Writing a data dictionary entry
Name:
Date:
Class:
A
Quick Questions
Shade in the A or B circle for each question.
1. A requirement says the system must store a student's age in years. Which data dictionary row is best?
2. An IPO chart lists the input 'item price in dollars, such as 4.50'. Which data type should the data dictionary row use?
3. Which entry describes the format or size of a student ID such as 'S1042' (one letter followed by four digits)?
4. Which is a validation rule for a data item called quantityOrdered?
5. A data dictionary row has the name 'student age' with a space in it. Which is the better name for the row?
B
Match the Pairs
Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.
| Left column | Right column | |
|---|---|---|
| 1studentAge | integer | 2 digits | age in years | 15 | 11 to 19 | AA complete data dictionary row: name, data type, format or size, description, example value and validation rule for a student's age | |
| 2isEnrolled | Boolean | True or False | has the student enrolled | True | must be True or False | BThe validation rule is missing: the last column is empty, so the row does not say what input is allowed, for example a length of 1 to 20 characters. | |
| 3Choosing the data type: a requirement says the system must store the student's average mark, such as 76.5, so the type column needs a number with decimals | CA data dictionary row that records a yes or no value as a Boolean, with the allowed values stated as its validation rule | |
| 4Stating the validation rule: the IPO chart says a student's year level input must be a whole number from 7 to 12 | DWrong data type: age is a whole number used in a range check, so it should be integer, not text. | |
| 5studentAge | text | 2 digits | age in years | 15 | 11 to 19 | EaverageMark | float | 3 digits, 1 decimal place | average mark across subjects | 76.5 | 0.0 to 100.0 | |
| 6firstName | string | up to 20 characters | student's first name | Ava | | FyearLevel | integer | 1 or 2 digits | school year level | 10 | 7 to 12 |
C
Definitions
studentAge, integer, 2 digits, age in years, 15, 11 to 19
D
Fill in the Blanks
Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.
1.
studentAge | _______ | 2 digits |
age in years | 15 | 11 to 19
2.
studentAge | integer | ________ |
age in years | 15 | 11 to 19
3.
studentAge | integer | 2 digits |
age in years | 15 | ________
4.
__________ | integer | 2 digits |
age in years | 15 | 11 to 19
5.
studentName | ______ | up to 30 chars |
full name | Ava Nguyen | not empty
E
Spot the Error
Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.
Question 1
A
Name: studentAge
B
Data type: integer
C
Format: 2 letters
D
Description: age in years
E
Example: 15
F
Validation: 11 to 19
Question 2
A
Name: itemPrice
B
Data type: float
C
Example: twelve fifty
D
Validation: 0.01 to 500.00
Question 3
A
Name: isMember
B
Data type: Boolean
C
Description: member status
D
Example: maybe
E
Validation: True or False
Question 4
A
Name: studentName
B
Data type: integer
C
Format: up to 30 characters
D
Validation: not empty
Question 5
A
Name: dateOfBirth
B
Data type: Boolean
C
Format: DD/MM/YYYY
D
Example: 07/03/2009
E
Validation: not in the future
Answer Key
Writing a data dictionary entry
Section A: Quick Questions
Q1
A — studentAge | integer | 2 digits | age in years | 15 | 11 to 19
Q2
B — float
Q3
B — 5 characters: 1 letter then 4 digits
Q4
A — 1 to 100
Q5
A — studentAge
Section B: Match the Pairs
Q1
studentAge | integer | 2 digits | age in years | 15 | 11 to 19 → A complete data dictionary row: name, data type, format or size, description, example value and validation rule for a student's age
Q2
isEnrolled | Boolean | True or False | has the student enrolled | True | must be True or False → A data dictionary row that records a yes or no value as a Boolean, with the allowed values stated as its validation rule
Q3
Choosing the data type: a requirement says the system must store the student's average mark, such as 76.5, so the type column needs a number with decimals → averageMark | float | 3 digits, 1 decimal place | average mark across subjects | 76.5 | 0.0 to 100.0
Q4
Stating the validation rule: the IPO chart says a student's year level input must be a whole number from 7 to 12 → yearLevel | integer | 1 or 2 digits | school year level | 10 | 7 to 12
Q5
studentAge | text | 2 digits | age in years | 15 | 11 to 19 → Wrong data type: age is a whole number used in a range check, so it should be integer, not text.
Q6
firstName | string | up to 20 characters | student's first name | Ava | → The validation rule is missing: the last column is empty, so the row does not say what input is allowed, for example a length of 1 to 20 characters.
Section C: Definitions
Q1
studentAge, integer, 2 digits, age in years, 15, 11 to 19 — One data dictionary row for a data item: name, data type, format or size, description, example value and validation rule. Written from a requirement or IPO chart.Section D: Fill in the Blanks
Q1
studentAge | integer | 2 digits |
age in years | 15 | 11 to 19Q2
studentAge | integer | 2 digits |
age in years | 15 | 11 to 19Q3
studentAge | integer | 2 digits |
age in years | 15 | 11 to 19Q4
studentAge | integer | 2 digits |
age in years | 15 | 11 to 19Q5
studentName | string | up to 30 chars |
full name | Ava Nguyen | not emptySection E: Spot the Error
Q1
C — An age is a whole number, so its format is digits, not letters. The line should be 'Format: 2 digits'.
Q2
C — The example value must be a real value of the float data type. It should be a number such as 12.50, not words.
Q3
D — A Boolean can only be True or False. The example should be 'Example: True' (or False).
Q4
B — A student's name is text, so the data type should be String, not integer.
Q5
B — A date of birth is a date, not a True/False value. The line should be 'Data type: Date'.