Microsoft Access Project

Well as I have mentioned in my previous Microsoft Access blog, I have never used Microsoft Access :( I had many questions with this project, but seemed to find my way through it to the end (finally!). While doing this project I was literally learning step by step.  This includes everything from how to create and import tables to how to label and save reports.  The most difficult section to me was how to generate the query I needed.  It was difficult in the fact that you had to know put fields ahead of other fields in order to sort correctly from left to right and oh ya..those fields couldn't show up in the report (AHH!). However, once I grasped this concept it was really interesting how easily I was able to manipulate the data to generate information that I needed. The easiest portion of the Microsoft Access project was (don't laugh).....setting up the printing! At least this feature was the same as all of the other Microsoft Office programs :)

How would I increase the functionality of Microsoft Access?  First, in creating a query I had problems when I would accidentally drag a wrong field to be sorted, I could not remove that field. Not sure if it was just my inexperience with the Microsoft Access or not, but I started this part of the project over a couple of times when trying to get the sorting aspect correct.  Another aspect I would like to see improved upon would be in creating a report.  I had trouble lining up and getting the fields to fit the length of the data in them.  It would be helpful if you were able to automatically straighten and fit data accordingly.

All in all though, this was a challenging project to me since I had not used Microsoft Access prior. However, I enjoyed learning how to use the Microsoft Access database program and am looking forward to using the features the program offers in the near future!

Week 11 - Clear - Data Asset

What is data? What is information?
 How do you turn data into information? 

Well below is an attempt to answer these very questions as well as, provide aide as to what types of software can help you turn data into information that is useful to you! Data is/are a set of values that are either quantitative or qualitative and are only raw figures and facts. Information is what data becomes when it is put into a form that can answer questions and aide in decision making. Data is stored in a database, which is simply put one or more lists of data.  

Now you may be asking yourself..."Where does all of this data come from?" Well when we as consumers make transactions, use credit cards, store loyalty cards, use search engines or even click on links, we are generating data. So how do businesses turn this data they have gathered into information that is useful?  Well reporting tools and queries allow businesses to select, sort, calculate, compare, etc., so that their data is turned into useful information for their business. Canned reports, ad hoc reporting tools, dashboards and online analytical processing (OLAP) are all ways in which businesses transform data into information. Canned reports provide summaries (i.e., monthly, annual) of information in a predetermined format.  Ad hoc reporting tools allow users to generate their own reports.  They are allowed to select their own criteria, fields, ranges and parameters to generate the specific information in which they are interested. Dashboards are more of an at a glance with graphs that display critical information. OLAP uses relational databases to calculate and summarize data and then stores this data in a data cube. 

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So now that we know the difference between data and information and we also know how data is turned into useful information as you need is the right team with the business intelligence and the proper reporting tools to help the business use this information to reach new goals!!!

Week 10 - Muddy - Microsoft Access

This week in ISM 3004 we are in the beginnings of our Microsoft Access project.  Unlike the other programs in the Microsoft Office Suite, I have never used the Access program, so this will be a little more difficult than the previous Excel project. For the Access project we are learning how to create tables, queries, forms and reports in Access.

Tables

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While using Access we must create tables or import tables.  Included in the tables are fields which as Professor Olson says, "Must have a description to go along with them so that you know why you made that field."  Good advice! You must also assign a Primary Key.  I am still somewhat confused on how to decide which field should be the Primary Key?!. Thus the reason, I am stuck on step 1bii of the Microsoft Access project :) I will hopefully get some helpful advice so that I am able to move forward with the project fairly soon!

Queries
When learning how to create queries, I learned how to set results that I wanted the query to return.  Access is able to sort by single fields or multiple fields that you select.  In a query you can also tell Access to only return a specific value for a field.  This is helpful when you only want to obtain certain information and it allows you to view it already sorted, ordered and makes it very simple to read.

Forms
In the forms video portion of using Access, I learned the difference in Text Box and Text Label. In the form if you use a text box this means that you type something into the form that is going to be processed.  Whereas, a text label indicates what is going on within the form. Another useful feature I learned how to use was how to "lock" or make something "read only". This is a very easy feature to turn on and off via the Property Sheet.

Reports
In the last portion of the video lessons for Access, we learned how to create reports. In a report you are able to group data by fields, as well as, sort the data.  The report also contains Report Header/Footer and Page Header/Footer. The difference between them are that a report header/footer in found only on the first and last page of the report.  A page header/footer is found on the top and bottom of every page within the report.

