Databases Intro:
Exercise 1-1

 Title: Jan's Illustrated Computer Literacy 101
Did you want: Working with Databases: Access 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016

You need to use what you just learned, and maybe learn a little more. Complete all parts of the following exercises. Don't forget to backup your Class disk when you have completed the exercises or whenever you stop for the day and saved a document along the way.

This exercises uses a file from the databases resource files. The default location for such files is c:\My Documents\complit101\databases\ You cannot make changes to these files and save them in the same place. Save the changed documents to your Class disk. This keeps the original resource files intact in case you need to start over or another student will be using this same computer.
Full floppy disk How to handle a full disk


Where you are:
JegsWorks > Lessons > Databases

Before you start...

Project 1: Intro Arrow: subtopic open
    Text databases
    Spreadsheet databases
    Flat file databases
    Relational databases
    Summary
    Quiz
    Exercises Arrow: subtopic open
    Icon: Exercise Ex. 1-1 Text database
    Icon: Exercise Ex. 1-2 On Your Own

Project 2: Access Basics

Project 3: Tables & Queries

Project 4: Forms & Reports

Search  
Glossary  
Appendix

Exercise Database 1-1: Text Database

What you will do:

Find fields and records in a text database.
Turn word wrapping on and off.
Sort records manually.
Edit fields.

Start with:   starwars.txt from resource files

You will appreciate advanced databases more if you have tried to work with a basic plain text database. So awkward, even for a small database.

  1. Open text file: Right click on the link starwars.txt and choose Save Target As. Save the file to the Desktop of your hard disk.
    Warning: If you choose Open instead, the file will appear in this browser window! You will need to use the Back button to return to this page.

    If the download dialog appears, choose Open. The file will open in Notepad or in whatever text editor your computer has associated with text files.

    Notepad: text file

    Icon on Desktop for starwars.txtIcon: TroubleProblem: Download dialog does not appear: You were not downloading the file from the Internet but from your CD or download copy of these pages.
    Solution: Minimize this window and any others so that you can see the Desktop. Right click the icon for starwars.txt and choose Open With.... From the menu, choose Notepad.

    Icon: TroubleProblem: File opened in the browser: You clicked the link or your right clicked the link and chose Open or Open in New Window  from the popup menu. You can view the file, but you cannot edit in the browser.
    Solution: Use the Back button to return to this page and try again.
     

  2. View records: Scroll horizontally to view all of the fields in the records. The fields do not line up neatly because some records have more text in certain fields than other records do.
     
  3. Word wrap: Toggle word wrapping on and off to see the difference. (In Notepad for WinXP, Format | Word Wrap. In Notepad for earlier version of Windows, Edit | Word Wrap.)
    Does that help or does it make it harder to read a record?

    NotePad: Word Wrap on

  4. Queries: Answer the following questions about this small database:
    1. How many items were made in 1999?  
    2. in 1977?                                                      
    3. How many items from Episode 4?         
    4. How many items of Queen Amadala?   

    Check Answers

    Icon: TroubleProblem: Cannot find all of the items: Print the database with word wrapping turned on (File | Print). Circle or highlight the items you are looking for. Manual methods can work well for small databases.
     

  5. Sort: Rearrange the order of the records so that the Episode numbers are in ascending order. (Requires careful selection and copy and paste). What a pain!

    NotePad: records sorted

  6. Edit: Change the text in one or more fields of your choice. Add your name and the date below the last record.
     
  7. Icon: Print Print: From the menu choose, File | Print.
    (Notepad will wrap the text on the printed page, even if you have Word Wrap turned off.)
     
  8. Clean up: Close Notepad without saving your changes and minimize any other windows that are open. Click on the file you saved to the Desktop and press the Delete key to delete it.

Perhaps this is enough to demonstrate how hard it is to work directly with text databases.