Test yourself. A database program derives much of its power through the ability to perform three simple tasks: sorting

A database program derives much of its power through the ability to perform three simple tasks: sorting, searching, and generating reports. To show how a database program allows you to perform these tasks, it is helpful to look at a general example. Almost all businesses keep a set of records known as a cus­tomer list. In its simplest form, it might be a file, in which each record is a card that contains a customer's name, address, and phone number. A more complex example might include a record for each cus­tomer that contains enough information to generate all the company's billing in­formation.

DATABASE SOFTWARE

A database is a collection of data, a structure, and programs that can manage and manipulate the data and its structure. Database software for personal com­puters falls into two categories:

• A file manager is composed of a single file, its indexes, and a program to handle basic tasks such as entering, modifying, retrieving, and printing data from the file.

• A database manager is composed of multiple files, their indexes, the relationships among data in the files, and a program to link the files and handle basic tasks such as entering, modifying, retrieving, and printing data from the file.

Suppose that the customer list data­base is made up of one record for each customer, which includes the previously mentioned customer information along with some general information about the customer's purchases. Sorting, which involves arranging the records into a predeidentified sequence, makes it possible to generate a list sorted by cus­tomer number, alphabetically by cus­tomer name, by ZIP code for mailing purposes, or even by items purchased. Sorting a database also makes it possible to search and generate reports in various sequences. For example, you can sort a database alphabetically by customer name to print a report and then sort the database by ZIP code to generate and print mailing labels in ZIP code order.

Searching involves the ability to find information in a database. This might include a most general case in which you want to list the entire contents of a data­base on the computer's display screen or a special case in which you want to search for a specific record or set of records. For example, if you want to know the name of every customer who purchased more than $10,000 worth of goods last year, you could search the customer list database to display only those customers who meet the crite­rion—more than $10,000 in sales.

A report generator allows you to cre­ate nicely formatted reports, including headings, subheadings, columns of data from the database, columns of data com­puted from existing fields in the data­base, and computed intermediate and final totals. Once the format of the report has been defined, it can be saved as a file on a disk and used over and over again to print copies of the report.

A class of software similar to database programs is called personal informa­tion managers. Like databases, these programs help you manage information. Unlike databases, they can manage infor­mation without using the record and field structure common to databases. You do not have to think about the struc­ture of your data ahead of time. For example, you can use a personal infor­mation manager to type in notes about a project you are working on, then filter through the notes and reorganize them by categories of your own choosing.

Give English equivalents.

Упорядковувати базу даних в алфавітному порядку, знаходити інформацію в базі даних, керувати даними та їхньою структурою, складні системи файлів, керувати основними завданнями, з’єднувати файли, відповідати критерію, визначити формат звіту, заздалегідь, за власним вибором, друкувати звіт, вводити дані, вилучати дані

Give synonyms

Handle, retrieve, compose, include, modify, arrange, delete, perform

Answer the questions.

1. What is a database?

2. Which tasks can be performed by using a database? Make a list of possible applications.

3. What do these terms mean in Ukrainian: file, record, field?

4. What is personal information manager?

5. What stages can be defined while working with database?

Match the following key terms to the appropriate definition:

A.

1. User interface

2. Command-driven interface

3. Menu-driven interface

4. Graphical user interface

5. Windows

6. Operating system

7. File

8. Device driver

9. Single tasking

10. Multitasking

a. An interface that uses pictures and graphic symbols to represent commands, choices, or actions.

b. A method for dividing the display screen into variable-sized rectangles.

c. Functional units that control the operation of the hard­ware components of a personal computer system.

d. A set of programs that manages the overall operation of a computer system.

e. An operating system that allows two or more applications to be operating at the same time.

f. An interface that prompts the user to type in a single letter, word, or line that represents an instruction.

g. Software that passes information to and from the person using the program.

h. An interface that offers a list of choices or options as a way of getting the user to make a selection.

i. An operating system that allows one application to be operating at a time.

j. A named organized collection of information.

