A hierarchy of several levels of data has been
devised that differentiates between different groupings, or elements, of data. Data are logically organized into:
devised that differentiates between different groupings, or elements, of data. Data are logically organized into:
·
Character: A character is the most
basic logical data element. It consists
of a single alphabetic, numeric, or
other symbol.
Character: A character is the most
basic logical data element. It consists
of a single alphabetic, numeric, or
other symbol.
·
Field: A field consists of a
grouping of characters. A data field
represents an attribute (a characteristic
or quality) of some entity (object, person, place, or event). A field is part of a record and contains a single
piece of data for the subject of the record. In the database, each record contains four fields:
Field: A field consists of a
grouping of characters. A data field
represents an attribute (a characteristic
or quality) of some entity (object, person, place, or event). A field is part of a record and contains a single
piece of data for the subject of the record. In the database, each record contains four fields:
|
Log ID
|
A number assigned to this customer support incident for identification
purposes |
|
Operator
|
The code for the customer support operator who handled this incident
|
|
Resolved
|
A check box to indicate whether the incident was resolved
|
|
Duration
|
The time in seconds the operator spent on this incident
|
Fields appear as columns in a database table. Data from the Log ID field
for five records is highlighted below
for five records is highlighted below
·
Record – Related fields of data
are grouped to form a record. Thus, a record represents a collection of attributes that describe an
entity. Fixed-length records contain a
fixed number of fixed-length data fields.
Variable-length records contain a variable number of fields and field
lengths. Data is
stored in records. A record is composed of fields and contains all the data
about one particular person, company, or item in a database. In this database,
a record contains the data for one customer support incident report. Records
appear as rows in the database table
Record – Related fields of data
are grouped to form a record. Thus, a record represents a collection of attributes that describe an
entity. Fixed-length records contain a
fixed number of fixed-length data fields.
Variable-length records contain a variable number of fields and field
lengths. Data is
stored in records. A record is composed of fields and contains all the data
about one particular person, company, or item in a database. In this database,
a record contains the data for one customer support incident report. Records
appear as rows in the database table
·
File – A group of related
records is known as a data file, or table.
Files are frequently classified by the application for which they are
primarily used, such as a payroll file or an inventory file, or the type of
data they contain, such as a document file or a graphical image file. Files are also classified by their
permanence, for example, a master file versus a transaction file. A transaction file would contain records of
all transactions occurring during a period, whereas a master file contains
all the permanent records. A history file is an obsolete transaction or master
file retained for backup purposes or for long-term historical storage called
archival storage.
File – A group of related
records is known as a data file, or table.
Files are frequently classified by the application for which they are
primarily used, such as a payroll file or an inventory file, or the type of
data they contain, such as a document file or a graphical image file. Files are also classified by their
permanence, for example, a master file versus a transaction file. A transaction file would contain records of
all transactions occurring during a period, whereas a master file contains
all the permanent records. A history file is an obsolete transaction or master
file retained for backup purposes or for long-term historical storage called
archival storage.
·
Tables: A
database table is composed of records and fields that hold data. Tables are
also called datasheets.
Tables: A
database table is composed of records and fields that hold data. Tables are
also called datasheets.
·
Database – A database is an
integrated collection of logically related records or objects. A database consolidates records previously
stored in separate files into a common pool of data records
that provides data for many applications.
The data stored in a database is independent of the
application programs using it and of the type of secondary storage devices on
which it is stored.
Database – A database is an
integrated collection of logically related records or objects. A database consolidates records previously
stored in separate files into a common pool of data records
that provides data for many applications.
The data stored in a database is independent of the
application programs using it and of the type of secondary storage devices on
which it is stored.
·
Forms; A
database form shows all or selected fields for one record. Forms show field
names and data in an attractive and easy-to-read format.
Forms; A
database form shows all or selected fields for one record. Forms show field
names and data in an attractive and easy-to-read format.
