Contents

B461: Advanced Database Concepts

Fall 2009

Announcements


Announcements will be posted here. Please check this page frequently to ensure you don't miss anything.

  • 11/24/09: Today's class is cancelled due health reason. Please check your email for more information
  • 11/16/09: There were some typos in Assignment 5-Part 1-Problem 4. Check out the modified Assignment 5
  • 11/16/09: The due date for assignment 5 has been move. Part 1 is due November 19 and Part 2 is due November 24
  • 11/12/09: Assignment 5 has been posted. Part 1 is due November 19 and Part 2 is due November 24
  • 11/03/09: Assignment 4 has been posted and is due November 10
  • 10/19/09: Jeremy be in his office until 2pm on Monday and from 8:30am until class time on Tuesday. Assignments can be picked up in his office (Lindley Hall 401A) and he will be free to answer questions you have about material for the exam. Jeremy has a few general comments based on what people did for assignment 3.

    1. Please remember that any time you have multiple tables in the From clause SQL does a cross product unless you put conditions in the Where clause. i.e. From S, SPJ where S.s#=SPJ.s#

    2. People are still thinking intuitively about what SQL does. Two examples happened alot in assignment 3:

    a. when working on SPJ count(p#), count(s#), and count(*) all return the same number because count counts the number of rows in a table. count(distinct p#) and count(s#) could return different answers because distinct alters what rows are returned in a result

    b. when trying to find something which is never used you have to be careful. count(*) only has a value when some rows are returned. If no rows are returned count(*) does not return 0 it is the empty relation.

  • 10/13/09: The first exam will be held in class on Tuesday 10/20/09. The exam will cover database modeling, relational algebra, SQL, and the various modes of relational programming (PL/SQL, embedded SQL, and dynamic SQL. A review for the exam will be held on October 15, 2009 in class.
  • 10/13/09: Assignment 3 Part 1 has been posted on the assignments page and is due October 15.
  • 10/01/09: Dirks' office hours have permanently changed to TR 4:00-5:00pm
  • 9/23/09: Dirks' office hours for September 24 from 9:00am-10:00am are cancelled. Dirk will stay after class tomorrow to answer questions.
  • 9/23/09: Assignment 2 will be handed in two parts: the first part only concerns the questions related to the relational algebra (this part is due September 29th), and the second part only concerns the questions related to SQL (this part is due October 5th).
  • 9/17/09: Assignment 2 has been posted on assignments page and is due September 29th.
  • 9/16:09: Assignment 1 can be handed in in class tomorrow. The ER-diagrams can be hand drawn, but make sure they are clearly readable. The rest of the assignment needs to be typed.
  • 9/10:09: Prof. Van Gucht's Office hours have been posted.
  • 9/10/09: Assignment 1 has been posted on assignments page and is due September 17th.
  • 9/10/09: Jeremy's office hours have been posted but will not start until 9/23/09.
  • 9/10/09: The website should now be up to date.