NR 385 - Designing
Databases
for Biological
Research
September 13: Class meets from 9:30 to 5:00 in Aiken 222.
September 20: Class meets from 9:30 to 5:00 in Aiken 222.
October 13: Send database documentation to Brian. This should be a short - 1 page or so - writeup of your project, and information about tables, fields, relationships, constraints, rules...
November 3: Office hours - Brian is available to meet on campus. E-mail brian.mitchell@uvm.edu if you would like a meeting.
November 21: Database project due.
Week 1, Part 1 (September 13, 2008)
Week 1, Part 2 (September 13, 2008)
Week 2, Part 3 (September 20, 2008)
Week 2, Part 4 (September 20, 2008)
Week 2, Part 5 (September 20, 2008)
This workshop will introduce students to basic principles and techniques of database design using Microsoft Access. The goal of the workshop is to assist students in developing databases for their research projects. Topics covered will include pros and cons of using databases, database planning and development, effective data form design, data import/export, and methods of querying and reporting data.
The course meets on Saturday, September 13, and Saturday, September 20, from 9:30 AM until 5:00 PM, in 222 Aiken.
Prerequisites are: graduate standing or permission of the instructor.
Grades are based on class participation (60%) and a database designed by the student (40%). This is a one credit course.
Audits and sit-ins are welcome (up to a maximum class size of 12 people)! Please keep in mind, though, that you will get much more out of the course if you are participating fully.
There will be no assigned readings for this course. Participants are expected to attend both class sessions, and apply what they learn in class to an independent database project. This independent project will be a database suitable for storing and analyzing research data, due NOVEMBER 21, 2008.
Office Hours and Contact Information
Office hours will be on November 3, 2008. I may also be able to assist with some questions over e-mail.
Brian R. Mitchell
Northeast Temperate Network
National Park Service
54 Elm Street
Woodstock
,
VT
05091
(802) 457-3368 x37
brian.mitchell@uvm.edu
Week 1, Part 1 (September 13, 2008)
Topics:
What is a database?
Why use a database?
Database objects: tables, forms, reports, queries, macros,
and more
Data types
Relationships between tables
Designing your database
Documenting your work
Getting help
Class Notes:
Files:
Week 1, Part 2 (September 13, 2008)
Topics:
Table design
Saving
space
Data
validation
Importing data from Excel
Using queries to fill database tables
Class Notes:
Files:
Completed Database Design Spreadsheet
Week 2, Part 3 (September 20, 2008)
Topics:
Form design
Using the
wizard
Working in
design view
Form
objects and values
Subforms
Types of queries
Select
query
Make Table
query
Update
query
Append
query
Delete
query
Crosstab
query
Union query
Using queries to manipulate data
Expressions
Criteria
Functions
Class Notes:
Files:
Week 2, Part 4 (September 20, 2008)
Topics:
Why use macros?
Creating macros
Switchboards and other alternative forms
Using macros on forms
Designing reports
Class Notes:
Files:
Week 2, Part 5 (September 20, 2008)
Topics:
Data import and export
Database security (including .mde projects)
Visual Basic
Class Notes:
Files:
Point Count Database from End of Class
Point Count Database as it would look if you followed the class notes, plus extra documentation for database objects.