Tuesday, 17 February 2009

Querying A Database

Here is my query....
*Double click to see it more clearly:)

Creating A Database

This is my databse created on Microsoft Access.

*Double Click, to see it more clearly

Tuesday, 3 February 2009

Database Definitions


This is Activity 2 in the Term 1 Activities
1. Definitions
Field- It is an allocated space for a specicfic item of information. Fields are the smallest units of information which are able to be accessed.
Record-They are composed of fields and each of these contains one item of information. Then these set of records "constitutes"a file.
File-Is a collection of data or even information that has a name, known as the filename. Information stored in a computer is put in a file and these different files contain different information.
Query- It is a request from a database.
Database- It is a collection of information in such a way that the actual computer program can immediately "select desired pieces of data." Its mainly an electronic filing system.
Report- It is formatted as well as presented data.
DBMS- Also known as Database Managment System. It is a collection of programs that are you are able to store,modify as well as extract information from a database. There are different types a small system which runs on personal system and a large system which runs on mainframes.
Data Dictionary: In DBMS systems, it is a file that defines the basic organization of database. So what does a data dictionary actually contain? Well it contains:
-a list of files in the database
-number of records in a file
-names and types of each field
In short a database doesnt actual contain data but instead a bookkeeping information for managing it.
Data Type- A data type in "programming languages" is an attribute of data which tells the computer and programmer what specific data it is.
2. This is a diagram of a database of music including the album's title, song title, artist and genre and there are 10 songs. The field, record and file are all labeled!
3. Commonly used databases include:
1. White Pages.
2.Itunes(Music).
3.Dictionaries(database of words)-Paper based database.
4.Libraries- Paper based database.
5. Address Book on your phone.

Sunday, 1 February 2009

Introduction to Databases










Using an electronic database
The definition of a database:- It is a structured collection of records or even data that is stored in a computer system.
Some examples of commonly encountered databases include the contact list on your phone which are made out of various fields such as mobile number, the name etc....and that is a record. Then there are also movie databases, plant databases, a phone database etc....
Question
1. To find this particular shop name and its number, I firstly had typed in electronics in the find by: business type and then clicked on Computer Equipment Hardware. The actual street name i typed into location and it came up with a list of different shops, to cut down the search I clicked the exclude these 13 businesse and I ended up with 4 businesses, 3 of which were located on Katoomba Street. I picked the first on:
Name of shop: Bennett Office Supplies
Phone Number: (02) 4782 2228
2. To find this particular shop I typed in Florist in the businees type and Merrylands into the location. Then I picked the category Florist- retail to once again cut down the search and then clicked exclude and found it, (the first one).
Name of Shop:M&A Fresh Cut Flowers


Map of the place is there:(look up please!)



3. To locate some of the many motels in Noosa Qld and get their phone numbers, I typed in Motel in the business type box and then for the location I typed in Noosa Qld and there a number of motels appeared some including:

-Noosa Village Hotel
Ph no.:07) 5447 5800
-Budget Motel Chain
Ph no.:1800 253 222
Some hotels include:
-Hotel Laguna
Ph no.:07) 5447 3077
BreakFree Noosa International
Ph no.:(07) 5447 4822
4. By using white pages, I found a map of my house:(which is once again on the top!)

*As I have being researching on the yellow pages and white pages I now know that these two website are infact databases.
This is because they follow the definition of a database exactly:
The Yellow Pages are a structured collection of data/records this being they contain businesses and their info like the name, where it is located, phone number and even a map to help you find it! So it is a database of types of businesses right from restaurants to hairdressers to motels located in Australia. With one click of a button its that's simple to search a database.
As for the White Pages, they provide contact information for residents, businesses as well as government departments in Australia, so a wider range than Yellow Pages, this being you are even able to view where different governments/organisations are as well as find out where people live. *The White pages even let you know the weather in a particular city in Australia andInternational Dialling codes. Also you are able to find out the postcode of a particular suburb, the latest news as well as what's on TV today?! So its definetly more useful than Yellow Pages....
* Viewing both these websites rather than actually getting he actual Yellow Pages and White Pages book do definetly have their advantages.
-Its much easier to look for what you want, you dont have to bring out that large book and search, just hop on the computer and let your fingers do the typing.
-Its more straightforward, you just have to type what type of business and where its located and it even excludes businesses for you if you want.
-Going online has a lot more information than the books especially for White pages, this meaning there is no weather update in the book nor is there a section for international dialling codes or finding a postcode and they defintely dont tell you the daily news and TV guide.
- You can view Maps which makes soo much easier instead of actually getting out that big map book and squinting and reading that small handwriting.
*I do see dangers/disadvantages not so much for the online version of the Yellow Pages but for the online version for White Pages. The fact that some stranger can just go on the computer and type in some name and actaully find out where a person lives, their phone number and a map can be kinda scary.
Even though its so much easier using the Internet for finding things nowadays, there are always those dangers people should be aware of!
Sanea.










IST '09

New Year, New Blog
This is my second blog which I will be using for IST throughout the whole year for assignments,activities etc....It is literally my exercise book and everything that is done is recorded!
My first lesson I made a new folder in my S drive for IST, I checked if my blogger and google accounts were still acitve(which they are). Also I made a new password for my new blog ( Sanea's Blog IST '09) and recorded it down. As well as that, my blog URL is also on the school website and my Gmail account is active, event though I didnt use it that often last year. Lastly I do have my USB.
So everything can be ticked off from the list, I had finished it all in that lesson and I just had to cutomise my blogger, not a great deal but just so it looks presentable:)
Thankfully at the beginning of the lesson I had remebered my actual log in password or I would have wasted time than intended!
Sanea.