Data Entry Techniques

The most common technique of performing data entry requires that you know the sequence of columns of the table in which you want to enter data. With this subsequent list in mind, enter the value of each field in its correct position.

During data entry on adjacent fields, if you don't have a value for a numeric field, you should type 0 as its value. For a string field whose data you don't have and cannot provide, type two single-quotes '' to specify an empty field.

1. To perform adjacent data entry, execute the following statement:
    

   INSERT StaffMembers VALUES ( 1, '01-10-22', 'Hermine Lusack', '(301) 726-2208', 108, 22.15, 1 );

2. To perform other entries, execute the following statement:
    

   INSERT StaffMembers VALUES (2,'1996/05/18', 'Bertrand Koumah','(301) 726-2208',112,20.18,1);

3. Execute the following statement:
    

   INSERT INTO StaffMembers VALUES ( 3, '2001-04-02','Valencia Nguyen', '(301) 726-2208', 118, 15.12, 0);

4. Execute the following statement:
    

   INSERT INTO StaffMembers VALUES(4,'2004-2-04','Walter Hills', '(301) 726-2212',112, 22.08, 1) ;

5. Execute the following statement:
    

   INSERT StaffMembers VALUES (5, '2002/07/3','Chris Lahren', '(301) 726-2208', 114, 16.72, 1);

6. Execute the following statement:
    

   INSERT StaffMembers VALUES(6, '2001-5-10', 'Alexander Waters', '', 118, 14.15,0);

7. Execute the following statement:
    

   INSERT INTO StaffMembers VALUES(7, '1999-7-04', 'James', '(301) 726-2208', 0,12.84, 0);

Random Data Entry

The adjacent data entry we have been using requires that you know the position of each column. The SQL provides an alternative that allows you to perform data entry using the name of a column instead of its position. This allows you to provide the values of fields in any order of your choice.

To perform data entry at random, you must provide a list of the columns of the table in the order of your choice. You can either use all columns or provide a list of the same columns but in your own order. In the same way, you don't have to provide data for all fields, just those you want, in the order you want. To do this, enter the names of the desired columns on the right side of the name of the table, in parentheses. The syntax used would be:

INSERT TableName(ColumnName1, Columnname2, ColumnName_n)
VALUES(ValueFormColumnName1, ValueFormColumnName2, ValueFormColumnName_n);

Practical Learning: Performing Random Data Entry

1. To enter data in an order of your choice, execute the following statement:
    

   INSERT StaffMembers(FullName, Married, EmplNo, Ext, Salary, DateHired) VALUES('Helene Maud', 1, 8, 115, 20.05, '2001-08-04');

2. Execute the following statement:
    

   INSERT INTO StaffMembers (FullName, WorkPhone, EmplNo) VALUES('Mark Rhoades', '(301) 726-2212', 9);