Hopefully all of the video lessons will become more clear as I work further into my Microsoft Access project and Access will become less muddy!!!

Week 9 - Clear - Moore's Law

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What is Moore's Law?  Moore's law was term coined by Intel co-founder, Gordon Moore, that says the process of chip making enables more powerful chips to be made at cheaper costs.  The time frame used is roughly 18 months until faster, cheaper chips hit market.  Now as you have probably imagined this will eventually not be the case.  Chips can only get so small.  That is why Gordon Moore himself has claimed that Moore's law is dead.  To find more on Moore click here.

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So if Moore's law is dead or dying how will we continue to achieve the idea of faster, cheaper chips and technology?  Well they are now looking a multi-core processors as well as building up, such as 3-D, that would require less power and yet run faster.  Also in the works are quantum computing, super computing and grid computing.  Another big factor associated with Moore's law, to be more exact, the death of Moore's law, is the large amount of e-waste.  With all of today's array of technological gadgets, e-waste has become not only a major concern of businesses worldwide, but a major concern of the technology consumers worldwide.  Many of our favorite gadgets, cell phones, tablets, laptops, etc., contain cadmium, mercury and other harmful and toxic materials.  Many of these devices end up in low end countries and are harming the water and health of the occupants.  BAN, Basel Action Network, and Greenpeace have stepped in to try to help companies and consumers dispose of their e-waste properly, but much more advancement in this area is needed to make sure that our left over e-waste is not harming the environment.

Excel Project

I am fairly experienced with Excel, so thus I was looking forward to having an Excel project in my ISM 3004 class.  There were many tasks that we needed to perform for the Excel project that I was very familiar with such as, functions and basics like centering, bolding, adjusting column widths.  However, there were a couple of tasks, freeze panes and pivot tables, that we covered that I had never heard of in Excel, so it was interesting to learn how to use those features.

First, learning how to freeze a pane will prove to be very useful.  I used to find myself scrolling up and down to see what the headings were for the columns.  That task is now a thing of the past (thank goodness!).  I now know how to freeze panes!  Freezing a pane allows the information in the rows or columns to appear as you scroll up and down pages, no matter the length of the spreadsheet.

Second, I learned how to use a pivot table.  Using a pivot table is a very useful way to classify and organize data.  It was a little challenging to use at first, but by the end of the project I thought I had a pretty good handle on pivot tables.  A pivot table allows you to quickly view data at once and sort it multiple ways. For example you can choose how you want your ages to appear by choosing decades like the example shown below.  A pivot table also allows you to choose the fields you want to report instead of having information that you may not use on a report.

AvgIncrease Screen Capture

In all, I found the Excel project very useful.  It was a great refresher on how to use the basics of Excel as well as how to use functions in Excel.  However, I found learning how to use the freeze panes and pivot tables the most useful during the Excel project.

Extra Credit - Live Meetings

For extra credit in ISM 3004 we were given the opportunity to participate in a pilot test for UF using synchronous learning tools.  There were going to be four (4) tools that we had a chance to use, however, Unity had some issues and we were not able to use that tool.  The three (3) remaining tools were: Adobe Connect, Cisco WebEx and Big Blue Button.

My favorite synchronous learning tool was Adobe Connect! I like Adobe Connect the most because we were able to share files and web pages instantaneously,as well as, have public or private chats.  Another feature that Adobe Connect offers is the feature to do breakout sessions.  This is great for classroom learning (i.e., project, etc.) as well as for business meetings or business projects. Adobe Connect allows for everyone to control or use whiteboards and the ability to be a presenter. Adobe Connect also offered the common functions of displaying who was entering the room, as well as the capability to see them if they had a webcam. You were also able to share desktops and chat with others.

My least favorite was Big Blue Button mostly because of the annoying beeping noise when people would enter or exit the room. Big Blue Button offered many of the same features as the other programs such as chat, sharing files and desktops, display of who would enter as well as webcam capabilities. I would probably say that the overall rating for (me at least) Big Blue Button would increase if the beeping was not attached to users entering and exiting the room.

Overall, I believe if UF (or any business) chooses Adobe Connect that the features will enhance the learning process.  Adobe Connect would be most beneficial because the breakout feature would allow for students and faculty to work in groups on projects and received feedback or have questions answered instantly!