Module Identifier | COM7020 | |||||||||||
Module Title | DATABASES AND DATA ANALYSIS | |||||||||||
Academic Year | 2006/2007 | |||||||||||
Co-ordinator | Mr Christopher W Loftus | |||||||||||
Semester | Available all semesters | |||||||||||
Pre-Requisite | Available only to students taking the Diploma/MSc in Computer Science scheme in Singapore. | |||||||||||
Course delivery | Other | Contact Hours. 55 hours of contact time; lectures, practicals, workshops. 145 hours of private study, practical work and assessment. | ||||||||||
Assessment |
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Further details | http://www.aber.ac.uk/compsci/ModuleInfo/COM7020 |
2. Relational Algebra
Definition of a relation. Standard relational operators. Referential integrity.
3. Normalisation
Functional dependencies. Normalisation: first to fifth normal forms, domain/key normal form. Bottom up analysis.
4. Relational Modelling
Top down analysis. Enterprise modelling. Entities and relationships. Connection traps. The design of relations. Transformation of an E-R model into a relational schema.
5. Implementing a Database
Overview of the facilities provided by Access. Queries, queries as views. Built-in functions. Forms and reports. Event handling.
6. SQL
Outline of the language. The language as an implementation of the relational model. DDL as a contrast to Access facilities. Nested queries and sub-queries.
7. Missing values
The need for nulls. Theoretical and practical problems. Null values and the outer join.
8. Application programs
Procedural interfaces. SQL in applications programs. The data dictionary. General integrity constraints: DBMS facilities versus application code. Interoperability of database systems. Back up and recovery.
9. Physical Database Design
Table design. Enterprise rule design. Transactional analysis and index choices. Controlled redundancy.
9. Database Lifecycle
Synthesis and revision: logical design, physical design, monitoring and tuning.
9. Distributed Databases, Concurrency and Transactions
Introduction to concurrency. What is a distributed database, why should one wish to use one, and what problems will it bring? Transaction processing. Backup and recovery.
10. Older Data Models
Hierarchical and network models: how they relate to the relational model.
11. Introduction to Object Databases
Perceived weaknesses of the relational model. Possible benefits of an object model. ODMG model.
12. Building and Manipulating Object Databases
Design; use of the UML. ODL and database aspects of CORBA. OQL and OML.
13. Object Relational Systems
Comparisons of relational and object systems. Object oriented extensions to relational systems. SQL3.
This module is at CQFW Level 7