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Banner Glossary of Terms

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Action Menu
A drop down menu listing navigation and command functions.

Alias
An alternative name for a table or column in a Structured Query Language (SQL).

Example: To define an alias for a table in the FROM clause of a query: FROM THINGS "T," PROPERTY_LIST "P." This defines "T" as the alias for the THINGS table and "P" as the alias for the PROPERTY_LIST table.

Application form
A type of form used in Banner to enter original information and update existing information. In certain applications calculations can be viewed in the system.

Attribute
A characteristic. For example, the datatype and size of a column are two of the column's attributes.

Auto Hint
The automatic display of a message when the cursor enters a field on a form.

Automatic Commit Commands
Commands that automatically commit once the function is performed. The commands with automatic commit are:

  • ALTER
  • CREATE
  • DROP
  • RENAME

Block
A section of a form containing related pieces of information -- usually a single database table. Blocks are usually separated by a solid line.

Bookshelf
This option found in the Help menu allows you to access Banner documents directly (manuals) from your computer. These electronic documents look the same as the hard copy versions, regardless of the computer you are using.

BPA (Business Process Analysis)
A review of existing core business processes or activities associated with the administrative computing system. The BPA process allows the University to streamline or improve existing processes in order to make them more efficient and provides a framework for successful system implementation. Strategies employed in this process include flowcharting as well as the identification of critical functionality, concerns and desired improvements.

Client-server architecture
A network architecture in which each computer or process on the network is either a client or a server. Servers are powerful computers or processes dedicated to managing disk drives (file servers), printers (print servers), or network traffic (network). Clients are desktop computers (such as Macintoshes, PCs, or workstations) on which people run applications. Clients rely on servers for resources, such as files, devices, and even processing power.

Column
A component of the database that contains the definition of what kinds of data are to be collected and stored in the rows of the table.

Commands
You can retrieve data from your database without using Banner. Some examples of how to do this are the Spreadsheet Budgeting application that works with Microsoft Excel and your database, and SQL commands.

Commit
A command executed in Banner that saves changes made to information.

Constraint
A rule applied to a table or column that restricts the data allowed in any row in the table.

Database
A collection of tables used to store data.

DBA (Database Administrator)
Database Administrator (DBA) is a person who runs the database, insuring that it is running properly. Certain problems that occur within the system can only be addressed by this person.

Database schematic
A "map" of related tables within the Banner system. This map shows relationships between tables and data elements within the tables.

Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW)
An extension of the Operational Data Store (ODS). It contains detailed, historical data transformed into formats to support ease of analytical reporting and analysis.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
Software which integrates all departments and functions across an institution onto a single computer system that can serve all those departments’ particular needs.

Entity
A table or a group of tables. In Banner documentation, the term "entity" is often used interchangeably with table.

Extracting data for reports
You can retrieve data from your database without using Banner. Some examples of how to do this are the Spreadsheet Budgeting application that works with Microsoft Excel and your database, and SQL commands.

Field
A data element within a block. For example, an address block may contain the street, city, and state fields.

Flat files
A file of organized text data that isn't organized in a formal database format (in other words, without rows and columns).

FOAPAL
The FOAPAL (pronounced "FOE-pul") is "Banner-ese" for the accounting code that replaces the FRS account number in Banner Finance. It stands for Fund, Organization, Account, Program, Activity and Location. Each of these FOAPAL elements tells us a specific piece of information about the transaction (typically, an income or expenditure item).

Form
A screen used to query, enter, and/or update information.

Form header
The header of each Banner form is the title bar of the form. The header contains the descriptive form name, the 7-character form name, the release number, and the database name from the Installation Control Form (GUAINST).

Form Errors
An error that occurs in Banner due to the malfunctioning of a form in the system. The error message will display in a pop-up window on the computer monitor, or in the dialog line located at the bottom of the Banner window.

Function keys
Function keys are specific keystrokes or keystroke combinations that are equivalent to a selection on a menu. For example, at your institution, pressing F7 might be equivalent to selecting Enter Query. To find the keyboard equivalents at your institution, click the Show Keys button on the toolbar or select Show Keys from the Help pull-down menu.

Functional Form
A form/screen used to query, enter, and/or update information.

GUI
Graphical User Interface -- Windows driven software.

Help
Banner has online help available for selected forms. The online help assists you in completing tasks related to the form that you're using.

Job submission
The way Banner runs reports or processes. For example, let's say you want to find all students who have outstanding parking fee balances. You would "submit the job" by entering your criteria for the report and then telling Banner to go into the database and find the matching data.

