Database Project

In this project, I was taught how to use Access Database and some of its functionality.  I imported a table from a .csv file and manipulated the date within it.  I also created a Query to be able to find out who left the gym within a specific time frame.   I then created a form for new members of the gym that the project was revolving around.  Finally, I created a Report that was based off of the Query that I created earlier.

All in all, it was relatively simple.  I was disappointed that I wasn't going to be using any of the advanced functions of Access.  I was hoping to learn more about relationships and all that, but no worries.  To give it some bit of a personal touch, I would have added another field with a picture of the member of the gym who was joining.  Granted, this probably wouldn't have worked for this project because these were all made up people, but in the instance of an actual gym and actual new members, this would have been excellent for the files of the gym.  You could match the face of the person in the database to the person checking in or whatever you were doing.  It would definitely cut down on non-members entering the gym, anyways.

Week 10: Clear: Access Database

I've only used Microsoft Access Database a little in the last couple of years with no experience with it previously.  I had to teach myself everything I could because I had to set up a database for my job at the VA Hospital in Gainesville, FL (and partially Lake City, FL).  I was creating a database to keep track of their equipment and my boss hoped to use my database as a stepping stone to making it a hospital wide policy (and, with any luck, a VA policy in general).  The system that they have is an old Linux program that is out of date and in serious need of updating.

Anyways, from this course, I was hoping to learn a little about relationships and macros in this week's module.  It appears that that won't be taking place until next week.  Everything from this week's lesson I had learned myself from books and the Internet (Yay Google!).

The basic template of creating a table was rather simple.  It was pretty much like using Excel with a few different categories.  I enjoyed the ability to create fields and the manipulate them as I saw fit to only be able to have Numbers or text or even attachments.  My favorite was the attachments because with the above database that I described for the VA, they wanted to be able to attach pictures of the equipment to the item number.  This ability to create a field like that was extremely useful in that situation and would be also useful in many other situations.

Forms were a unique experience.  Forms are like trying to make a webpage in a way.  You try to make it as clean and flowing as possible so as not to distract, but draw the eye.  I played with colors, variations on the field name and many other things.  It was definitely interesting, but, again, things that I had learned already by myself.

I'm definitely excited for next week.  I'm hoping this class will help me better understand relationships in Microsoft Access.  They are a complete mystery to me and I'd like to be able to have a full grasp of Access for when I go out into the job market.  Being able to manipulate and create databases is an extremely useful skill to have.

Here is a picture I created of my example database that I did for the VA, I smudged serial numbers just to be safe:

Image created by Chris Guderian

Week 5: Clear Presentations

I've given many presentations in the past while I was in the Army.  I had to give several on different types of first aid treatment for cross-training purposes.  One specific one comes to mind about the hazards of dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.  I went onto the Army website's public domain and got several pictures of soldiers in varying forms of these illnesses.  I remember one specific picture was of a young soldier completely covered head to toe in ice to lower his body temperature.  I gave a small presentation on how to identify and aid in these situations in front of my peers and supervisors.

Copyright of MilitaryFamilyDoctor.org

Other presentations I've given have been on how to create different types of Access Databases.  These have all been PowerPoint presentations that I gave to my supervisor to aid them in their own day to day work activities.

On the other hand, I have never before used Web 2.0 and I'm curious and excited to see how this works out for me.  I'm nervous, but the idea of learning something new that is technical related has always piqued my interests and excited me.

The idea of storyboarding is very neat, also.  I've done these for little comic projects when I was a kid in middle and high school.  My friend, Josh, and I would create these storyboards for our imaginary comic book that we were one day going to create and publish and become millionaire writer and artist team.  He being the artist, of course.  I couldn't draw even a stick figure properly to save my life.

My idea for this presentation will be about the comic book industry, also.  I can't wait to get it finished and show it off to my peers and teachers.  I've always enjoyed the idea of the idea that I will be pitching, but I don't want to give anything away just yet.  Suffice it to say that it's nothing that has ever been done in comic books and I hope it will titillate your imagination as much as it does my own.