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= Work Flow Overview =
  
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== Just a bit of theory the may be helpful - Some Definitions ==
  
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= Just a bit of theory the may be helpful - Some Definitions =
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Databases
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    These encode data in a structured and efficiently searchable format. It also easily select subsets of
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    data and can sort those results. There are lots of different kinds, but one fairly standard one is a SQL or
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    relational database.
  
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== Databases ==
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Database File
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These encode data in a structured and efficiently searchable format.  It also easily select subsets of
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    The file ( or one of the files ) where database information is kept.  We are using sqllite, which keeps a whole database
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data and can sort those results.  There are lots of different kinds, but one fairly standard one is a SQL or
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    in one file.  This makes it very easy to move and/or backup a database.
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relational database.
 
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== Database File ==
 
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The file ( or one of the files ) where database information is kept.  We are using sqllite, which keeps a whole database
 
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in one file.  This makes it very easy to move and/or backup a database.
 
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== Table, Record, Column ==
 
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in a SQL data base data is stored in Tables ( many tables may be put in one database ).  A table consists of records ( also called rows. )  Each row is information about some "thing".  For example if the "thing" is a person a record
 
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might contain the person's first name, last name, date of birth.... The table is much like a spread sheet with
 
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the information on each person in a row.  Each of the items ( first name, last name, date of birth.... ) is called a column.
 
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== SQL - Structured Query Language ==
 
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This is the language used by relational databases.  Typically the system generated the required SQL and runs
 
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it.  The user interface often shows the SQL which is quite a bit easier to read than it is to write.
 
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It may give you useful feedback on what the system is doing.
 
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== Text File ==
 
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Not really a data base even if it contains data.  All files are codes for some data.  A text file ( often a .txt extension ) is one of the simpler encodings:
 
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each byte in the file codes some text character, a letter in the alphabet, a number, a "newline" character.
 
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normally the file is more or less readable by a human being.
 
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Simple programs ( in windows perhaps notepad ) let you read/create/modify text files.
 
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( Note: most word processors will easily read text files but they tend to s...... )
 
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== Text Editor ==
 
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A program to create and edit text file.  I have used Notepad++ on Windows.  Good text editors have
 
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a lot of powerful features for the text including search and replace features.  You can do substantial
 
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data manipulation and management just in your text editor and use it in conjunction with the database program.
 
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In fact the text editor you select becomes much of the interface into your data.  Data is input through
 
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text file,  the system can prepare blank input files.  Output is often in text file form.
 
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Complicated selects may be specified in a text file. Records to be edited will be prepared for edit
 
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as a text file, and after you edit the file, the changed data will be placed back into the database.
 
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Custom database products use expensively programmed "windows" for database interactions.  This system
 
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uses automatically programmed text files for database interactions.  Not as fancy, but no expensive
 
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programming talent is required.
 
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Geany is another good text editor that I would consider it runs on Windows, Linux, and Mac.
 
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I am sure there are many other good ones.  If you have a strong preference try it out.
 
  
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Table, Record, Column
 +
    in a SQL data base data is stored in Tables ( many tables may be put in one database ).  A table consists of records ( also called rows. )  Each row is information about some "thing".  For example if the "thing" is a person a record
 +
    might contain the person's first name, last name, date of birth.... The table is much like a spread sheet with
 +
    the information on each person in a row.  Each of the items ( first name, last name, date of birth.... ) is called a column.
  
 +
SQL - Structured Query Language
 +
    This is the language used by relational databases.  Typically the system generated the required SQL and runs
 +
    it.  The user interface often shows the SQL which is quite a bit easier to read than it is to write.
 +
    It may give you useful feedback on what the system is doing.
  
 
[[Category:Python Easy DB]]
 
[[Category:Python Easy DB]]

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