What is a database?

• A database is a tool that allows you to organize and store a collection of facts about a particular topic.
• A database is made up of records.
• Each record has fields.
• A field’s entry contains one piece of information.

Vocabulary

An example:
Database
Field
Record
Entry

1.    How many records are in this entire database? (18)
2.    How many records are showing in the window? (10)
3.    How many fields are showing in the window? (5)

Shark database

1.    How many records are in this entire database? (20)
2.    How many fields in each record? (7)
3.    What is the entry for  "Attacking Species" on the  57-year old Male at Salter Path - Great White.

Roller coaster database

Another way to make sense of a huge database of information is to put the information in order, from smallest to largest (ascending) or from largest to smallest (descending).

Important to know:

1. All information is entered in a consistent way. In other words, if you create a field called "Favorite Sport" and two of your friends like basketball, don’t enter BBall for one friend and basketball for another. If you do, you’ll have trouble sorting your records later on. Instead, choose one way to type it every time.
 
2. You can change and add fields any time after the database has been created and saved.
 
3. You can add and change the data for your fields any time after the database has been created and saved. You can make your database as large as you like!
 
4. You can change the way your database looks! Use different fonts, colors and sizes, add borders, shading, and graphics. (Worried about copyright problems? Use Pics4Learning.com copyright-friendly images.)

5. Get in the habit of saving after every new record you add. You never know when the power will go out!

Different ways to view the database records

• The layout view is the place to design how your data will appear on the screen and on paper.
• List view - the records are usually shown in a long scrolling list and each record is displayed separately.
• Find view lets you search for certain information.

Getting Started - a pdf file




Information collected from the following website:
http://www.ncwiseowl.org/kscope/techknowpark/Kiosk/Database.html