Database Methods

Getting Started with LibreOffice Base

Use this image as a guideline to better understand the components of a modern desktop database such as Microsoft Access, LibreOffice Base or OpenOffice base and see how they fit together and relate to one another. General project guidelines/suggestions.

The database has four parts: tables, forms, queries, reports. The relationship between parts of a desktop database is:

Users input via a form into a table
The table stores the data
Queries extract subsets of data
Reports present the output from queries attractively

Users input (and may later also seek output).

Input can be error prone. The human elements are error checked without thinking... e.g. "can you repeat that, please?"

Sample of data gathering process:

Specify the questions to ask
Ask people the questions
Record the answers to paper (using a data capture form - DCF)
Enter the answers from paper into the database

After entry into the database the data is much less likely to be thought of as incorrect. But “garbage in, garbage out” is the overriding rule.

"To err is human" implies that machines do not make mistakes. But just because a computer does something correctly 1 trillion times, does not mean that the 1 trillion and first time that no error will occur. Neither does this allow for the possibility that the computer will do the 'right' thing with the wrong data; ergo "garbage in, garbage out".

Data capture should be validated earlier rather than later, as later detection means more time, effort and money.

Current Year

Assessment 2011/2012

Project (50%)

This is based on The Waterfront Hotel combined studies project: Personnel Details Database
Project requirements (PDF)
General project guidelines (HTML)
To get started, follow these steps:

Create a DCF which new staff members can fill out to provide the hotel with their personal details e.g. Name, Address, DOB, Phone, PPS etc. Allow a section for a photograph to be attached.
Generate 20 sample records. Fill out 2 DCFs by hand and scan these for inclusion with your project. Provide a scan of the hand-written remainder of the data (exclude photographs).
Create a table into which the data gathered can be stored by the manager in charge of personnel. Select a suitable primary key. Do not enter any data into this directly!
Create an input form. Link this to the table. Enter the data into the table by using the input form. Enter the photographs by this means.

Follow the instructions given in taught sessions.
Ensure your queries are acceptable - ask! Make sure a logical operator query is present.
Ensure that you include an extra printed report: an employee details sheet, with photograph, for use by the Personnel Manager (submit 2 samples).

Exam (50%)

Previous Years

Assessment 2007/8

Project (50%)

Read the instructions in the PDF documents below on electronic as well as paper submission.

Apart from a Microsoft Access database file, you should email one other document containing all the other elements of your paper submission - even the cover sheet.

Service Charges Exemption Database (Rev:52) (PDF)
General project guidelines (HTML)
More detailed guidelines (Rev:31) (PDF)
External tutorial on Access Queries (HTML)

Exam (50%)

Practical Exam Paper
Solution file in Microsoft Access 2000 format (The file is zipped to enable downloading. The .zip compression format is supported under Linux as well as Microsoft Windows)