Last Updated: 12:14 AM 2/5/2010

Starting Message 03 - Spring 2010

Database Logo ITSE 1346 Database Theory and Design

See below for Important Stuff
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Please read all of the material on this page each time as it is subject to change on a regular basis. While the first section of this page contains Boilerplate HCC Notices, the second section contains material that is based upon a new textbook edition and they are both subject to revision and therefore should be read.

NOTICE: Students who repeat a course for a third or more times now face significant tuition/fee increases at HCC and other Texas public colleges and universities. There are also new penalties for students with excessive Withdrawals, Please ask your instructor/counselor about opportunities for tutoring/other assistance prior to considering course withdrawal or if you are not receiving passing grades.

  1. Students may no longer withdraw after the final date of withdrawal by asking the instructor.
  2. Instructors cannot give a grade of "W" for any course after the official date of withdrawal,
    April 15 2010 before 4:30PM
    After that time you will be assigned the grade earned through the end of the semester which may include zero's for missed work. This usually results in the grade of "F".
  3. Students are responsible for their own request to withdraw, although an instructor may drop a student for failure to participate.
Please ask your instructor/counselor about opportunities for tutoring/other assistance prior to considering course withdrawal or if you are not receiving passing grades.

Please direct all communications to me using only the Blackboard Mail system, except for special cases when you can use the address further down on this page. When you do send an e-mail please enter your Class ID ITSE1346 and your lastname into the subject line of your e-mail or you may not get a reply.

You are responsible for knowing the procedures being used in this class, and our communications rules.

OBJECTIVES:
While the next few paragraphs may look unchanged, you never know until you read them. If you missed a message, you will find it in the list near the bottom of the page just above the Instructor information, re-read it.

By now you should have all obtained the text book (Seen on this link) and any other materials. You should all have completed the WinZip Lab as it is needed for the completion of all class projects. During the first few sessions we cover the course material at a faster pace, so please do not delay these tasks.

LAB-1 was all about Zipping files into archive folders and e-mailing them. please make sure you know how to do this. Most of you have done this.

Lab #2 due 2/5 (today) calls for your analysis of the "Fired Up" company. If it is done and in the correct form, it will receive a passing grade even if it is not perfect, but it must be attempted to the best of your ability, and you should be careful to follow the instructions. If the questions are unclear please ask. My answers will probably be in the form of another question, to you.

The intent of this Lab is for you to learn to think about the various possibilities that could exist. This second lab assignment deals with the art of database analysis. When I grade it you will get a copy of what many consider to be the most likely solution, and you are to use that for future work. Lab2 is very important because it is the basis for all of the assignments that follow. Read the linked specification letter for the Second Lab from the detective graphic on the PowerPoint for LAB-2 link on the "Assignments" page near the top of the "Learning Module".

You will need to read the detailed specifications sheet carefully and answer all the questions posed using the recommended tools. I do not expect this report to be perfect, (THAT IS WHY IT IS PASS/FAIL) and after doing this you might consider taking the HCC "Systems Analysis" course to further hone your skills. You will use these skills for the entire Case study, and again in the team project, so get the practice here.

We are also approaching the first Exam. It will be a 50 Question exam done in an unusual manner. You will download a file (Zipped) which is an Excel Workbook form. You will extract it, take the exam by selecting the answers from drop downs in the cells. When you finish, you will Zip the resulting exam into a correctly named folder and return it by e-mail. Essentially, it covers the first three slide show chapter presentations, the corresponding material in the textbook by chapter and the appendices.

If you have any questions please ask them. A question not asked is never answered

Read any videos as they are required or become available. Copies of the script texts for the videos are available from the same web page
Always check and Read the "FAQ Questions" link on the HOME page.

The e-mail address to use for private mail to the instructor is:

stephen.linkin@hccs.edu

This is an ON-LINE generally SELF PACED class. However, you are responsible to complete the required material on or before the due date. There is no excuse for late assignments and class participation is essential to your success.

These Links point directly to supplemental material relative to the TableDesigner Case tool in the Publisher's Web Sites:
Please make use of it:

  • Download TableDesigner Student Version Case Tool

  • Getting Started Link to TableDesigner

      • IMPORTING EXERCISE:
      Importing data to a database is important for physically converting poor data structures to one of the normal forms. The following Word Document describing a special practice Lab Exercise, and its accompanying Excel file are available for you to download and save to your local Disk. While there are no points assigned to this exercise, you should practice importing both tables into an Access2000/2002/2003 database and then setting up the required relationships. Be sure to have the instructor review your work on an individual basis. In this exercise the raw tables do not have Field labels, so create your own:
      ImportingDataLab.doc
      ImportingDataLab.xls

      The "Cut Off" dates and the PASS/FAIL nature of our work is similar to what you will be seeing in the workplace. A project must work, and be on time or you will not receive credit for it and you could find yourselves on the outside looking in.

      Don't forget to e-mail me, and the rest of the class if there are any questions or problems with course material, and my personal address if the question is confidential.

      Schedule of Event Completions:

      Color Code:

      Green = Should be done.
      Red = HOT, you should be doing this now.
      Blue = Work ahead if possible.

      Cut Off Date Item
      1/31 Lab 1 WinZip Assignment
      2/5 Lab 2 Analysis
      2/15 Exam #1 (AVAILABLE 2/12)
      3/5 Lab 3 ER Modeling
      3/11 Lab 4 SO Modeling
      3/12 Exam #2 (Mid Term On-Line 3/10)
      3/14 - 3/21 SPRING BREAK
      4/5 TEAMS ASSIGNED BEFORE THIS DATE
      4/10 Lab 5 Normalization
      4/19 Exam #3 (On-Line 4/16)
      5/1 Team Project Presentation (On Site)
      5/7 - 5/8 Final Exam
      (Given only at West Loop Center campus)

      ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE COMPLETED AND TURNED IN ON OR BEFORE THE CUT OFF DATE.
      LATE ASSIGNMENTS ARE NOT ACCEPTED FOR CREDIT

      Old Messages:

      Orientation Message.
      Message #1. Message #2.
Student to Instructor Assignments & Information
Instructor: Linkin, Stephen (Steve)
Phone: (713) 718-6462
Email: stephen.linkin@hccs.edu
Web Site http://tc3.hccs.edu/LinkinS
Address: Steve Linkin
Computer Science Technology Department
Houston Community College System
West Loop Campus, Faculty Work Room
Houston, TX 77266-7517
Picture:
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