Database Systems

Rationale:

A database system is nowadays the central software of most data processing applications. A Database Management System supports the operation of database applications within an integrated, controlled and accessible framework.

Aim:

To provide candidates with the necessary knowledge and skills to understand the principles and practice of database systems development

Objectives:

• To introduce the theory of the relational model and relational programming languages
• To write data manipulation commands in SQL To write data definition commands in SQL
• To specify the functional and data requirements for a typical database application
• To produce detailed data models and their associated logical schemas
• To design the structure and functionality of a forms based user interface for a database application
• To be able to describe data distribution and data connectivity over a network

Content:

1 AN INTRODUCTION TO THE FEATURES OF A RELATIONAL DATABASE PRODUCT (e.g. ORACLE)

• Including its data management and application development techniques (e.g. Forms generators and programming tools). Programming environments.

2 DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

• Comparison of a data-centred approach with file-based approach.
• Data integrity and quality control. Transaction processing.
• Logical and physical data independence how it is achieved.

3 DATA ANALYSIS AND DATA MODELLING

• Entity relationship diagrams and conceptual modelling. Relationship constraints and translation to relational model.

4 THE RELATIONAL MODEL AND RELATIONAL LANGUAGES

• Functional Dependency theory and Normalisation. Relational modelling.
• Simple relational algebra programs. Features of relational algebra in SQL.

5 SQL

• Standards and basic structure of SQL for data definition, views, updates, insertion and referential integrity constraints.

6 DISTRIBUTED AND MULTI-USER DATABASE SYSTEMS

• Concurrency, recovery and database integrity. Client-server model as a distributed database architecture.