INLS261 Tools for Information Literacy

[schedule] [basics] [web pages] [markup] [spreadsheets] [RDBMS] [presentations]

[UNC] [SILS] [REB] [How Stuff Works] [Langa] [Web Style Guide] [ATN] [ITS Tips] [Other Lives]

[RDBMS] [relationships] [forms & simple queries] [more queries & reports]

Task 05 - Relational Databases

will be released 07-16 November 2006

It will be released in parts

1. the specs for tables will be released on 07 November as a practice exercise for you to do
2. the relationships specs will be released on 09 November as a practice exercise for you to do
3. the forms specs and the first set of queries will be released on 14 November as a practice exercise for you to do
4. finally, the second set of queries and the reports specs will be released on 16 November as a practice exercise for you to do

The gradesheet containing all the specs will also be released on 16 November

Task

 You are to create a book database for a private client, not too unlike Mr. Pitt on Seinfeld. The client has his own library and needs you to organize his holdings and be able to order new books for his library when he wants them. This will require you to create a relational database that will include:

• a number of related tables to capture the data about the books and the orders
• a set of queries to pull data from the tables in response to questions about the book holdings
• some forms to use for adding data to the database
• some reports to use for presenting the client with a paper copy of results in response to his questions

[top]

Condition

Though there are several different commercial relational database software applications, we need to use Microsoft Access for this purpose because it will provide an appreciation for relational databases. Additionally, other database classes in SILS assume a working knowledge of Access as a baseline skill.

We will build this database step by step in class. The exercises you will have after each class will be part of the task. You would be wise to do each exercise as it is presented so you won't be bogged down trying to finish the database. It can be a huge time sink if you don't watch out.

When you have completed this task, place it in your password protected directory and place a link pointing to that location on the task 5 page of your website. Send me an email with the URL that I may use to retrieve it, in the same manner as you did for Tasks 3 and 4.

[top]

Standard

I will post examples that should provide some visual guidance for the task components and they will be reachable under the linked CNTL+F on each session page.

The gradesheet will be released on 16 November.

[top]