Chapter 8. Storing data

Accurate data is essential to process automation. This chapter looks at how data is stored in databases. Database management is a key skill for MIS professionals.

Goals

• Review the role of databases in process automation
• Introduce entity-relationship database models
• Understand basic relational database concepts
• See how ER models are translated into operational databases
• See how databases can be queried
• Create reports from database queries

This chapter includes a lot of hands-on stuff with Microsoft Access. Access is one of the most widely used databases in the world. Knowing how to use Access will make you a more valuable employee.

Here are the contents of the chapter:

• What databases are for
• Data modeling
• Data dictionary
• From ERD to database
• Creating databases in Microsoft Access
• Querying data in Microsoft Access
• Creating reports in Microsoft Access
• Summary
• Exercises