SILS iSchool

Task 05 | Relational Databases

Value Added | daily

Class Schedule

Basics | sessions 01-05

21 Aug | intro
23 Aug | clients
28 Aug | servers
30 Aug | networks
04 Sep | basics lab

Web Development | sessions 06-11

06 Sep | structural layer
11 Sep | presentational layer
18 Sep | working with layers
20 Sep | behavior layer
25 Sep | images & design
27 Sep | website lab

Document Markup | sessions 12-14

02 Oct | object layers
04 Oct | tools that read markup
09 Oct | document markup lab

Spreadsheets | sessions 15-19

11 Oct | spreadsheets, formulas & functions
16 Oct | data display
 18 Oct | Fall Break 
23 Oct | database tools
25 Oct | spreadsheets lab

Relational Database | sessions 20-26

30 Oct | relational databases
01 Nov | tables
06 Nov | relationships
08 Nov | input & output
13 Nov | SQL
15 Nov | complex queries
20 Nov | databases lab
 22 Nov | Thanksgiving 

Presentation | sessions 27-30

27 Nov | presentation design
29 Nov | presentation delivery
04 Dec | presentation lab
13 Dec | 0800-1100 | final in class presentation





You will be called upon to demonstrate specific relational database skills.

Task ⑤ ⇒ relational databases

relational database task logo

The task will be released as five parts,
one a day,
as we practice Access components.

  1. the specs for tables
  2. the relationships specs
  3. the forms specs
  4. and the reports specs
  5. the first set of queries
  6. finally, the second set of queries

Everything in this task is something we will have demonstrated and/or tried in class.

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Condition

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:

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

You may work in teams on this task as you did on the previous tasks. When your team has completed the task, one member of the team will store it in that person's password protected directory. Each of the members of the team will place a hyperlink to it on their respective web sites (the individual storing it will have a relative link to it, the others will have absolute links to the finished task). When it's ready for me to download and grade, send me a note telling me to retrieve it from your websites.

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Standard

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.

It should meet the standards laid out on the task 05 gradesheet.

Everything on that gradesheet will be analogous to something we will have done in class.

Save the finished product using the standard file name structure for this class.

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Value Added | daily
Basics | sessions 01-05
Web Development | sessions 06-11
Document Markup | sessions 12-14
Spreadsheets | sessions 15-19
Relational Database | sessions 20-26
Presentation | sessions 27-30