MSACCESS
first, create a database
don't need to save data
do need to save meta-data
no undo

Microsoft Access is a relational database

A database: data and ways of maintaining that data

Database: a collection of tables
Table: a collection of records
Record: a collection of fields
Field: one unit of data. e.g. the SSN field of a given record

Table design = meta-data of the table. the table structure

* when designing tables, find the smallest unit
* data type = the type of data. number, text, date, etc.
* MUCH better to store values that don't need constant updating. Date of birth instead of age
* calculate things rather than storing duplicate information wherever possible
. Quality Points and GPA but not Credits. save space, less likely to have inconsistent data.

possibility of duplicate records
999,999,999

http://www.snopes.com/business/taxes/woolworth.asp

primary key: unique identifier for a record