ICDL Professional modules – Computational – Using Databases

A database is a collection of data stored in tables to be easily accessed, managed, and updated. A database offers more complex ways of using data than spreadsheets and data can be entered via forms.

This course will enable successful participants to:

• Understand what a database is and how it is organized and operated
• Create a simple database and view the database content in various modes
• Create a table, define and modify fields and their properties; enter and edit data in a table
• Sort and filter a table or form; create, modify and run queries to retrieve specific information from a database
• Understand what a form is and create a form to enter, modify and delete records and data in records
• Create routine reports and prepare outputs ready for distribution

Category

Understanding Databases

Skill Set

Key Concepts

Task Item

Understand what a database is

Understand the difference between data and information

Understand how a database is organized in terms of tables, records and fields

Know some of the common uses of large-scale databases like: airline booking systems, government records, bank account records, hospital patient details

Skill Set

Database Organization

Task Item

Understand that each table in a database should contain data related to a single subject

Understand that each field in a table should contain only one element of data

Understand that field content is associated with an appropriate data type like: text, number, date/time, yes/no

Understand that fields have associated field properties like: field size, format, default value

Understand what a primary key is

Understand what an index is. Understand how it allows for faster data access

Skill Set

Relationships

Task Item

Understand that the main purpose of relating tables in a database is to minimize duplication of data

Understand that a relationship is built by matching a unique field in one table with a field in another table

Understand the importance of maintaining the integrity of relationships between tables

Skill Set

Operation

Task Item

Know that professional databases are designed and created by database specialists

Know that data entry, data maintenance and information retrieval are carried out by users

Know that a database administrator provides access to specific data for appropriate users

Know that the database administrator is responsible for recovery

Category

Using the Application

Skill Set

Working With Databases

Task Item

Open, close a database application

Open, close a database

Create a new database and save to a location on a drive

Display, hide built-in toolbars. Restore, minimize the ribbon

Use available Help functions

Skill Set

Common Tasks

Task Item

Open, save and close a table, query, form, report

Switch between view modes in a table, query, form, report

Delete a table, query, form, report

Navigate between records in a table, query, form

Sort records in a table, form, query output in ascending, descending numeric, alphabetic order

Category

Tables

Skill Set

Records

Task Item

Add, delete records in a table

Add, modify, delete data in a record

Skill Set

Design

Task Item

Create and name a table and specify fields with their data types like: text, number, date/time, yes/no

Apply field property settings: field size, number format, date/time format, default value

Create a validation rule for number, date/time, currency

Understand consequences of changing data types, field properties in a table

Set a field as a primary key

Index a field (with, without duplicates allowed)

Add a field to an existing table

Change width of columns in a table

Category

Retrieving Information

Skill Set

Main Operations

Task Item

Use the search command for a specific word, number, date in a field

Apply a filter to a table, form

Remove the application of a filter from a table, form

Skill Set

Queries

Task Item

Understand that a query is used to extract and analyse data

Create a named single table query using specific search criteria

Create a named two-table query using specific search criteria

Add criteria to a query using one or more of the following operators: = (Equal), <> (Not equal to), < (Less than), ≤ (Less than or equal to), > (Greater than), ≥ (Greater than or equal to)

Add criteria to a query using one or more of the following logical operators: AND, OR, NOT

Use a wildcard in a query, * or %, ? or _

Edit a query: add, modify, remove criteria

Edit a query: add, remove, move, hide, unhide fields

Run a query

Category

Objects

Skill Set

Forms

Task Item

Understand that a form is used to display and maintain records

Create and name a form

Use a form to insert new records

Use a form to delete records

Use a form to add, modify, delete data in a record

Add, modify text in headers, footers in a form

Category

Outputs

Skill Set

Reports, Data Export

Task Item

Understand that a report is used to print selected information from a table or query

Create and name a report based on a table, query

Change arrangement of data fields and headings within a report layout

Present specific fields in a grouped report by sum, minimum, maximum, average, count, at appropriate break points

Add, modify text in headers, footers in a report

Export a table, query output in spreadsheet, text (.txt, .csv), XML format to a location on a drive

Skill Set

Printing

Task Item

Change the orientation (portrait, landscape) of a table, form, query output, report. Change paper size

Print a page, selected record(s), complete table

Print all records using form layout, specific pages using form layout

Print the result of a query

Print specific page(s) in a report, print complete report