New Perspectives Classic Labs

The Database Lab demonstrates the essential concepts of file and database management systems. You will use the Lab to search, sort, and report the data contained in a file of classic books.  

1.  Click the Steps button to review basic database terminology and to learn how to manipulate the classic books database. As you proceed through the Steps, answer the Quick Check questions that appear. After you complete the Steps, you will see a Quick Check Summary Report. Follow the instructions on the screen to print this report.  

2.  Click the Explore button. Make sure you can apply basic database terminology to describe the classic books database by answering the following questions:

 a. How many records does the file contain?

 b. How many fields does each record contain?

 c. What are the contents of the Catalog # field for the book written by Margaret Mitchell?

 d. What are the contents of the Title field for the record with Thoreau in the Author field?

 e. Which field has been used to sort the records?

3.  In Explore, manipulate the database as necessary to answer the following questions:

 a. When the books are sorted by title, what is the first record in the file?

 b. Use the Search button to search for all books in the West location. How many do you find?

 c. Use the Search button to search for all books in the Main location that are checked in. What do you find?

4.  In Explore, use the Report button to print out a report that groups the books by Status and sorted by title. On your report, circle the four field names. Put a box around the summary statistics showing which books are currently checked in and which books are currently checked out.