COT7180

Principles of database systems

R Simpson

6 points
* 4 hours per week
* Second semester
* Caulfield

Objectives At the completion of this subject, students should be able to understand database technology at the design and implementation levels, and be able to use a current database management software system to demonstrate their skills.

Synopsis Information sources, information management, structured and non-structured information, the composite office document (data, image and video), serial storage media, serial and sequential file organisation, extracting, sorting, merging, updating data, randomly addressable storage, random and relative file organisation, key transforms, file space allocation, disk directories, indexing techniques, indexed files, inverted files. Logical data structures: trees, networks, lists, rings. Physical implementations, entry point access, navigational access, the database concept, database models, theory and practice of relational database management systems, the CODASYL approach, distributed databases, text storage, retrieval strategies, strategies for archiving information, information services available.

Assessment Examination (2 hours): 50%
* Practical work, laboratory work and seminar participation: 50%

Prescribed texts

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