ICDL Using Databases study guide
ICDL Using Databases · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
ICDL Using Databases (also listed as Databases, and offered within ICDL Professional) is a certification module that sets out essential concepts and skills relating to understanding the concept of a database and demonstrating competence in using a database application. It is aimed at people who deal with large sets of data and who need to be able to carry out common tasks using a standalone database, from vendor packages to freeware. The module covers four skill areas: understanding databases (key concepts, database organisation, relationships); using the application (working with databases, common tasks); tables (records, design, relationships); and retrieving information (main operations, queries, forms and using forms, outputs such as reports, data export and printing). Because the syllabus is vendor-independent, the skills and knowledge you build are transferable between database products. The ICDL Using Databases study guide has 4 sections and about 1,629 words.
01Understanding Databases
A database is an organised collection of related data stored so that it can be retrieved, updated and reported on efficiently. In a relational database the data lives in tables , each table holds one kind of thing (customers, orders, products), and each table is made of records (rows) and fields (columns).
449 words, about 2 min02Using the Application
You must be comfortable creating a new database, opening an existing one, and saving it - including Save As to a different name or location, and understanding file formats (for example an older-version format versus the current one). Know where the navigation pane lists objects by type (tables, queries, forms, reports) and how to rename, copy, delete and close objects.
408 words, about 2 min03Tables
Creating a table means naming it, naming each field, and assigning a data type and field properties . Properties you must know: field size (limits text length or number range), format (how a value displays, e.g.
407 words, about 2 min04Retrieving Information
A query retrieves data from one or more tables according to criteria you define. In design view you add tables, choose fields, and set criteria .
365 words, about 2 min