- Art That Works
- Step 1: Roll Up Sleeves and Numbers
- Step 2: Get Visual
- Step 3: Reel In Your Data
- Step 4: Light It Up
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Step 1: Roll Up Sleeves and Numbers
It starts with the database, of course. We'll need some sample data to work with for this article, so let's get a database going. If you're really starting from scratch, the simplest way to go is to run the wizard in Microsoft Access. If you can't find the database wizard anywhere on the menu or toolbar and want this process to be easy, follow these steps:
Choose the option that looks the toughest compared to templates: File, New, Blank Database.
Type a name for your file on the line that says Blank Database *.mdb (use MedStock.mdb for this example) and click the Create button.
A dialog box opens, and the second option in the dialog box is Create Table by Using Wizard. Double-click that option.
Make sure that the radio button by Business is selected; then click Products in the Sample Tables drop-down list. The Sample Fields will change in the drop-down list next to that.
Click ProductID and then click the right-arrow button to make ProductID appear in the far-right window. Add ProductName, UnitsInStock, and ReorderLevel in the same way (see Figure 1). Click Next.
Name your table Product Reorders, select the option to let Access set the primary key, and click Next.
Choose Enter Data Directly into the Table and select Display Help on Working with the Table. Click Finish.
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Figure
1 Adding columns to the sample table.
Now, whether you're an Oracle aficionado or any other kind of database daemon, start typing entries in the database fields of the Product Reorders table, using the following data (especially using our data for the last two columns). Skip the numbers under product ID; those will be filled in automatically.
|
Product ID |
Product Name |
Units In Stock |
Reorder Level |
|
1 |
Autoclave |
2 |
1 |
|
2 |
Suture |
15 |
20 |
|
3 |
Syringe |
115 |
50 |
|
4 |
Forceps |
6 |
3 |
|
5 |
Sponge |
60 |
50 |
|
6 |
Retractors |
12 |
17 |
|
7 |
IV Kit |
20 |
15 |
|
8 |
Surgical Pack |
60 |
60 |
|
9 |
#10 Blade |
21 |
19 |
|
10 |
Sharps Disposal |
5 |
2 |