Database fields

A field is a named unit of information. Each entry in a database can have multiple fields of multiple types e.g. a text field called 'favourite color' which allows you to type in your favourite shade, or a menu called 'state' that lets you choose one from a list of the 50 that make up the United States of America. By combining several fields with appropriate names and types you should be able to capture all the relevant information about the items in your database.

Field name and description

All fields ask you for a name and a description when you create them. Field names must be unique and they should be short and sensible.

Field types

Checkbox

Allows one or more checkboxes. Each line in the options box is a different checkbox. The text entered is what will be the case if the checkbox is checked e.g. 'valid' for something that can be valid or not. This word will appear beside the checkbox on entry, and then by itself when viewing if the box has been checked. If you wish to ensure that the user actively selects one of the options you can use radio buttons instead

Multiple checkboxes could be used, for example, in a movie database that has Horror, Comedy, Western etc. checkboxes for different film genres, and you would be able to check more than one in the case of Horror-Comedies or Comedy-Westerns. The menu (multi-select) field also achieves this, but clicking multiple checkboxes is usually a more obvious interface.

Date

Allows users to enter a date by picking a day, month and year from a drop down list.

File

Asks users to upload a file from their computer. If it is an image file then the picture field may be a better choice.

Menu

The text entered in the options area will be presented as a drop-down list for the user to choose from. Each line become a different option.

Menu (Multi-select)

The text entered in the options area will be presented as a list for the user to choose from and each line become a different option. By holding down control or shift as they click, users will be able to select multiple options. This is a fairly advanced computer skill so it may be wise to use multiple checkboxes instead.

Number

Stores a floating number. Examples:

• -1000
• 0
• 0.123

Picture

The user can upload an image file from their computer.

Radio buttons

Allows the user to choose one from a range of options. If the user doesn't select any of these options then they will be prompted to do so and can only submit the entry when one option is chosen.

If you only have two options and they are opposites (true/false, yes/no) then you could simply use a single checkbox instead. However checkboxes default to their unchecked status and so people could submit without actively selecting one of the options. This may not always be appropriate.

Text

Users can enter text up to 60 characters in length. For longer text, or for text that requires formatting such as headers and bullet points, you can use a textarea field.

Textarea

Allows users to enter a long piece of text including formatting similar to that found when creating forum posts. Max number of characters in text area = ?

URL

Ask the user to enter a URL. If you select autolink then the URL becomes a clickable link. If you also enter a forced name for the link then that text will be used for the hyperlink. For example in a database of authors you may wish people to enter the author's website. If you enter the text 'homepage' as a forced name then clicking on text "homepage" will take you to the entered URL.

Latitude/longitude

Template:Moodle 1.7Users can enter a geographic location, by specifying the location's latitude and longitude. For example, Moodle HQ is at latitude -31.9545, longitude 115.877. When viewing the record, links are automatically generated linking to geographic data services such as Google Earth, OpenStreetMap, GeaBios,Mapstars and more. (The teacher can choose which of those links appear, if any.)

See also

• Using Moodle Time stamp for database entries? forum discussion