Computer Science 122

Assignment 1

Due: September 14, 2004

This semester we are going to work on software for a library. Your first assignment will be to create a database that will be part of the project. Your database can be either a list of books, journals, borrowers, or publishers. You should create a folder on your computer called CS122. You may put it anywhere that you can remember, but probably the best place would be as a subfolder of the main C: directory.

Follow the instructions on the handout on creating an Access database. First create a database that can be used to store address information, similar to the one on the handout. Then start a new database for the library project. Choose one of the lists above and decide what the field names should be.

One of the fields should be an ID. For books, that will be the ISBN, the International Standard Book Number. For journals, it is the ISSN, International Standard Serial Number. You can assign your own IDs to borrowers and publishers. It has been common to use social security numbers (SSNs) for people. But that is discouraged now due to identity theft problems.

You should consider carefully what the other fields should be. As an example, with books the library will want to know whether they are on the shelf, on reserve, or checked out. Some journals might circulate and others not. Borrowers and publishers have addresses. The library will need to know what books a borrower has checked out.

To begin with, choose four or five fields that you think are the most important. Other fields can be added later. Also consider what form the data should take. If a borrower has checked out a book, the ISBN is the best way to keep track of it.

When you have created the database, add some data. For books, you can use your own text books or books that you have from the library. Each book has a publisher, and usually the publisher’s address is listed in the book. For borrowers, either make up names or use those of friends or classmates. Do not use real addresses or phone numbers. Invent these.

When you are done, go to the file menu and print out a copy of the table. Write your name on it and hand it in.