7-8 Digital Technologies: Acquiring, storing and validating data Hangman

The 22 key terms

1primary data vs secondary data

Primary data is data you collect yourself, like a survey. Secondary data was collected by someone else, like data from a website or database.

2survey

A survey collects data by asking everyone the same clear questions, such as closed or open questions on an online form, so the answers can be counted and compared.

3spreadsheet

A grid of columns (letters, running down) and rows (numbers, running across). A cell is where a column and row meet, like B3. Each worksheet holds one grid.

5Click a cell, type, press Enter

To store data, click a cell, type your value, then press Enter to save it. Tab saves it and moves right. Text lines up left and numbers line up right.

6data table

A grid that organises data. Each column has one heading, and each row holds one record, like one student or one pet. There are no blank rows.

7CSV file

A plain text file that stores table data with commas between the values. A spreadsheet can open it and show the data in rows and columns.

10fill handle

The small square at a cell's corner. Drag it down to copy a formula to the cells below. The cell references change row by row, so B2 becomes B3.

12validation

An automatic check that data is reasonable and allowed when it is entered, such as being in range or the right type, so typos and impossible values are caught.

13Data > Data validation > Whole number between

A rule that only lets a cell accept a number between a minimum and maximum, like age 11 to 14. Numbers outside the range are rejected. Use Decimal for numbers with parts.

14List validation

A rule that lets a cell accept only items from a set list, shown as a drop-down. Items can be typed in or taken from a range of cells, which keeps spelling consistent.

15Error alert

A message that pops up when someone enters data that breaks a validation rule. It can Stop the entry, Warn about it, or give Information, and a good message explains how to fix it.

16Sort

Sorting puts the rows of a table in order using the values in one column, like A to Z or smallest to largest, and keeps each row together.

17filter

A filter shows only the rows that match a value you choose and hides the other rows. The hidden rows are not deleted. Clear the filter to see them all again.

18clean data

Finding and fixing mistakes in data, like typos, spelling variations, duplicate rows, missing values and impossible values, so the results are correct.

19database table

A database table stores data in columns called fields and rows called records. A single-table database keeps all its data in this one table.

20data type

The kind of value a database field accepts, such as text, number, date or yes/no. It stops the wrong kind of data being entered, like words in a number field.

21primary key

A field whose value is different for every record, such as a student ID or an AutoNumber, so each record can be identified. Names make a poor key because two people can share one.

22table design

Planning a table by listing a clear field name and data type for each piece of data, with one fact per field, such as FirstName and LastName as two fields.

23Create table

Make a new table by adding fields in design view, then type each record into its own row in datasheet view. Save the table so your data is kept.

24Import CSV

Fills a new database table from a CSV file. The first row becomes the field names, and you choose a data type for each field, such as text or number, and check them after the import.

25validation rule

A rule set on a database field that checks each entry, such as a number range, a maximum text length or a drop-down list, and rejects any record that breaks the rule.

26sort and filter

Sort puts records in order by one field, either ascending (A to Z, small to big) or descending. Filter shows only the records that match a chosen value and hides the rest.