MCCCD Official Course Competencies:

CIS117DM  2006 Spring – 2011 Fall

Microsoft Access: Database Management

1.

Place database programs within the larger context of recent computer history. (I)

2.

Identify the various types of database management programs. (I)

3.

Describe the main features, advantages, and limitations of this specific program. (II)

4.

Operate the database program and the microcomputer on which it runs, at an elementary level. (III)

5.

Create database files. (IV)

6.

Add, delete and alter records within the database files. (IV)

7.

Retrieve information for screen display and printing. (V)

8.

Use a full complement of database commands and selection tools. (VI)

9.

Access multiple files simultaneously (as supported by specific database software). (VII)

10.

Use various numerical, character, date and logical expressions. (VIII)

11.

Present database records in various organized ways (alphabetic, numerical, by date, etc.) (IX)

12.

Investigate solutions for a variety of common data management problems. (X)

13.

Employ specific special production features of the database program. (XI)

14.

Describe additional database features. (XII)

MCCCD Official Course Outline:

CIS117DM  2006 Spring – 2011 Fall

Microsoft Access: Database Management

I. Introduction to history and theory of databases

A. History of databases and file management

B. Survey of data types

II. Overview of the specific database being studied

A. Main features

1. Files

2. Fields

3. Records

4. Reports

5. Indexes

6. Other

B. Advantages and limitations

1. Capacity

2. User-friendly aids and shortcuts

3. Frequent problems and disadvantages

III. Running the specific database program

A. Database environment; keyboard; function keys; screen; other

B. Launching/quitting the program

C. Issuing commands and making menu selections

IV. Creation of simple database files

A. Making elementary file structures

B. Filling the file with appropriate data

C. Changing the file

1. Altering the file's structure

2. Changing, deleting, and adding records

V. Information retrieval

A. Retrieving files, records, and fields

1. Global and selective retrieval

2. Elementary query methods

B. Viewing and printing the results

1. Browsing, displaying, listing data on the screen

2. Sending organized data to a variety of printers

VI. Database commands and selections

A. Syntax of database commands

B. Options for database commands

VII. Accessing multiple files

VIII. Creating varied expressions

A. Mathematical computations

B. String manipulations

C. Dates and their uses

D. Logical operators

E. Sums, averages, counts, and other statistics

F. Functions

IX. Reordering the database

A. Permanent reorganization

1. Sorting

2. Other

B. Indexing

1. Simple indexes

2. Compound indexes

X. One or more of these typical database management problems

A. Payroll

B. Real Estate management

C. Personnel files

D. Inventory

E. Grades and rosters

F. Information files

G. Other examples

XI. Special database considerations

A. Mailing lists

B. Labels

C. Customized reports and forms

XII. Topics to be covered in Advanced Database Software

A. Preview of programming features

B. Applications generation

C. Interfacing with other applications

1. Word processors

2. Spreadsheets

3. Other databases

D. Additional query methods