CS6003 Database Systems (10

credits)
Lecturers: Adrian ORiordan (term 1), Dr. Kieran Herley (term
2)
Term 1 Contact: email is a.oriordan@cs.ucc.ie, office is 312,
Kane Building
Lectures (term1): Tuesday @11:00 a.m. AL5 and Friday
@noon Room 01, 3 Carrigside
(term 2): Tuesday @10:00 a.m., Room G02, 4 Bloomfield
Terrace and Thursday @9:00 a.m., West Wing W7 .

Practicals: Organised later in year

Objectives and Prerequisites

Objectives: To become familiar with the technologies used in
the construction and use of database systems. The focus
will the dominant relational data model. The technologies
covered will include querying (SQL), data design, and
data administration.
Brief Synopsis: This course examines database development
from the conceptual level. Querying and administration of
a functioning database is explored.
The database systems used in the practical aspect of the
course are Mirsosoft Office Access and mysql.
Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of computers. No knowledge
of programming or databases is assumed.

Course Details

Part of Higher Diploma in Applied Science

(Biotechnology)

Teaching methods: notes will on slides or handouts.

Reading assignments will be also given during the year.

Assignments and exercises will be placed on the course

webpage:

http://www.cs.ucc.ie/~adrian/cs6003.html

No textbook covers all the material exactly. See the list

of relevant books later.

Course Overview
Part 1: SQL and the Relational Model

Basic concepts of database management systems

Introduction to the relational model
Introduction to Microsoft Office Access
Structured Query Language (SQL)
Data design and conceptual modelling
Basics of database administration

Course Overview (cont.)

Part 2: Technologies (Dr. K. Herley)

Web databases
Mysql database system
Selected topics in data analysis
Database Applications

Microsoft Office Access

http://msdn.microsoft.com/office/understanding/access/

desktop database management system that is widely

used

interworks with more powerful Microsoft SQL Server

combines the relational Microsoft Jet Database Engine

with a graphical user interface

It can use data stored in Access/Jet, SQL Server, or Oracle.

suitable for small to medium sized applications.

relative compatibility with SQL

Mysql

www.mysql.com

Mysql AB makes MySQL available as open source

software /free software under the GNU General Public
License (GPL) - but they also sell it under traditional
commercial licensing arrangements for cases where
the intended use is incompatible with use of the GPL.

Mysql is popular for web applications

Supports SQL

Works well with PHP, used for developing server-side

applications and dynamic web content

Books to Read/Browse
Database solutions: a step-by-step guide to building
databases, Thomas M. Connolly, Carolyn E. Begg,
Pearson Addison Wesley, 2004.
Database design, application development, and
administration, Michael V. Mannino, McGraw-Hill, 2004.
Database systems: a practical approach to design,
implementation, and management, Thomas M.
Connolly, Carolyn E. Begg, Addison-Wesley, 2005.
See http://www.cs.ucc.ie/~adrian/cs6003_texts.html

Websites - Portals
http://databases.about.com Start page
http://dir.yahoo.com/Computers_and_Internet/Software/Dat
abases Start page
http://www.google.com/Top/Computers/Software/Databases
Start page
http://www.hiden.org/myaccess Access
http://www.mysql.com mysql
http://www.the-data-mine.com Data Mining
http://databases.about.com/od/datamining Data Mining
http://www.sigmod.org ACM Special Interest Group
http://www.jcc.com/SQLPages/jccs_sql.htm SQL Standards
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Database_management_system
Overview

What is a database and a

DBMS?
Database
Sharedcollectionoflogicallyrelateddata(andadescriptionofthis
data),designedtomeettheinformationneedsofanorganization.

Systemcatalog(metadata)providesdescriptionofdatatoenable
programdataindependence.

Logicallyrelateddatacomprisesentities,attributes,andrelationships
ofanorganizationsinformation.

DatabaseManagementSystem(DBMS)
Asoftwaresystemthatenablesuserstodefine,create,maintain,and
controlaccesstothedatabase.

Example DBMS

Components of DBMS

Datadefinitionlanguage(DDL)Permitsspecificationof
datatypes,structuresandanydataconstraints.

Datamanipulationlanguage(DML)Generalenquiry
facility(querylanguage)ofthedata.

Controlledaccesstodatabasemayinclude:

asecuritysystem
anintegritysystem
aconcurrencycontrolsystem
arecoverycontrolsystem