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This week we learned about database management. Although most of this information seems fairly straight forward (along with the face that I haven't yet completed the Database project), it just seemed like there was an overwhelming amount of information. Especially since there are different models of database management systems (DBMS).
The general concept of what a database does is simple to understand, since it is basically the storing of information with the ability to modify, add and delete certain entries. As I was reading the textbook, databases did seem quite similar to the functions of Excel. But after reading the FAQ 10-2 box "When should I use a database instead of a spreadsheet?" I understood the difference between the two programs. Basically, databases, such as Microsoft Access should be used when information needs to be manipulated in a quick manner, such as updating, adding, modifying, or deleting. Whereas Microsoft Excel's spreadsheets should be used when information needs to be manipulated as far as the user having to do calculations with the data, create charts, or review any of the statistics given.
I also never realized how prevalent databases are in our society. They are used to store student information for schools, in doctor's offices to store records, and even as a way for marketers to find a target market for their product. Although databases, for the most part seem to be fairly simple to manipulate as far as creating certain fields depending on the database, and entering information about users, not everything should be done be an individual; unless of course, they are a computer programmer. A computer programmer should be used for such instances as sharing data from multiple files so as to create one file.
Networks:
This week we learned about Networks as well as several communication concepts. This topic was actually really informative because when a user uses a laptop, desktop, the internet, or the world wide web, they don't necessarily think about where the information is coming from and how it is getting to their screen. Or at least I don't. This topic opened my eyes to the realization that networks are spread across LAN, WLAN, MAN, and WAN.
LAN is a local area network which is usually used to connect only a limited area such as a home, school or office. Essentially, each house that has an internet connection has a LAN network. WLAN is a wireless LAN; basically a LAN connection that doesn't use any wires. WLAN will often work from a connected LAN, so these too can be featured in the home and other small environments. MAN, a metropolitan area network brings LAN connections together that are close by to one another. Usually within a city, a MAN network will take place, or as an example given in lecture, a group of schools that are close by to one another, who want to keep their networks together. Even bigger than the MAN network is the WAN network, which is a wide area network. This covers very large geographic areas, which can include a city, a state, a country, or even the world!
In order for home computers, company computers, or any computer really to have access to any of the above listed networks, the computer must be connected somehow to a router. A router is used to communicate data from one location to another, no matter how far the computers may be from one another. A router is also used for sending and receiving data for multiple users. In order to reach a certain websites front page, a request goes through the router in order to gain access to that webpage.
(I found this web page really helpful in clarifying a few things: http://compnetworking.about.com/od/basicnetworkingconcepts/a/network_types.htm).
This week I worked on the Excel Project. To be honest, I thought that this project was going to be a lot more difficult and time-consuming than it actually was. Of course, there were several times when my frustration got the better of me, but I think this project was extremely useful. Not only did it require the manipulation of a "normal" table of data, (that which was featured in the "Raw Data" sheet), it also required the creation of not just one, but two(!) pivot tables.
For me, the pivot tables were probably the most challenging since you had to place certain categories in either the row or the column, and then having to change from the defaulted sum to the average, or the count of the numbers. As I read through the discussion boards, I came upon the same problem as several other students where the percentages featured in the "Average Increase" pivot table (featured above) were in the thousands. After playing with the decimal places and the number formats for several minutes, I realized that I was using "sum" instead of "average." After switching, my numbers fixed themselves and I simply changed the percentages to one decimal place. I also decided to add a little color to the pivot table by using the "Pivot Style Dark 9" option under design. I thought this made the table a little more appealing and user friendly instead of being all white like the "raw data" table.
One reason that this project didn't seem that difficult was because a large portion of it was adding and manipulating a basic excel table. I actually found this part kind of fun because it included the usage of formulas. The formulas function of excel made calculating the data so much simpler, especially considering that there were about 500 rows of data! Also, the fact that this project was displayed as a real-life situation with the gym owner made me realize how useful Excel really is for a multitude of reasons.
With the use of Microsoft Excel, the creation of spreadsheets is made simple. Not only does Excel allow the user to create one spreadsheet, but to create multiple spreadsheets together in a workbook. This week, learning about some of the basic functions of Excel, has been a review for me. Although I don't regularly use Excel, it is true that it is a very powerful tool. I originally learned the basics of Excel, along with some of its other functions in another computer class. Through ISM3004, more emphasis was put onto some of the functions that Excel is capable, one of which was the formulas ability.
