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Data modelling: Data dictionary and schematic diagrams

Questions and answers:

    1. 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. |

      Field Name Data Type Data Format Field Size Description Example
                 

    2. 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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  1. 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
          Primary Key
    Primary Key Customer Table   Accounts Table
      Customer ID   Account No
      Name   Customer ID
      Address 1 to many relationship Account Type
      City   Data Opened
      State   Balance
      Zip - Postcode    

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  2. 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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