How to Design a Database

1. Before you do anything in DataEase, design your database application on paper. Interview the future users of the application to determine what they would like the application to do. Study existing forms and reports as a source of design information.

2. List all the items of information you want the application to track. Divide the list into two groups: (a) The items that stand alone, such as members, clubs, and reservations in Club ParaDEASE, each of these is an entity and will be a table, and (b) The items of information that best describe each entity, such as MEMBER ID, LAST NAME, and FIRST NAME in the Club ParaDEASE MEMBERS table. These are the attributes, which will be the columns in each table.

3. Diagram the tables and determine the Primary key for each table The Primary key can be a composite key made up of two or three attributes.

4. Decide which tables should be related. Determine the type of relationship that exists between the tables and eliminate any many-to-many relationships. Decide which columns should be used as the Match fields for the relationships and insert the Primary key of one table into the related table as a Foreign key.

5. Move any repeating columns into a new table.

6. Move into a new table any column with a value that does not depend on the entire Primary key.

7. Remove any column with a value that can be derived from other data in a table.

8. Move into a new table any column that creates many blank spaces in the table.

9. List the field characteristics for each attribute: the data type, length, and format, if applicable. List the field data options for each attribute: Is it Unique, Required, or Indexed?

How to Create an Application

1. In Windows, before starting DataEase, create a new directory named for your application.

2. Start DataEase and open the File menu.

3. Choose File>>New Application. DataEase displays the New Application dialog.

4. In the Directories list box, double-click on the directory you created to store your application.

5. In the Application Name text box, enter a name of up to 20 characters that describes your application, and then click OK. DataEase displays the New Name and Password dialog.

6. Enter the Name and Password you will use to sign on to the application. (if you leave these text boxes blank, you can sign on to the application just by clicking OK. However, a blank name and Password gives the application no security protection). Click OK. DataEase displays the menu bar in User View.

7. To create a document, choose File-New and an option from the New cascade menu. DataEase displays the New Document dialog, which lets you choose the Style Sheet and table the document uses.

Note: When you create an application, DataEase generates a set of DOS files that are part of your application. Use Windows Explorer to view these files.

How to Create a Form that Defines a Database Table

1. Open the application that requires a new table

2. Choose File>>New>>Form. DataEase opens the New Document dialog.

3. Double-click on New>>Table. DataEase opens the New table dialog.

4. Type in a descriptive name for your table. Click OK. DataEase displays an empty workspace in Designer View.

5. Use the Objects menu or the Objects palette to define each new field.

6. Choose File>>Save.

7. Click on the User>>View button on the toolbar to view the form as a database table.

How to Define a Relationship between two fields

1. For the pair of tables, decide which is more important to the database. Think of that table as the Primary table. For a one-to-many relationship, the table on the 'one' side is Primary.

2. Choose the Primary Key that will serve as the match field. Insert the Primary Key as a Foreign Key in the secondary table. Modify the key field's data definition, if necessary.

3. Choose Application>>Relationships. DataEase displays the Relationships form.

4. Click the drop-down arrow to the right of the field beneath "Records in" to display the list of Tables. Click the name of the Primary table. Press Tab. Click the drop-down arrow to the right of the field beneath "are related to records in" to display the list of table names. Click the name of the related table. Press Tab.

5. Enter the Match field(s) on which the relationship is based. In the left-hand column, click the drop-down arrow to display the list of column names. Click the name of the Match field for the first table, and press tab. Click the drop-down arrow in the second column, click the name of the second Match field, and press Tab.

6. Type in a Custom Relationship name, if necessary.

7. If the tables will be combined in a multiform, click the drop-down arrow to the right of he field beneath the Subform table name to display a list of Referential Integrity options. Choose an option.

8. Click Save to save the new record. Click Done to close the dialog.