B.

11. Network services

12. Multimedia extensions

13. Application software

14. Special-purpose programs

15. General-purpose programs

16. Word processing

17. Cursor

18. Word wrap

19. Scrolling

20. Desktop publishing

21. Spreadsheet

a. Programs that are dedicated to performing single-use tasks.

b. Time-based synchronizing software for coordinating video, sound, and animation.

c. An interactive program that enables you to organize numbers and formulas into a rectangular array of cells.

d. Software that provides file-sharing, print-sharing, and electronic mail.

e. A blinking box or underline that marks where the next character you type will appear.

f. Programs that are adaptable to a wide variety of tasks.

g. Programs that perform work not related to the computer system itself.

h. Electronic ways of handling a standard set of office activi­ties — composing, revising, printing, and filing written documents.

i. A feature that allows you to type beyond one line without having to use the [Enter] key.

j. Theuse of personal computers to prepare and print a wide variety of typeset- or near-typeset-quality documents.

k. The process of moving the contents of a display screen up, down, left, or right.

22. Database

23. File manager

24. Database manager

25. Record

26. Field

27. Sorting

28. Computer graphics

29. Charting program

30. Presentation graphics program

31. Modem

32. Communications software

a. The smallest unit of named data that has meaning in a record.

b. Software that provides the interface between one com­puter with a modem and another computer with a modem.

c. A collection of data, a structure, and programs that manage and manipulate the data.

d. Multiple files, their indexes, the relationships among data in the files, and a program to link the files.

e. Programs that help you create presentations including output to transparencies or slides.

f. A single file, its indexes, and a program to handle basic tasks.

g. A collection of related data treated as a unit.

h. Programs that are capable of transforming data that are contained in their spreadsheet into charts.

i. A device that enables two computers to exchange data over standard telephone lines.

j. The methods and techniques used to draw pictures or images on display screens or special graphic printers and plotters.

k. Arranging records into a preidentified sequence.

True/False:

33. System software includes operating systems and programming languages.

34. Using a personal computer primarily involves finding the right hardware that will meet your application needs.

35. One of the main purposes of an operating system is to support application programs.

36. One trend in operating systems is to make the user interface command driven.

37. Even though operating systems perform similar functions, using one computer's operating system is not the same as using another.

38. One advantage of a word processor is the accuracy with which you can make corrections, additions, and deletions.

39. Whatever you compose or revise in a word-processing document is automatically transferred to disk.

40. Desktop-publishing users need to learn the basics of graphic design and typography.

41. Searching the database involves arranging the records into a preidentified sequence.

42. The largest application for personal computer graphics software is freehand drawing.

Multiple Choice:

48. Which of the following is not considered application software?

a. Spreadsheet programs.

b. Operating systems.

c. Word processors.

d. Communications programs.

49. Which of the following are not usually stored in a spreadsheet cell?

a. Values.

b. Formulas.

c. Labels.

d. Models.

50. Which of the following is not a basic function of a spreadsheet program?

a. Writing.

b. Forecasting.

c. Planning.

d. Modelling.

51. Computerized record-keeping systems allow you to

a. Check for spelling and punc­tuation errors.

b. Communicate with other computers.

c. Enter, modify, and retrieve data.

d. Manage files on disks.

52. The job of managing files belongs to the

a. Word processor.

b. Communications program.

c. Database program.

d. Operating system.

53. Which of the following types of user interfaces usually requires that you type in abbreviated instruc­tions?

a. Command-driven interface.

b. Menu-driven interface.

c. Graphical user interface.

d. None of the above.

55. Which of the following is not a function of a word processing program?

a. Document management.

b. Composing.

c. Record keeping.

d. Revising.

56. A primary purpose of computer graphics is to

a. Change the user interface of computers.

b. Communicate with other computers.

c. Create formatted reports.

d. Draw pictures on display screens.

Unit 4

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