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Non-Degree College Courses: A Practical Guide to Lifelong Learning

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CIS101 Personal Computer Applications Chapter 8

 How to use Microsoft Access?


Microsoft Access is a relational database management system (RDBMS) that allows users to store, manage, and analyze large sets of data. It is part of the Microsoft Office suite and provides a user-friendly interface for designing and building databases. Here's a basic guide on how to use Microsoft Access and what it's for:

What Microsoft Access Is For:
Database Creation:

Microsoft Access is primarily used for creating databases, which are structured collections of data organized into tables.
Data Management:

It helps users manage and organize large amounts of data efficiently, making it easy to input, update, and retrieve information.
Querying Data:

Access allows users to write queries to extract specific information from the database. Queries can be simple or complex, depending on the user's needs.
Forms and Reports:

Users can design customized forms for data entry and reports for presenting information in a structured and visually appealing manner.
Data Analysis:

Access provides tools for analyzing data, including sorting, filtering, and performing calculations on the data stored in the tables.
How to Use Microsoft Access:
1. Open Access and Create a New Database:
Launch Microsoft Access and select "Blank Database" to create a new database.
Specify a name for your database and choose a location to save it.
2. Create Tables:
In the "Tables" tab, create tables to store your data. Define fields for each table, specifying data types (text, number, date, etc.) for each field.
3. Input Data:
Enter data into your tables using datasheet views or forms. Forms provide a more user-friendly interface for data entry.
4. Create Queries:
Use the "Query Design" view to create queries. Specify criteria to filter data and select fields to display.
5. Forms and Reports:
Design forms to facilitate data entry and create reports to present information visually. These can be customized based on specific user needs.
6. Relationships:
Establish relationships between tables to ensure data integrity. This is crucial for avoiding data redundancy and maintaining consistency.
7. Queries and Data Analysis:
Utilize queries to extract specific information from your tables. Apply sorting, filtering, and calculations to analyze data.
8. Data Validation:
Implement data validation rules to ensure data accuracy and consistency.
9. Security:
Access provides security features, allowing you to set permissions and restrict access to specific parts of the database.
10. Import and Export Data:
Access allows you to import data from external sources and export data to various formats, facilitating data exchange.
11. Backup and Maintenance:
Regularly backup your database to prevent data loss. Perform maintenance tasks, such as compacting and repairing the database, to optimize performance.
Microsoft Access is suitable for individuals, small businesses, and organizations that need a flexible and user-friendly tool for managing and analyzing data without the complexity of larger database management systems. It's particularly useful for creating databases for tracking inventories, managing contacts, handling projects, and much more.

Discussion Unit 8: Databases


Whether we realize it or not, our data is stored in databases all the time.  Discuss a business or organization that may store your data in a database and describe why you think that is useful to that business to do so.

Well considering that during the time of 2005 to 2017 I was working on a game server with a friend I can greatly see how important databases can be. Since the server used MySQL databases in order to allow users to login and create characters. All of the items are created from databases the monsters and the spawn locations and any items that they drop are all from SQL tables. The other aspect of it was the website side of it which controlled visual data from the game but also allowed players to purchase items using PayPal and other services and automatically receive them in game all of that data requires databases to work properly. Databases can actually be backed up and often use cloud storage to protect from data loss. It's different from when the internet was first starting and database wasn't widely used or during the time period when there wasn't backup services and many sites didn't back up data and then had a virus destroy the server and instead lost all the data. Databases also make it easier over all to store data imagine having everything as paper copy instead cause a few years back that was the case and if a building had a fire all those records or papers could be lost. 

Assignment Unit 8: Database Design Tips

Write, in your own words, a summary on the Database Design Tips tutorials while incorporating your own experience and understanding. Apply critical thinking and an academic writing style that demonstrates your understanding of the difference between a Microsoft Access database and an Excel spreadsheet by comparing the features of each and when they would be used as personal computer applications if applicable.  Additionally, include basic diagram for a database you create that includes at least 2 tables and at least 3 fields on each table. An example diagram is shown below.
Paper Format:

Save As ~ CIS101_YourUsername_DatabaseDesign
Title Page ~ Course Name, Paper Title, Your Name, Total Word Count, Submission Date
Paper ~ APA Style (Information on proper formatting can be found here(Links to an external site.)
Reference Page ~ Minimum 2 resources required using proper citation. Just listing an URL address will not count as a citation.
Minimum 1.5 pages including image, but not including title or reference page

             One advantage for using excel spread sheet is its really easy to use and be productive and allows us to use many different formulas and calculations efficiently. But as that process gets more advanced it becomes harder to get the excel sheets to perform the way a database would. Especially when it comes to usage for websites. There are a couple advantages that databases have:

  • Data structure and normalization through multiple tables
  • Scalability: adding more records is free
  • Data and Referential Integrity
  • Queries and Reports
  • Automation through Macros and VBA Modules

          When it comes to the ability to verify data and change records on the fly databases excel. When it comes to databases most of my understanding is on the SQL side of things and for this particular paper aside from providing examples of Excel and Microsoft Access, I figured I would also show MySQL table.

