4 – Database Forms


🎯 Learning Objectives

Developing Data & Data Representation and Information Technology learning strands, specifically:

  • Understand what a database form is.
  • Know how to add, amend and delete database records using a form.
  • Be able to create and re-design a database form.
💬 Key Vocabulary

  • Database
  • Table
  • Field
  • Database form
  • Record

📝 Starter Activity – Validation

  • Last lesson you added validation to the following fields:
    • Number of Powers – Only allow a number between 1 and 10.
    • Role – Only allow Super Hero, Super Villain, Team Member or Henchman.
    • Cost to Insure – Only allow a number less than or equal to 1000.
  • You should now make sure you have added an error message that will be displayed to the user if they do not follow the validation rules.
  • Put an appropriate error message in the “Validation Text” box.

🥈 Silver Badge – Creating a Database Form

  1. Open up your database and make sure your table is closed.
  2. Click your table then the Create tab at the top, and then Form.
  1. It will open up a basic form using the fields from your table. Click on “View” at the top to switch between the 3 different types of view. You need to be in Design View in order to design your form:
  1. This is where you can design your form using the toolbar at the top. You can change the layout, colours, add images, etc.
  • Upload a screenshot of the form to the L4 – Silver task on Bourne to Learn.

🥇 Gold Badge – Modifying a Database Form

  • Use the Design, Arrange and Format menus to see what you can do to make the form easier to use while giving it a more interesting design. Your teacher will show you what you can do to modify the form.
  • Once you have changed, at a minimum, the arrangement of the text and boxes, added in some images and added a Submit button. Upload a screenshot of the form to the L4 – Gold task on Bourne to Learn.

📝 Using a Database Form

Once you have built the database form you can use it to perform a variety of tasks such as:

  1. Navigating (moving) through your database records.
  2. Adding new records.
  3. Deleting unwanted records.

The image below shows you how to use the database form to perform task 1 (blue) and 2 (orange):

  • Now add 3 superhero/supervillain records of your choice using your form.

📖 Keywords – Definitions

Database – collection of data or information that has been stored in an organised way.

Field – one type or one piece of information.

Record – all the data about a person or an object.

Table – collection of the database’s fields and records.

Database Form – A data entry form that allows users to easily add new records to the database.

💬 Summary

In this lesson, you…

  • Understood what a database form is.
  • Looked at how to add, amend and delete database records using a form.
  • Are able to create and re-design a database form.
In the next lesson, you will…

  • Learn that computer databases are much quicker to search than paper databases.
  • See how to perform simple database searches/queries.
  • Be able to use operators to perform complex database searches.

🏅 Badge it

🥈 Silver Badge

  • Upload a screenshot of your initial form to the Silver badge task on Bourne to Learn.
🥇 Gold Badge

  • Upload a screenshot of your modified form to the Gold badge task on Bourne to Learn.
🥉 Platinum Badge

  • Download the Keywords worksheet below, complete it and then upload to the Platinum badge task on Bourne to Learn.