MICROSOFT
ACCESS – PLAN
ANIL MITRA PHD,
COPYRIGHT 1998, REFORMATTED June 9, 2003
OUTLINE
Use of Access in the B - System - a Tentative Plan
Aspects
- Conceptual Preliminary
Database
Design Considerations - General
Database
Design Considerations - Specific to the Bibliography
The main product/object is the Database - which includes the following primary sub-objects: tables, queries, forms, reports, macros and modules
...Data is primarily stored in tables and may be entered directly into tables or in forms designed with data entry in mind. Data import...
...Relationships among the different tables are defined by common/primary key fields; the key fields may be different from table to table so relationships weave the database together. Each table may be “normalized” so that each type of information is stored only once and each table is constituted from naturally related fields. An RDBMS is efficient r/t memory, processing and being easy to understand
...Queries for select information according to select criteria are at the heart of the dynamic use of databases
Data, text,
analytical uses of Access
Includes
Concept, Text numbering/organization and reorganization
RDBMS, tables,
queries, programming
Note the number1.number2...
or alternatively the name1.name2... scheme is
incorporated into the structure of many object-oriented languages
Study production and presentation later
Visual Basic
capability
Microsoft Excel database capability - Excel vs. Access. A RDBMS has the following advantages: ability to manage very large databases; linking of multiple tables through relationships so that they appear as one table; minimizing data duplication; data entry and validation tools including forms; extracting and organizing data according to desired criteria - queries - and organization - sort; and presentation tools - reports. Spreadsheets either have these capabilities with significantly lower power or lack them altogether
Special Edition Using Microsoft OFFICE 97, Rick Winter and Patty Winter, 1997 QUE
Special Edition Using Microsoft Access 97, Roger Jennings, 1997 QUE
Step by Step Microsoft Access 97 Visual Basic, Evan Callahan, 1997 Microsoft Press
Microsoft Access
97 Developer’s Handbook, Timothy M. O’Brien, Steven J. Pogge, Geoffrey E. White
Access 97 Macro and
VBA Handbook, Susann Novalis, Sybex, 1997
The plan is tentative
with regard to:
§
Deployment: whether it will be used; and if used
whether it will be stand-alone or -as I conceive it - part of a larger computer
implementation
§
Concept and details
Use for the B and Source systems is significant. Use for the bibliography is natural. Extension to the B and Source systems is efficient, natural and dynamic
With Multiple
organizations and transformations among these organizations
§
All modes of BKPRA including experience
§ All cultures...
§
Multi-level
§ Some oppositions: Individual-collective; now-primal; body-concept...
§ All systems including metaphysics and schools of philosophy: Realism-nominalism, materialism-idealism, existentialism, and pragmatism...
Dynamism comes from comparison and integration; and from the ground
By comparing the organizations all concepts and topics become equi-present although not equi-potent either absolutely or within the systems. Thus, although absolute completeness is not posited, concepts of completeness and relative completeness result. This completeness is relative to our world which is, of course, a concept that is incompletely defined. There is an optimum range of file sizes relative to management, conceptual play and world representation
Transformation is an effective way to compare organization. Thus transformation enforces field-completeness. Note that, here, “field” refers to my concept of conceptual and B fields
Comparison and transformation also force evaluation or co-evaluation of the organizational schemes. Thus, for example, idealism does not have the infinite regress that is found in attempting to make materialism complete over the field of being
Sources are a part of the B system and are a generalization of bibliography and reference. This includes informal sources and contacts. Informal aspects are usually not included in the literature of the modern academic milieu. When included they are regarded as inferior. This is a flattening of dimensions and represents cultural and personality rather than reality orientations. The academic style is not inconsistent with the generalization considered here. The point to the academic conventions is incorporated by allowing distinctions and degrees of validation, proof and inter-subjectivity. The gain is the provision of fullness of being, exposure of the process, and continuity of work among workers
Through
incorporation as part of the B system as defined above, the Source system
acquires significant enhancements. Specifically, it becomes:
§
A significant generalization of bibliography and
reference that is a completion of their objectives of grounding and continuity
§
Natural and complete
§
Logical - through integration with B
§
Dynamic - through integration with B, through B’s
dynamism and through computer implementation - whether through joint or stand-alone
use of Access or otherwise
§ B and source system considerations - above...
§
Database design considerations - follow
Note: the
utility of the following is generally applicable:
§ Divide the work between Access, Word and a text editor. Make this division optimal and dynamic
§ Use existing subject indexes. Recall the correspondence between E&D sections and bibliography sections. Assign codes according to bibliographic section
§ Regarding the non-uniformity of the entries - order, elements...- assign codes that identify the structure of the entry/record. These can be sorted according to the structure-of-entry codes --> automatically uniformized and then put back together according to the initial subject index
§ Internet sources: WWW, FTP...
§ Import/export design including use of .html files; and Word/Access import/export capabilities and modes
§ Import one or two topics from Evolution and Design or Evolution, Design and the Absolute; and from the bibliographies to Evolution and Design
§ Practice files provided with Microsoft Office and Step by Step Microsoft Access 97 Visual Basic
Design for sets
of tables; each set of tables covers an aspect of the B and source systems. Each
table within a set will be normal and cover a natural set of elements or fields.
As a start define two sets shown next with tentative constituent tables:
§
B system: Multiple systems of subject codes - corresponding
to multiple organizations; keys and transformations
§
Source system: Source and contact type,
publication and literature types, publication; keys to B system and keys for
source system transformations that are in addition to or independent of B
system keys and transformations
§ Entry: content, quote, annotation, review - short entries can use the Access.Table.Field.DataType = Memo. Note that memos can be 65,535 characters but I think that they are best for short notes. Also, memos cannot hold anything more than elementary formatting, documents or objects in general
§ Reference: for links to - typically large - objects created in OLE compliant applications. Includes Word documents, Excel workbooks, Paint and PhotoShop bitmapped images or Corel or PowerPoint vector type drawings, waveform audio files...Objects may also be embedded in Access - up to 1 Gigabyte or as limited by disc space. HTML documents, databases may also be hyperlinked - this enables access to Internet based information and database sources. Thus, for example, I may access library to add to or enhance my bibliographies or to complete their fields such as publisher and place
§
Multiple
fields of the type or concept: Number1.number2 ó
name1.name2 ó concept1.
concept2
§
Transformations
§
Natural - by identifying natural relations
§
By enumeration and co-listing
§
For transformation
§
There will be a primary or initial subject - concept
code associated with its working out/elaboration/”text” in an initial set of B-representation
tables
§
There will be tables enumerating transformations
among subject/concept codes
§
These will be used in transformation from one
Source or bibliographic organization to another; or one B-representation or B-organization
to another
§ For sub-publication...
I will consider elementary aspects now but details later
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