- The most popular video.
- How much for a certain type of video.
- Customer Information.
- Video Details.
- Video Lending Details.
- Which videos are overdue?
For some work experience I visited Blockbusters and found out the problems with the current system is that is far too hard to use and that is can become very complicated. The system is also quite slow and the possibility that loss of data can be happen. The system is also difficult to maneuver around in so it takes time before you manage to accomplish the task.
The new system will become much easier for the users to handle. First of all even though it may be a very small detail but very important, I am going to increase the size of the font which will make the system a lot easier to see and therefore a bit easier to use. I will make the system easier to use and easy to maneuver around the site with clearly labeled buttons. These buttons will open queries, forms and reports. Other buttons will be used to open the user guide that I will make and other Office features such as Word and Excel. I will try to make the system password protected so as to increase security.
Facilities
The specifications for the P.C that will be needed doesn’t have to be top of the range along as it can run all office applications and have access to the internet then it shouldn’t be a problem. Below are the specifications I feel are suitable:
- Intel Pentium 3 Processor1.2GHz
- 256 DDR RAM
- 10Gb Hard Drive
- 32 CD-R
- 32Mb GeForce 3 Graphics
- 17" Monitor (15.9" Viewable Screen)
- Windows XP Office
- Works 6.0
-
(Optional) IOMEGA ZIP250MB
Its true that some of these stats seem a little over the top but these days the only
P.C’s available are high quality machines this one would probably retail at £999.00
Which is quite steep but at least it will get the job done, it has plenty of space, a decent sized monitor with a large area of viewable space. To back up their files and be able to take them off site I have included a CD-R drive which they can use to copy their files onto a CD and be able to take them home or wherever for extra security measures. Windows XP has a password protection option that the users can activate and be able to secure the whole P.C. The keyboard will be a basic keyboard which is easy to use and understand with none of the extra new buttons you find on keyboards nowadays, like buttons to switch off the keyboard or buttons that connect you to the internet.
Analysis
Queries
A query is what you use to find out specific information about the subject that you are making a table about, for example, if you wanted to find out some a specific video details by using the videos ID number, you can make a query to ask you for the number and it will find the video.
To do this you have to go to the little icon that says queries and click design new query. It will then ask which tables of information you wood like use choose the ones you want then drag the specific information from the tables to the blank spaces at the bottom. Then put in the criteria you would like to use e.g. [Which video number?], then click the exclamation mark at the top and it will ask you for the criteria you have just inserted.
Forms
A form is used to make your work neat and presentable. This can also be used to input newly found data and will be stored in the form as normal. You can add buttons to the form, which will allow you to access other forms, queries and reports. You can also make the buttons print of specific items of information. To create a form go to the form icon and click either design a form or design using wizard then you will have a little tool box where you are able to insert buttons, text boxes, macros etc…
Reports
A report makes your work look presentable and neat and tidy. You would use the report if you wanted to print all your information printed off. But you can also make them print off specific information if you make a report from a query. To make a report you have to first click onto the report icon then you choose whether to let the wizard make it or yourself then it is just like designing a form where you get the little toolbox.
Tables
Tables are the backbone of the database without them it wouldn’t work. You need to put in all the information you need in these tables like, customer details, Video Details and Video Lending Details. You can then use the tables to make everything else like the queries, reports and forms. Click the little table icon, and then it will bring up a screen where you choose the different fields by putting their names in e.g. Name, you also have to choose whether or not it is to be a number or words and how much info you can store in each. Then you have to choose a primary key. When that is done click design view and you shall see al the information.
Design
A database is a collection of information that's related to a particular subject or purpose, such as tracking customer orders or maintaining a music collection. If your database isn't stored on a computer, or only parts of it are, you may be tracking information from a variety of sources that you're having to coordinate and organize yourself. Using Microsoft Access, the users can manage all their information from a single database file. Within the file, they will then divide data into separate storage containers called tables; view, add, and update table data by using forms; find and retrieve just the data you want by using queries; and analyze or print data in a specific layout by using reports.
Front End
Queries
Macros
Reports
Tables
Implementation
Technical Documentation
Microsoft Access is a software package designed to store information and create tables, forms and reports in which to put a users data. The package designed to run off any P.C with the following specifications in mind.
CPU
133 MHz or higher Pentium-compatible CPU (300 MHz recommended)
Supports single and dual CPU systems (NOTE: Check driver availability for peripheral devices.)
RAM
64 MB (minimum) – 4 GB RAM (maximum) (128 recommended)
Disk Space
2 GB Hard disk, 650 MB free installed on standalone PC, 700 MB if installed over server (1G recommended)
