Step 2: Defining the Columns for Each Table

Creating and Using Stored Tables › Outlining an Application › Step 2: Defining the Columns for Each Table

Step 2: Defining the Columns for Each Table

Now that Fran has established the table categories, she has to decide which items within each category she wants to include. She writes down the column headings for each table and estimates how wide each column should be.

The JOB table has the following columns:

Column name	Contents
JOB NUMBER	4 characters
DEPARTMENT	20 characters
TITLE	30 characters
SALARY	7 digits
CURRENT STATUS (FILLED OR OPEN)	6 characters

The APPLICANT table has the following columns:

Column name	Contents
NAME	30 characters
STREET	30 characters
CITY	25 characters
STATE	2 characters
ZIP CODE	5 characters
PHONE NUMBER	13 characters, with area code
POSITION APPLIED FOR	30 characters
SALARY REQUIREMENT	7 digits
EVALUATION OF APPLICANT (STRONG, WEAK, OR MEDIUM)	6 characters

The JOBS AND APPLICANTS view contains columns from the JOB and APPLICANT tables. It also contains an additional column, SALARY DIFFERENTIAL, which is used to calculate the difference between the salary paid for a particular job and the salary required by an applicant for that job.

32-Character Limit for Names

Upon reviewing the list of columns, Fran realizes that the EVALUATION OF APPLICANT (STRONG, WEAK, OR MEDIUM) column name in the APPLICANT table is more than the 32 characters allowed by ASF. Fran abbreviates the column name to EVALUATION: STRONG, WEAK, MEDIUM.