DROP TABLE IF EXISTS `cp_loginlog`;

CREATE TABLE `cp_loginlog` (

  `id` int(11) NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,

  `account_id` int(10) DEFAULT NULL,

  `username` varchar(23) NOT NULL,

  `password` varchar(32) NOT NULL,

  `ip` varchar(15) NOT NULL,

  `login_date` datetime NOT NULL,

  `error_code` tinyint(1) DEFAULT NULL,

  PRIMARY KEY (`id`),

  KEY `account_id` (`account_id`)

) ENGINE=MyISAM AUTO_INCREMENT=2846 DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8;

          The key difference in MS access is its setup to handle small numbers of user’s and data requests. When I was using MySQL, it was on enterprise servers.

This table was the login table which showed the ID, Account ID, username, password, IP address, login date, and error code. The engine of MyISAM doesn’t exist in MS access because it’s a non-transactional database system meaning there’s no rollback option if a database update doesn’t commit. And Auto incrementing means the ID of the database will start at 2846 and count down. As follows:

INSERT INTO `cp_loginlog` (`id`,`account_id`,`username`,`password`,`ip`,`login_date`,`error_code`) VALUES

 (2845,2001045,'catlover','12345678','203.77.152.10','2022-12-20 10:04:12',NULL),

 (2844,2000000,'TrueNoir','cats123','75.181.120.54','2022-12-18 15:08:38',NULL);


Here is an example of the same data above as a excel spreadsheet. Some of our limitations are that we cannot have automatic incrementing numbers for ID we have to manually put that data in the server can’t access a excel spreadsheet in order to use it for login data. Also, our input data is only as good as the person submitting. When it comes to making mistakes it’s the person who entered the data who is responsible. In Access or MySQL both database types aren’t at risk in the same way because there’s limitations such as putting characters in a Integer only column and database can be updated based on the users connecting allowing much more dynamic system in a database over spreadsheets. Also, PHP website would be unable to grab query information to display if we where using excel. Microsoft Access can be used in that same way only the query language for access is very different then attempting to write it like SQL but that’s also because Microsoft Access is more GUI based then when it comes to MySQL if you do not understand how to write SQL query language you will have difficulty managing the database without extra tools such as Query Admin at the time I was working with databases there was very limited resources when it came to software which could be used so the only option was to learn how to write queries.

For Microsoft Access the table would be like this:

Microsoft Access Database example

Sub CreateTableX7()

    

Dim dbs As Database

    

' Modify this line to include the path to Loginlog

' on your computer.

    

Set dbs = OpenDatabase("Loginlog.mdb")

    

dbs.Execute "CREATE TABLE Loginlog " _

& "(ID INT, AccountID INT, " _

& "(username CHAR, password CHAR, " _

& "(IP INT, " _

& "login_date DATETIME, " _

& "error_code INT [NOT] NULL, " _

& "CONSTRAINT LoginlogConstraint UNIQUE " _

& "(ID, AccountID, username, password, IP, login_date));"

    

dbs.Close

 

Function FixIPAddress(str As String) As String

'trim out spaces in an ip address

Dim v As Variant

Dim temp As String

Dim i As Long

v = Split(str, ".")

For i = LBound(v) To UBound(v)

  temp = temp & Trim$(v(i)) & "."

Next i

If Len(temp) > 0 Then

  temp = Left$(temp, Len(temp) - 1)

End If

FixIPAddress = temp

 

Private Sub Text1_AfterUpdate()

If Not IsNull(Me.Text1) Then

  Me.Text1 = FixIPAddress(Me.Text1)

  If Not IsValidIPAddress(Me.Text1) Then

    MsgBox "Input Values not Valid?"

    Me.Text1.SetFocus

  End If

Else

  'comment this out if we don't care about nulls

  MsgBox "Do we care that this is null?"

  Me.Text1.SetFocus

End If    

    End Sub

The tricky thing about this is working with IP addresses since they have a set number of mask input ###\.###\.###\.###;0;"#" MS access allows spaces so we would have to check that the IP address is correct and valid. Most of the thing’s possible with Microsoft Access is really the same in MySQL it’s just how to do it is a little different. Originally, we planned on using Microsoft access for our game server but realized that it wouldn’t be able to handle the number of users that we could with MySQL. And also, that we required a license in order to use Microsoft where at the time it was free to use MySQL.

Unit 8 Quiz: Access 

Bound Control
Uses a field in a table or query as the BC data source


Calculated Control
A Control that displays the result of a Calculation, or expression


Conditional Formatting
Formatting that is applied to a cell when a specified Condition is met


Control
In an experiment, the standard that is used for Comparison


Control Layouts
Align Controls horizontally and vertically to give reports or forms a uniform appearance


Control Tab Order
The Order in which the selection moves from field to field when the Tab key is pressed


Control Wizard
Helps you create Controls such as W command buttons, list boxes, combo boxes, and option groups


Expression Builder
A feature that provides the names of the fields and controls in a database, lists the operators available, and has Built-in functions to help you create an Expression


Stacked Layout
A Layout in which the controlS are arranged vertically with a label on the left and the control on the right


Tabular Layout
A Layout in which The controls are arranged in rows and columns like a spreadsheet, with labels across the top


Unbound Control
A Control that displays information such as lines, shapes, or pictures

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