Databases & Charts

Chapter 11, Applied A-Level

Zahraa Khanafer

Checking Data Entry

Databases are designed to be interrogated and give results based upon results of interrogation. It performs these searches by comparing data items. Data entered into a database is usually checked using a process called validation & verification.

Validation
Validation is a process where the software checks that the data is reasonable. This does not mean that data entered is the correct data. Validation checks include the following; 1.) Range Checks 4.) Length Checks 2.) Look up Checks 5.) Type Checks 3.) Format checks

Validation
1.) Range Checks - checks that the data is within a given range. For example in activity 11.3, if the company only sold boats made after the year 1989, a range check could ensure that the value in the Year field was between 1990 and the present day.

Validation
2.) Look - up check - making sure the data matches one of a limited number of valid enteries. For example,

A file look up check is used when there are a large number of entries.

Validation
3.) Format Check - ensures that data matches a predetermined pattern of letters and / or numbers. We also know this as an input mask. An example of an format check could be like Telephone field in Activity 11.3 where its used to ensure that there are five numbers followed by a space then six more numbers.

Validation
4.) Length Check - ensures that data is a reasonable length. For example the Forename field in Activity 11.3 could have between 2 and 25 letters.

Validation
5.) Type Check - ensures that the data is of a particular data type. For example, only numbers should be entered in the Price field in Activity 11.3.

Verification
Verification is a process used to check that data has been entered accurately , is consistent and has not been corrupted. There are two types of verification.

Verification
Verification Type 1.) One type is used to check the integrity of the data as it is passed between 2 parts of a computer system or from one computer to another. This looks for errors in the transmission of data. Verification Type 2.) The other is used to check that data has been entered accurately into a computer system. This second type is relevant to data entry in databases.

Verification
Double entry verification - data is entered twice. usually by different users and the entries are compared by the system. If two entries are identical then the data is accepted. If the two entries are different then the data is flagged and the incorrect entry is collected by the user.

Verification
Visual verification - data is entered and compared to the data entered into the system. ; for example, by comparing the data on the data capture form with a printout of the database,or with the entered data on the screen.

Zahraa Khanafer