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272<br />

Using Database Files<br />

At one time, dBASE was the most popular database file <strong>for</strong>mat, so you still<br />

see many programs that can create, store, and save data in a dBASE file.<br />

Because many companies made dBASE-compatible programs, the dBASE file<br />

<strong>for</strong>mat is also known by a generic term as xBASE.<br />

Structure of a database<br />

To understand how programs can store in<strong>for</strong>mation in a database file, you<br />

need to understand the basic structure of a database. A database consists of<br />

a file, which is what you physically store and save on a disk.<br />

A database file typically consists of one or more tables with each table<br />

organizing related data. For example, you might have a database file containing<br />

customer in<strong>for</strong>mation. Then you might divide that database file into<br />

three tables with one table containing current customers, a second table<br />

containing potential customers, and a third table containing inactive customers,<br />

as shown in Figure 8-6.<br />

Database file<br />

Tables<br />

Tables<br />

Records<br />

Fields<br />

Figure 8-6:<br />

Database<br />

files are<br />

divided into<br />

tables, and<br />

each table<br />

is further<br />

divided into<br />

records and<br />

fields.<br />

Tables<br />

Each table is further divided into records with each record containing in<strong>for</strong>mation<br />

about a single item, such as a customer. Each record is further<br />

divided into fields with each field storing a single chunk of data, such as a<br />

name, a telephone number, or an e-mail address.

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