Sept. 9

• Introductions and course overview
• Topics:
• Databases:  Definitions, classification, models
• Sybase:  Client / server concepts
• The relational model
• The SQL language
• Lab:
• UNIX concepts:  Log on, change password, change username
• UNIX files:  Create files (Pico editor), file management
• Electronic mail (Netscape, Pine)
• Reading:
• The Practical SQL Handbook, Chapter 1 - SQL and Relational Database Management
• Sybase System 11 Strategy chapter excerpt
• Assignment:  e-mail message (due Sept. 16)

• Due by the beginning of class:   e-mail assignment
• Topics:
• Database design
• Querying an existing database:  the select statement
• Lab:
• Database design exercise
• Using isql (Interactive SQL)
• Reading:  The Practical SQL Handbook, Chapter 2 - Designing Databases
• Database project:  Preliminary (draft) design (due Sept. 23)

• Due before class (by e-mail):  Database project:  Preliminary design
• Review:  Database design
• Discuss preliminary database project proposals
• Topics:
• Creating a database
• Creating tables
• Data types
• Lab:   Creating tables, entering data (finish by next class)
• Reading:  The Practical SQL Handbook, Chapter 3 - Creating and Filling a Database, pp. 47-62
• Database project:  Database design proposal (due Sept. 30)

• Due by the beginning of class:  
  • Database project design proposal
  • Completed tables and data, started Sept. 23rd (not for handing in).
• Topics:
• More about tables:  Indexes
• Adding, changing, and removing data
• Lab:   Creating tables, entering data (Assignment 1, due Oct. 7th)
• Reading:  The Practical SQL Handbook, Chapter 3 - Creating and Filling a Database, pp. 62-86

• Due by the beginning of class:  Assignment 1
• Topics:
• Querying the database:  the select statement
• Transact-SQL mathematical, string, and date functions
• Lab:  Querying the database and manipulating data
• Reading:  The Practical SQL Handbook, Chapter 4 - Selecting Data from the Database
• Database project:  Create tables, enter representative data (due Oct. 28)

• Topics:
• Querying the database – use of distinct
• Sorting data
• Aggregate functions
• Lab:  Querying the database and manipulating data, continued
• Reading:  The Practical SQL Handbook, Chapter 5 - Sorting Data and Other Selection Techniques

• Topics:  Querying the database – grouping data
• Lab:  Grouping data and aggregate functions
• Reading:  The Practical SQL Handbook, Chapter 6 - Grouping Data and Reporting from it

• Topics:  Querying the database – joining tables in a query
• Lab:  Selecting from multiple tables
• Reading:  The Practical SQL Handbook, Chapter 7 - Joining Tables for Comprehensive Data Analysis
• Complete by the end of class:  Tables and representative data for database project.

Nov. 4

• Topics:  Queries with subqueries
• Reading:  The Practical SQL Handbook, Chapter 8 - Structuring Queries with Subqueries

• Topics
• Database management issues – security, performance, integrity
• Triggers and stored procedures
• Reading:  The Practical SQL Handbook, Chapter 10 - Security, Transactions, Performance, and Integrity

• Topics:  Database views
• Reading:  The Practical SQL Handbook, Chapter 9 - Creating and Using Views

• Topics
• "Real world" database queries
• Troubleshooting
• Reading:  The Practical SQL Handbook, Chapter 11 - Solving Business Problems
• Open lab (database project and practice problems)

• Topics:   "Real world" database queries and troubleshooting, continued
• Reading:  The Practical SQL Handbook, Chapter 12 - Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
• Open lab (database project)

• (Optional) Database project presentation
• Database project to be handed in or submitted via e-mail by the end of class.