Content

1. Introduction:
Why databases?, general concepts about data and information, file base versus database, database models; concepts about data modeling
 2. A conceptual data model:
- the entity-relationship model and the enhanced entity-relationship model
- modeling by means of ER and the EER model
3. The relational model:
- basic concepts: entities, attributes, tupels, relational database, zero values, keys, reference keys; integrity; description of a relational database;
- representation of an E(E)R-scheme on a relational scheme
- relational languages: classification of the relational languages, relational algebra, tupel calculus, domain calculus, SQL.
4. Use of relational database:
- definition of a relational database;
- definition and performance of queries on a relational database;
- access to a relational data bank starting from a program.
5. Dependencies and normalisation:
- dependencies: functional dependencies, multivalue dependencies, join dependencies, general dependencies
- vertical decomposition: lossless decomposition, decompositions that maintain dependencies; normalisation: the standard forms: 1NV, 2NV, 3NV, BCNV, 4NV, 5NV and associated decompositions.
- horizontal decomposition.
6. File structure:
- classical file organisation and file organisation forms: serial, sequential, index sequential, direct;
- mapping of relations to files;
- indexation and hashing: index-sequential files; B- and B+-boom indexes; static and dynamic hash functions;comparison of indexation and hashing.
7. Query processing: concepts about query interpretation, assessment of the query cost, optimalisation of queries.
8. Protection of data:
- concepts about transaction processing;
- concepts about concurrency control;
- recovery procedures;
- protection against abuse.
9. Distributed databanks: structure; design.
10. Introduction to recent developments:
a.o.
- data warehouses
- datamining
 

Content

Exercises will be made on paper and/or on computer on the following subjects: 
 

• E(E)R modelling 
• from E(E)R to relational
• Relational algebra and relational calculus 
• Designing and implementing a relational database (on the computer) 
• Working with SQL: definiton of tables, limitations,...  (on the computer) 
• Working with SQL: queries and views (on the computer) 
• Connecting a (web application) program with a database by means of PHP and building a user interface (on the computer) 
• Applications of hashing and of trees 
• Indexes 
• Normalization 
• Building up a user interface for a database with PHP (on computer) 
• Query optimization 
• Transactions 
• Distributed databases