[Year 12 IT Apps] Data tables?

Mon Mar 2 12:57:07 EST 2009

When I was at Uni doing software design, a data table was a table which
described the data types that are in a database, etc.

For example:

Item

Data type

Length

Comments

ID Code

Number

4

Name

Text

Unlimited

Post code

Number

4

Must start with a '3' if in Victoria

Phone number

Text

8

Must start with a '9'

Suburb

Text

Unlimited

Gender

Text

1

'M' for male or 'F' for female

Hope this helps.

Kind regards

Allan Barnes, CEO

Australian Institute of Education and Training

P.O. Box 171

Brunswick West 3055

Ph: (03) 9387 2051

FAX: (03) 9387 3470

Mobile: 0409 428 221

-----Original Message-----
From: itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au]
On Behalf Of Kevork Krozian
Sent: Friday, 27 February 2009 1:09 PM
To: Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Year 12 IT Apps] Data tables?

Hi Mark,

I did a search for "data table" in the whole study design 1 - 4 and here are
the hits  :

IT Apps -    SAC 31 KK : design tools including Input-Process-Output charts,
data tables, structure charts, annotated diagrams/

mock-ups, layout diagrams;

SD --     SAC 32 KK:  methods of expressing software design using data
tables and algorithms, including an overview

of flow charts, pseudocode, Nassi-Shneiderman diagrams, object descriptions
and a detailed

understanding of one of them;

SD --     SAC 32 KSkills :  interpret the design specifications by
representing processes in the form of algorithms and data

structures in the form of a data table;

SD --     SAC 41 KSkills :  represent specifications in the form of
algorithms and data tables;

  Based on this I think the meaning is the design of a database file of
which there may be one or more tables ( eg. relational database ). . Note, "
...  representing processes in the form of algorithms and data structures in
the form of a data table;"  

 I think the meaning is of a design tool in which a calculated field would
not be shown as it is considered to be one that can be done by the processor
in a query rather than stored in a table. While calculated fields can be
stored, the conventional wisdom is that they are not efficient when used in
a field, but ok in a query or view.

  Not sure if this helped or confused more.

Kind Regards

Kevork Krozian

IT Manager , Forest Hill College

k.krozian at fhc.vic.edu.au

http://www.fhc.vic.edu.au

Mobile: 0419 356 034

>>> Mark Kelly <kel at mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au> 27/02/2009 11:46 am >>>

But Filemaker has calculated fields, which are formula-based and created 

and stored with other normal fields in a table.  You can nominate 

whether you want the calculated field data to be stored or recalculated 

as needed.

Matt Trathen wrote:

> I think it means that "database tables *should not* hold

> formulas" as data that can be calculated from other fields would be 

> redundant.

>  

>  

>  

>  

> /*Mr Matt Trathen*/

> //Maths and ICT Teacher

> 

> *St Leonard's College*

> *Brighton Campus

> *163 South Road Brighton East  VIC  3187

> *t* (+61 3) 99099316

> *f* (+61 3) 95923439

> 

> *www.stleonards.vic.edu.au <http://www.stleonards.vic.edu.au/>*

> 

>  

> 

> 

>  >>> Mark Kelly <kel at mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au> 27/02/2009 10:49 >>>

> You notice something new every day...

> 

> The ITA study design refers to "KK3.1.12 - design tools including ...

> data tables, structure charts..."

> 

> Now, I can find data structure tables and data structure charts in the

> texts - but surely 'data tables' are just tables - with data in them.

> Those are not design tools.

> 

> The Potts text's discussion seems to equate 'data structure diagrams'

> with Entity Relation Diagrams, showing the relationships between tables

> in a database.  Fair enough as a design tool.

> 

> It describes 'data structure tables' like data dictionaries - defining a

> table's field names, types, validation rules etc.  Also fair enough.

> 

> It also somewhat worryingly says (p43) that "database tables cannot hold

> formulas. Calculations can only be performed in objects such as queries,

> forms and reports" - tell that to a Filemaker Pro database developer!

> Very Access-centric!

> 

> In brief, do you clever folk reckon the study design really means data

> tables, or is it VCAA secret code for 'data structure tables'?  There's

> a pretty big difference.

> 

> Perhaps Paula can elucidate...

> 

> -- 

> Mark Kelly

> Manager - Information Systems

> McKinnon Secondary College

-- 

Mark Kelly

Manager - Information Systems

McKinnon Secondary College

McKinnon Rd McKinnon 3204, Victoria, Australia

Direct line / Voicemail: 8520 9085

School Phone +613 8520 9000

School Fax +613 9578 9253

kel at mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au 

Webmaster - http://www.mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au 

IT Lecture notes: http://vceit.com 

Moderator: IT Applications Mailing List

RealMenDon'tNeedSpacebars.

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