2360 Design Lesson 04: Designing Database Input Forms

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2360 Design Lesson 04Designing Database Input
Forms

• Mr C Johnston
• ICT Teacher - Sidney Stringer Community Technical
  College, Coventry
• (www.computech.me.uk)

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Session Objectives

• Revise what makes a good database input form
  layout,
• Produce different sketches showing the layout of
  your input forms,
• Decide which of the layouts you will use and why.

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What Makes A Good Input Form Layout?

• Fields need to be in a natural order,
• Fields need to be large enough for data to be
  entered,
• Fields need a suitable label,
• If using columns we work left to right top to
  bottom, each column at a time,
• Group data items with common theme together e.g.
  personal details, medical details, bank details,
• Use pastel colours so you dont give the person
  who is entering data avoid bright green at all
  costs,
• Should have an add record button and a close
  button.

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Input Form Design

• This is the design the forms used to enter data
  into your database,
• Sketches need to include
• Location of database fields, labels, buttons,
  pictures
• Sizes of database fields, labels, buttons,
  pictures
• Details of where the fields are coming from
• Notes of what any buttons do

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Example User Interface 1
This is the my first draft of a form to view /
enter marks for a student. The main student
details appear at the top and their marks appear
in the middle of the screen in a sub form. I have
buttons at the bottom to search for a student,
add a new student and close the form to return to
the main menu.
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Example User Interface 2
This is the my second draft of a form to view /
enter marks for a student. I have improved my
design by hiding the key fields as the user does
not need to see these, I have coloured the sub
form in a different colour so it stands out, I
have added a pull down menu to the tutor group
field so the tutor group can be selected This is
the form I will use for my project.
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The Task

• This task is worth 3 marks.
• Design an input form layout for the data which
  needs to be entered into your system,
• Design an alternative input form layout for the
  data which needs to be entered into your system,
• Put comments under each one describing the
  advantages and disadvantages they have.
• Indicate clearing which of the two layouts you
  will be using and why.
• For speed purposes I recommend you draw them on
  paper and make notes in pen.