Wiley FileMaker Pro 8 Bible 978-0-471-77708-3 User Manual
Product codes
978-0-471-77708-3
5
Chapter 1 ✦ What Is a Database?
Figure 1-1: Every database comprises records that contain fields.
When consistency is critical, such as when you’re recording information on employees
or filling out a customer invoice, records are often designed as forms. Spaces on the
form have labels so that you always know which piece of information belongs where.
You can still type a phone number in the space labeled Social Security number, but at
least the labels make catching and correcting mistakes easier. Forms help organize the
data in much the same way that a computer-based database does. In fact, this type
of paper database is frequently the basis for a computer database.
or filling out a customer invoice, records are often designed as forms. Spaces on the
form have labels so that you always know which piece of information belongs where.
You can still type a phone number in the space labeled Social Security number, but at
least the labels make catching and correcting mistakes easier. Forms help organize the
data in much the same way that a computer-based database does. In fact, this type
of paper database is frequently the basis for a computer database.
As we describe in Chapter 5, you can establish field options that help prevent users
entering a telephone number (usually seven or ten digits) into a Social Security
number field (nine digits). Field validation options are yet another advantage that
computerized database management systems have over manual entry systems on
paper.
entering a telephone number (usually seven or ten digits) into a Social Security
number field (nine digits). Field validation options are yet another advantage that
computerized database management systems have over manual entry systems on
paper.
Paper Databases versus Computer Databases
What’s wrong with paper databases? After all, many homes and businesses rely on
them. In the following sections, we discuss some shortcomings of paper databases
and explain how computer databases can help avoid these limitations.
them. In the following sections, we discuss some shortcomings of paper databases
and explain how computer databases can help avoid these limitations.
Note
O'Leary, Moishe
1843 Sunny Rd.
Troy, MI 48065
1843 Sunny Rd.
Troy, MI 48065
Database
Records
Fields
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