A small local business operating from a single site store their business data in a database with two tables called tblClients and tblOrders - NSC Information Technology - Question 4 - 2019 - Paper 2
Question 4
A small local business operating from a single site store their business data in a database with two tables called tblClients and tblOrders.
The table design for th... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:A small local business operating from a single site store their business data in a database with two tables called tblClients and tblOrders - NSC Information Technology - Question 4 - 2019 - Paper 2
Step 1
4.1 No primary key is indicated.
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In database design, a primary key is essential as it uniquely identifies each record in a table. In this case, the absence of a primary key in tblClients and tblOrders could lead to issues such as duplicate entries and difficulty in data retrieval. It is crucial to have the ClientSAID as the primary key for tblClients and InvoiceNumber for tblOrders to maintain data integrity.
Step 2
4.2 Suggest a data validation technique that can be used to enforce this condition.
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A range check validation rule can be applied to ensure that only orders with a value of R500.00 or more are entered into the tblOrders table. This can be implemented by setting a constraint on the Amount field within the input form or database layer.
Step 3
4.3.1 Which fields can be used to set a relationship between the tables?
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The fields that can be used to establish a relationship between the tblClients table and tblOrders table are ClientSAID in tblClients and ClientSAID_Ref in tblOrders.
Step 4
4.3.2 Identify the type of relationship which will be formed AND indicate the table that will appear on each side of the relationship.
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The relationship that will be formed is a One-to-Many relationship. tblClients will be on the one side, and tblOrders will be on the many side, as one client can have multiple orders.
Step 5
4.4 Evaluate why this suggestion would lead to a poor table design.
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Adding the ClientAge field to the tblClients table could lead to data redundancy, as the client's age can be derived from their ClientSAID. This duplication could complicate data management and increase the risk of inconsistencies, thus making the table design less efficient.
Step 6
4.5 Suggest whether the business should use a desktop or server database management system. Motivate your answer.
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The business should use a Server DBMS as it offers scalability and better accessibility, which would be beneficial if the business expands or requires remote access to the database. A Server DBMS can manage multiple users efficiently, unlike a Desktop DBMS that would be limited in terms of user access and data management.
Step 7
4.6.1 Is the error message above caused by a syntax, runtime or logical error?
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The error message is caused by a runtime error, as it occurs during the execution of the program when trying to insert a record.
Step 8
4.6.2 Name the database design concept related to the error message above.
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The database design concept related to this error message is Referential Integrity. It ensures that relationships between tables are preserved and that foreign keys must match primary keys in the related tables.
Step 9
4.7 Define the term mirroring.
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Mirroring in a database context refers to creating an identical copy of a database to ensure data redundancy and increase reliability. This allows for seamless failover in case of hardware issues, ensuring that data is always available.
Step 10
4.8 Suggest TWO guidelines for a good password policy in terms of the compilation of passwords.
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Use different passwords for different accounts to enhance security.
Avoid using easily guessable information such as birthdays or family names to create passwords.
Step 11
4.9 What is meant by the term invisible data capturing?
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Invisible data capturing refers to the process of collecting personal or sensitive information about individuals without their explicit knowledge or consent. This can happen through various means, including tracking online behavior or extracting data without transparency.
Step 12
4.10 Explain the concept of data mining.
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Data mining is the practice of analyzing large sets of data to discover patterns, trends, and insights that can be used to inform decision-making. It involves various techniques, including statistical analysis, machine learning, and data visualization.
Step 13
4.11 Briefly discuss how an audit trail can be used to assist the auditing firm in their investigation.
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An audit trail is a chronological record of changes made to data, which can be utilized by auditors to trace back through the data history. This assists in verifying the accuracy of transactions and ensuring compliance with financial regulations.
Step 14
4.12 Explain how record locking works.
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Record locking is a mechanism used to prevent simultaneous updates to the same record by multiple users. When a record is being edited, it is 'locked' to other users until the changes are saved or canceled, ensuring data integrity and reducing conflicts.