Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Practical | 8 hours on own time |
| Lecture | 42 lectures |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | COURSE WORK: REGULAR WORKSHEETS. | 10% |
| Semester Assessment | COURSE WORK: DESIGN A MULTI-TABLE RELATIONAL DATABASE | 30% |
| Semester Exam | 2 Hours | 60% |
| Supplementary Exam | 2 Hours Resit failed examination and/or resubmission of failed/non-submitted coursework components or ones of equivalent value. | 100% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
design and validate a relational database from a given enterprise description, justifying design decisions.
implement a relational database design using a modern DBMS.
access a relational database through an appropriate programmatic interface.
explain and provide a rationale for relational, object, object-relational and semi-structured data model concepts.
implement a given design in a relational system, using a Java class library and in XML, making effective use of tools for automatic code generation.
Brief description
This module develops the concepts of database design, and implementation and use. The emphasis is on relational and semi-structured (XML) systems but object databases are introduced. It covers practical topics concerned with modelling and effective use of the facilities provided by a modern Database Management System (DBMS). Theoretical topics include data modelling, placing particular emphasis on the data model, relational algebra and the realisation of the relational model in a DBMS.
Content
Review of persistence; outline of history. The value of general models: relational; object oriented; semi-structured. Databases, DBMS and applications programs. DBMS as reuse.
2. Relational Modelling I - 6 Lectures
Entities and relationships. Connection traps. The design of relations. Transformation of an E-R model into a relational schema. Use of UML.
3. The Relational Model - 6 Lectures
Domains, relations and tuples. Primary and foreign keys. Referential integrity. Relational algebra. Null values and the outer join. Data normalisation. Validating a design.
4. SQL and implementation - 4 Lectures
Introduction. Status. DDL statements. SELECT clauses. Constraints. Built-in functions. Queries and views. Nested SELECT. Stored procedures.
5. Additional relational integrity constraints - 2 Lectures
Table and database level constraints. Triggers. Use of stored procedures.
6. Transactions - 2 Lectures
Introduction to transactions. ACID properties. Rollback.
7. Standard Interfaces - 1 Lecture
Forms; binding, GUI items, user support. Reports.
8. Integration with general high level languages - 2 Lectures
Embeddings and APIs. DBMS connections and services. ODBC, JDBC. Application development. The data dictionary.
9. Introduction to Object Databases - 1 Lecture
Perceived weaknesses of the relational model. Possible benefits of an object model. ODMG model.
10. Building and Manipulating Object Databases - 1 Lecture
Design. ODL, OQL and OML.
11. Object Relational Systems - 3 Lectures
Comparisons of relational and object systems. Object oriented extensions to relational systems. SQL3.
12. The semi-structured database model and XML - 5 lectures
The model: outline; perceived advantages. The XML standard. XMLSchema: overview; type constraint; keys and keyrefs; comparison with SQL. XPath and XQuery: syntax; power. XML databases: native databases; extensions to RDBMS.
13. Mixed solutions - 4 lectures
Relational/XML/object library mappings. Tools to generate mappings.
14. Large Scale DBMS - 3 Lectures
Concurrency. Security. Distributed Databases.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Communication | Requirements analysis is a major component. This requires careful and insightful reading and analysis of customer documents, followed by reflection of requirements back to the customer to verify mutual understanding. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Systematic and comprehensive analysis and design require good workjing practices, which are explored in the module. |
| Information Technology | Database systems are central to much IT. |
| Subject Specific Skills | Use of UML (industry standard modelling language). Use of SQL and XML languages, plus additional aspects of Java. Experience of a major DBMS. |
Reading List
General TextConnolly, Thomas M. (2005.) Database systems :a practical approach to design, implementation, and management /Thomas M. Connolly, Carolyn E. Begg. 4th Primo search
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 5