A well-designed database operates as the effective heart of a business. Customer details, human resource information, business statistics and a multitude of other critical data can be effectively combined in a way that makes their use simple and pain-free if a database employs correct structuring. It is important to have a database resources plan for how a database will be used before it is created, and just as important to ensure the safety of the input data afterwards. Some things to keep in mind when creating and using a database will follow below.
Decide on a Purpose for your Database.
A smart database designer will start off the process by communicating with the people who will be using it prior to creation. Doing this can ensure that the information users will need to access frequently is easily retrievable. It will also help to discuss what questions they will be using the database to answer and examine the current data entry forms to make sure the transition to a new database is first-time user friendly. Correlating the correct facts with the correct subjects may seem like common knowledge, but businesses likely have specific information they use in tandem that would not occur to an outsider.
Tables and Fields
These are the two primary structuring tools in a database, and in poorly designed ones they are often interchanged incorrectly. A table is the larger grouping within which fields exist. Fields are the more specific information sets within a table. Using other databases as a resource can be crucial here as there are multiple formatting possibilities. Compare the intended purpose of your database with samples to decide which would offer the most use, and use these samples during the design process to make sure you stay on course.
Make it Safe
A database loses much of it’s value if the information stored within is compromised in some way. This could occur as the result of improper user actions, such as someone deleting or overwriting important data unintentionally. It could also occur via malware or server issues. In either case, if there is clear data loss or corruption, the proper response will involve restoring the data to its original state. Using tools to track edits in a database can speed up this process in the case of a user error. Using software to recover SQL , which is the coding language databases are created in, can return a database to its original state.