How to Test a Database
Millions of bytes of data are entered into computers by businesses, educational institutions and other organizations daily. Creating a new database is not difficult, but before you start using this data collector, you need to perform a series of tests to ensure that the functions of the database are running correctly.
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Instructions
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Open your new database and save under a new file name. Name it "testXXXXX" where "XXXXX" is the name of the database. Make sure the database has no records present and that it is not connected to any other database.
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Create some test data or enter some old unused data. If the database is an order entry system, create a batch of fake customer orders---about 50 to 60 orders. You will want enough test data to perform several checks.
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Enter your test data into the new test database. Print a listing of the data after you have entered it and check for data entry accuracy.
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Create a report of your test data. This is your first test of your database. Check the report headings, the values of the data and other fields you have designated for your report. Note any problems and overall performance of the database. Delete all the records after running this test.
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Re-enter your test data. Perform a search/query on specific fields like customers who ordered a certain product or spent a certain amount. Be specific and run several searches. Check for speed, accuracy and overall database performance. Note the outcomes---both good and bad.
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Delete some of the data and then rerun your searches. Add some new data and rerun your searches. Enter some incorrect data like words in numeric fields and check to see if an error will occur. Then delete all the records in the database. Rerun your report and search/query tests; you should get no results. Look for any errors and fragments of old data.
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Delete the test database and start using the new database if all the testing was OK. If any of the tests failed, make needed changes and rerun the tests. Make the changes to the test database, empty any records and then save the test database under your new databases name.
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Tips & Warnings
Perform the tests immediately after creating the new database. Don't wait till the database is in use before testing. Use a large batch of test data---at least 50 records or more.