KEY (also, Primary Key)
A column or set of columns in one table that uniquely identifies each row in the table. Each row in a table has a value in the primary key different from that of every other row in that table. The primary key cannot be null.

Key Block
Appears at the top of each Banner form and used as the query criteria required to access data.

LOV
List of Values. A list of possible field values which are displayed by pressing the List of Values (LOV) button next to the field.

Menu Bar
Located at the top of the screen, below the form name and Title Bar, the Menu Bar has a list a series of options (eg. File, Edit, etc) available on a specific form.

More...
Appears at the bottom right of a Banner form and indicates more windows for this form.

Naming conventions
A set of rules for naming forms, jobs, and tables in Banner.

Null
Unknown or missing.

Object Search
Use Object Search to access a form, job, menu, or QuickFlow if you know only part of the name, its description or type. When you use Object Search from a form, the current form remains open. When you exit the requested object, you return to the original form.

Operational Data Store (ODS)
A stable view of cleansed current operational data, formatted for ease of ad hoc reporting.

Oracle
The database management software used by the Banner system to store, manage, and retrieve information.

Oracle errors
Error that occurs in your system due to a function of the Oracle database. You'll see the error message either in a pop-up window on your screen, or on the dialog line near the bottom of your Banner window.

Origination tag
A unique value that identifies a fixed asset at your institution (a desk or a set of chairs, for instance). Used to track depreciation and related expenses throughout the useful life of the asset.

Permanent tags
Used to track assets in the Fixed Assets module of the Banner Finance System.

PIDM
PIDM (person identification master). The Person Identification Master (PIDM) is an internal key field stored in the Person Identification table (SPRIDEN). The PIDM may represent a student, vendor, employee, beneficiary, alumnus, or other entity. A PIDM is created when a new entity is added to Banner and cannot be changed. It is used to link tables together. PIDM's do not show up on end-user reports.

Primary key
A column or set of columns in one table that uniquely identifies each row in the table. Each row in a table has a value in the primary key different from that of every other row in that table.

Query
A question in Banner that looks at the data in the Banner database for an answer. Banner queries use SQL (Structured Query Language), which is an English-like set of commands for defining database objects.

QuickFlow
Use a QuickFlow to automatically access forms that are linked in a chain. Activating a QuickFlow opens the first form in the chain. When you exit that form, the next form automatically opens.

Record
A collection of information stored in a database table as a single unit. One or more records may be included in a single block.

Relational database
A collection of tables connected together in a series of relationships so that they model some small part of the real world.

Rollback
Allows changes and updates that have not been committed to return to the previous state.

Row
A component of a database table that contains the actual data organized in columns.

Scroll Bar
A horizontal or vertical bar that appears at the side or bottom of a Banner form window. Clicking the arrows at the ends of the Scroll Bar will move the window and display additional information.

Security
The way in which Banner keeps unauthorized users from making changes to the system. Generally set up by your DBA (or other high-level technical people) via various forms within Banner. You're not allowed to access these forms. Sorry! Also controls the codes that you're able to use when you enter information via a Banner form.

SPRIDEN ID
Faculty, staff, and student user ID's, also referred to as "SPRIDEN ID's." Consists of a letter and eight digits and is a personal identification. ID's are no longer connected to any personal information such as first name, last name, or Social Security Number (SSN). The SPRIDEN ID resides in the SPRIDEN table.

SQL (structured query language)
Structured Query Language (SQL). A database sublanguage used in querying, updating, and managing relational databases.

Status Line
Located at the bottom of a form, the status line provides information about the current records being displayed. It also shows if all records available are being displayed. The "*" denotes that all records are shown.

Table
The Oracle structure that holds information inside a database. A table organizes information in columns and rows, so the information is easy to manipulate; for example, you can sort, filter, find, combine, or add information.

Term
Unique identifier used to represent a specific semester and year. The term is a six digit number with the first four digits representing the year and the next two digits representing the semester. For example, 199920 represents the Spring 1999 semester.

Title Bar
Located at the extreme top of a Banner form, the Title Bar displays the full name of the form and it's seven character identifier.

Tool Bar
Located under the Menu Bar at the top of a form, the Tool Bar contains icons that are used to navigate through the form.

Validation form
Form that defines values required by Banner.

Wildcard
A character that is substituted for unknown character(s) in a Banner query. A percent sign (%) stands for any number of unknown characters; whereas an underscore (_) stands for only one unknown character.

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