Term | Definition |
Database | A collection of electronic records relating to a particular subject. |
Database Object | An object is something that can be designed, selected and manipulated. Tables, queries, forms and reports are all examples of objects. |
Tables | Consists of rows and columns of information |
Entities | An entity can be a single thing, person, place, or object. |
Queries | Extracts and analyses data from a database table or several tables. |
Forms | Data entry into a table is usually done through a form |
Reports | This is a printable output based on tables and queries or multiple queries. |
Autonumber | A data type that generates a unique sequence of numbers. |
Data Types | Each field in a table must be assigned a data type specific to the content of the data being entered. |
Text | A data type that stores a combination of alphabetic characters and numbers. |
Memo | Stores lengthy text up to 65,335 characters |
Number | A data type that is used to store numbers and perform calculations. |
Date/Time | A data type that is used to store dates and times in different format types. |
Currency | A data type that is used to store monetary values. |
Yes/No | A data type for customised formats such as Yes or No and True or False. |
Field Size | Length and amount of characters that can be entered into a field. |
Format | Specifies the format of which numbers, text and dates/times are displayed. |
Caption | Property used to set a name for a field as visible in the Datasheet view. |
Default Value | Property used to specify a value that is automatically displayed in the field when you add a record to a table. |
Index | Arranges records sequentially in ascending or descending order. It helps you sort the records on a selected field and facilitates subsequent searches for particular data in the table, therefore allowing faster data access |
Relationships | Reduces duplicated data. This type of database uses multiple tables, containing related data. It works by matching a unique field in one table with a field in another table. |
One-to-one | This type of relationship is not so common because most information related in this way would be in one table. An example would be one person would have one passport. |
One-to-many | This type of relationship is used in relational databases. It links tables together. An example would be patient has many appointments. |
Validation Rule | Provides an automatic check that any input data is valid. |
Validation Text | The message that will be displayed if a user attempts to input data which is outside the set limits |
Sorting | Allows you to order the data alphabetically or numerically in ascending or descending order. |
Filtering | Allows you to find specific records and filter specific information. |
Operator | Criteria used in queries such as less than, equal to, not equal to, greater than. |
Wizard | Used to create queries, forms and reports but is limited to the appearance of the output. |
Primary Key | This is used on fields which contain unique identifiers such as Autonumber fields and allows tables to be related. |
Foreign Key | This is used when linking tables as the Primary Key in one table becomes the Foreign key in the linked table. |