1.3 Information handling

Databases are used to store and handle large quantities of structured data such as medical records, holiday bookings and details of items of stock.

Sometimes you will need to use structured data collected by someone else to extract meaningful information for your own purpose.

You will learn how to use database software to design and build flat file databases to store structured data.

When designing an appropriate database structure, you will need to consider the nature of the data to be stored as well as the information you want to extract.

You will learn how to:

• create simple validation rules to protect data integrity
• import given data sets
• enter, edit and delete records
• design data entry forms
• use queries to extract valid and meaningful information for a specified purpose
• use reports to present information clearly
• export data for use in other applications, eg mail merge.