Lesson - 1

What is a database? A database is any

collection of data that is organized for quick retrieval.

Databases can be computer based or paper based

Examples of Databases Computer Based

Databases

Bank databases

School databases

Business databases

Paper Based Databases

Telephone book

Address book

Index of a book

Paper Based

Computer Based

Types of Databases

There are two main types of databases:

Flat Database

Relational Database

Flat Database Is a simple database model, where all the

information is stored in a plain text file, one database record per line.

Relational Database All information in the

database is stored in related tables each consisting of rows and columns.

The tables can be linked to each other in the database by the use of values common to more than one table.

Relational Database

What is MS Access 2010? Access is a powerful database

management program that can be used for:

storing,

organizing,

retrieving, and

reporting (summarize and print) information.

What can we do with a database? Find the related data

Analyze, manage, manipulate and retrieve the data

Display the information as a chart, graph or Web page

Print or publish uses friendly reports

Automate auto repetitive tasks

Export the data to other programs such as MS Excel and MS Word, and

Protect the data from errors

Access or Excel? An Excel spreadsheet is a good choice to do calculations,

analysis such and graphing.

But Excel is relatively poor at handling lots of different sets of related data.

An Access database is used for storing lots of data in a format that can be searched and summarized on reports.

It is ideal for setting up and managing sets of related data, but is relatively poor at the mathematical analysis whereas Excel is good at.

Microsoft Access Database Objects

A database usually consists of several objects.

An Access database might contain up to seven different database object types.

Microsoft Access Database Objects

Tables

Queries

Forms

Reports

Pages

Macros

Modules

Tables Tables store a

database’s data in rows (records) and columns (fields).

A database must always contain at least one table where it can store the information.

Tables

In a database table:

Rows are called Records

Columns are called Fields

Queries

Queries ask a question of data stored in a table.

Forms

Forms are custom screen that provide an easy way to enter, view and modify the data in a table or query.

Reports Reports present

data from a table or query in a printed format

Pages A special type of Web

pages designed for viewing and working with Access data from an Intranet or Internet.

It is the only external object of a MS Access Database.

Macros Macros help us to

perform routine tasks by automating them in a single command.

Modules

Are like Macros, modules automate tasks but by using a built-in programming language called Visual Basic for Applications or VBA.

They are much more powerful and complex than macros.

Class Work - 1 Create a simple school database with one table. The

table is going to contain students’ personal information, like: Student ID

Name,

Father’s Name

Birth Date

Birth Place

Phone Number

Email

Address

Thank you for your listening!