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Data modelling: Data dictionary and schematic diagrams
Questions and answers:
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- Define the term data dictionary and identify the main components.
A data dictionary is a table providing a comprehensive description of each field in the database. This commonly includes: field name, data type, data format, field size, description and example.
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| Field Name |
Data Type |
Data Format |
Field Size |
Description |
Example |
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- From the Access tables provided develop a data dictionary for both the customer and accounts tables.
Please note that these answers are based specifically on the data provided by this case study.
Customer Table
| Field Name |
Data Type |
Data Format |
Field Size |
Description |
Example |
| Customer ID |
Number |
#### |
4 |
Unique four-digit number that identifies each customer |
1001 |
| Name |
Text |
|
20 |
The name of the customer |
Mr. Smith |
| Address |
Text |
|
20 |
The contact address of the customer |
123 Lexington |
| City |
Text |
|
10 |
The city of the customer |
Smithville |
| State |
Text |
|
2 |
The state of the customer |
KY |
| Zip (Post Code) |
Text |
|
5 |
The post code of the customer |
91232 |
Accounts Table
| Field Name |
Data Type |
Data Format |
Field Size |
Description |
Example |
| Customer ID |
Number |
#### |
4 |
Unique four-digit number that identifies each customer |
1001 |
| AccountNumber |
Number |
#### |
4 |
The unique identifier for a bank account |
9987 |
| AccountType |
Text |
|
8 |
The type of account |
Savings |
| DateOpened |
Date |
DD/MM/YYYY |
10 |
The date the account was opened |
08/22/1994 |
| Balance |
Currency |
#######.## |
10 |
The current balance in this account |
4000.00 |
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- Create a schematic diagram for the banking case study. It should include the customer and accounts tables.
A schema shows the organisational structure of a database. It should show the entities (the tables in the
database), and their characteristics (i.e. their properties/attributes/fields).
It should clearly identify the primary key in each table and the links and
relationships between tables. The example below is just one way a schema can be
represented.
| Entities |
| |
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|
Primary Key |
| Primary Key |
Customer Table |
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Accounts Table |
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Customer ID |
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Account No |
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Name |
|
Customer ID |
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Address |
1 to many relationship |
Account Type |
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City |
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Data Opened |
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State |
|
Balance |
| |
Zip - Postcode |
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- Identify the foreign key in the accounts table. Justify your choice.
The Customer ID is the foreign key. A foreign key is an attribute (field) that is a primary key of another table.
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