), first normal form (1NF), second normal form (2NF) and third normal form (3NF) • discuss the advantages and disadvantages of normalisation • normalise a database to 3NF Notes/summary will also be provided on: Data dictionary • describe the components of a data dictionary • select appropriate data types for a given set of data and a given situation • identify different data types (including: text, alphanumeric, numeric (integer, real, percentage, currency), date/time, Boolean/logical (yes/no, true/false)) We would learn also: Query selection • evaluate the use of static and dynamic parameters in a query (see 9.1) • analyse when static and dynamic parameters should be used in queries (see 9.1) • analyse when simple, complex, nested and summary queries (including: cross-tab queries/pivot tables) should be used (see 9.1) Notes/ Summary on: Checking the accuracy of data File and data management • evaluate different file types and their use • explain what is meant by proprietary and open-source file formats, and why open-source file formats are needed • explain why generic file formats are needed • explain the use of indexed sequential access • explain the use of direct file access • explain the use of a hierarchical database management system • describe the features of a management information system (MIS) • explain how a MIS can be used by organisations The notes/summary have been designed for easy understanding.