Export data from their spreadsheets (and other paper-based information you've found) into your new database?

Scenario:


Jim and Tim are brothers who have a love of robots. They started a home based business called 'RoboBoys' where they custom build robots for fun, gifts, competition and decoration. Both men hold degrees in engineering and started doing this in their garage a year ago to escape the boredom of winter. Little did they know that their pet project was going to turn into an international success. For a school project six months ago, Jim's daughter Jill created a small website that contained photos of their robots and an email address for anyone with questions. People only had one question, "When can I get one?" The people who then became customers wanted their robots personalized with their name, special colors or sayings. Before they knew it, the brothers had to quit their engineering job to keep up with orders. They started using a spreadsheet to track information, but now, their customer list is getting too long. The details of the invoices, shipping and custom requests needed to be tracked in a 'sortable' fashion so that it can be kept current for the customer, the government and their own sanity. You've been hired by Jim and Tim to advise them on possible solutions and implement the solutions they choose. You're leaning toward a relational database management system (RDBMS).



Task Type: Discussion Board   Deliverable Length: 3 - 5 paragraphs
Points Possible: 70   Due Date: 12/22/2006 11:59:59 PM


Jim and Tim have accepted your RDBMS proposal! How are you going to export data from their spreadsheets (and other paper-based information you've found) into your new database? Using the Discussion Board, exchange ideas with your fellow DBA's.

Discuss different methods of exporting and importing, with an emphasis on efficiency and avoiding data corruption or misplacement