COT2138

Database systems

R Redpath

8 points
* 4 hours per week
* First, second semester
* Caulfield
* Prerequisites: COT1140
* Prohibitions: BUS2112, CFR2132, CFR2201, COT2132, COT2180, COT2901, COT3180, CSC3161

Objectives At the completion of this subject students should be able to understand the features of databases in a commercial environment; carry out retrieval and update on a relational database using SQL; implement integrity features on a database; tune a database for optimum performance; and understand possible future directions of database technology.

Synopsis This subject aims to provide students with a thorough grounding in the theory and practice of database systems. The syllabus includes the following topics. Database designs. Structures and techniques underlying databases - file organisations, data structures. The database concept - data sharing, related data, data independence, data integrity, data dictionary. Database models - hierarchical, network, relational. Relational databases - relational algebra, relational calculus, referential and entity integrity, SQL data definition, creating, amending and populating tables, data manipulation. Embedding SQL in host languages. Object-oriented databases. This is an eight-point version of COT2132.

Assessment Examination (2 hours): 60%
* Assignment work: 40%

Prescribed texts

McFadden F R and Hoffer J A Modern database management 4th edn, Benjamin Cummings, 1994