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Information Processes and Technology
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Flat File Database - practical
Information Systems and Databases
Group Activity
In a group of three (selected randomly by Sir), come up with definitions for the following terms which were
covered in the Preliminary Course.
You will be given a group number and you are to record these definitions on the following Titan Pad
http://ipt.titanpad.com/1 - password: wonka
The words to be defined are as follows:
File:
Field:
Record:
Character:
Data Dictionary:
Query:
Flat File Database Project
Your task for this Project is to use the skills that you have developed in the preliminary course to produce a
database for a company. The company details are provided on the next page and the company data is on
page 3.
Remember to plan your database carefully. The following steps should be conducted:
1. Construct a data dictionary to plan the database and the type, format, size and nature of the
fields contained. Use the structure below
2. Enter the fields in the Database software. Once you have done that, click on Create and select Form.
Enter the data into the table via the Form.
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Flat File Database - practical
Information Systems and Databases
Field Name
Data Type
Data Format
Field Size
Description
Example
Andersons Real Estate
Andersons Real Estate is a real estate company that sells or auctions properties, or manages rental properties.
It is one of the largest managers of rental properties in Ballarat. They have developed and intend to maintain a
high regard by the community for professionalism as agents for people selling properties, with people
purchasing those properties and with people renting properties
The business employs 6 people, George Anderson, the Owner/Manager who oversees operations, an
accountant who keeps a track of all property sales, a receptionist and 3 real estate agents (Helen Lock, Robert
Grills, Graeme Vickery)
Up until now George has maintained manual records of the properties the company manages. However,
customer complaints have occurred recently.
For example, some properties have been unoccupied for lengthy periods of time and some tenants have been
seen with pets against the wishes of the property owners.
George realises that he needs to make changes to the way he manages his records
George has employed you to create a database to allow him to manage the RENTAL side of his business .
3. Suggest how George was managing the manual records of the Company.
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Information Processes and Technology
Get I.T in Order
Flat File Database - practical
Information Systems and Databases
4. What are some potential issues of non-computer based databases vs computer based databases.
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5. A database with the following fields is required:
Owner’s Name
Number of Bedrooms
Owner’s Address
Pets Allowed
Owner’s Phone Number
Weekly Rent and
The Property Type
Currently Occupied (yes or no)
Property Address
6. Four reports are needed:
Tabular reports about the Properties showing:
Property Type, Property Address, Number of Bedrooms, Pets Allowed, Weekly Rent and Currently
Occupied The reports should show:
unoccupied properties
which properties allow pets
7. Buttons and validation techniques (pop-up menus, lists, etc ) should be provided to allow the
database to be used by someone with limited database knowledge
Information Processes and Technology
Get I.T in Order
Flat File Database - practical
Information Systems and Databases
Andersons Real Estate Data
Information Processes and Technology
Get I.T in Order
Flat File Database - practical
Information Systems and Databases
The Limitations of a Flat File Database
A Flat file database management system allow you to use only one database
file or data table at any one time. For the majority of business tasks, flat file
systems are ideal eg (address books, electronic diaries, recording marks etc)
They are also relatively easy to operate and learn.
The main limitation of a flat file database is that they often result in data
redundancy.
Data Redundancy refers to the unnecessary
duplication of data within a database.
Identify the redundant data in the database you constructed
and suggest a solution to solve the redundancy issue.
Construct three data dictionary’s that could eliminate data
redundancy and would form the basis of a relational
database. (Use the following format)
Field Name
Type
Length
Description/Example