[Year 12 IT Apps] Data tables?

Mon Mar 2 15:22:45 EST 2009

Hi Alex,

 Yes, but not the way a data table normally presents a database table design.  A data dictionary can be much more.
See http://www.edulists.com.au/pipermail/sofdev/2008-September/001269.html for an archived message defining a data dictionary.

 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

>>> Alex Hopkins <a.hopkins at bcc.vic.edu.au> 2/03/2009 1:11 pm >>>
Thanks Allan. So, isn't this the same as a data dictionary?

-Alex Hopkins
Bayside Christian College

> 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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