Introduction to Database Development

About This Course

A number of powerful tools are available to help you build databases and database applications. However, if you do not apply a systematic, structured approach to the use of those tools, you will probably produce systems that fail to meet user needs. Many projects bog down or are never completed for lack of a disciplined approach to development. This course will guide you step-by-step through all the phases of a system development project to guarantee that the resulting product will not only work as it was designed to work, but also that the design truly responds to user needs.

About The Instructor

This course includes a knowledgeable and caring instructor who will guide you through your lessons, facilitate discussions, and answer your questions. The instructor for this course will be Allen Taylor.

Allen G. Taylor is a 30-year veteran of the computer industry and the author of 28 computer-related books, including "Crystal Reports 2008 For Dummies," "Database Development For Dummies" and "SQL For Dummies." He has been teaching computer courses for over ten years.

Syllabus

A new section of each course starts monthly. If enrolling in a series of two or more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two months apart.

Week 1

Wednesday - Lesson 01

Who can benefit from a database? Anyone who needs to store data and later retrieve meaning from that data. In this lesson, you'll see where databases came from, explore the major types, and see how the various parts fit together.

Friday - Lesson 02

In this lesson, we'll define and describe the major components of a database system. You'll learn about the System Development Life Cycle, which practically guarantees the success of any database system you produce.

Week 2

Wednesday - Lesson 03

Today, you will learn how important the non-technical portions of a development project are. You'll see why it's not enough to build a system that meets design goals--it also needs to satisfy the people who will use it. You'll learn how to build an Entity-Relationship model that is based on a consensus of what all the stakeholders need.

Friday - Lesson 04

This lesson will teach you how to find out what the client organization really needs from the development project--it may be very different from what they originally asked for! We'll discuss the pros and cons of either upgrading an existing system or building a new one from scratch

Week 3

Wednesday - Lesson 05

Relational databases are by far the most commonly used database type today. They're the most likely type of database that you will find yourself designing and using. In this lesson, you'll learn the relational model: how to create relational databases that have the right combination of performance and reliability to meet your needs.

Friday - Lesson 06

This lesson is the pivot point of our course: Today, you will learn how to translate the Entity-Relationship model into a relational model that you can implement directly as a database. A model that accurately describes the system you are modeling is your best guarantee that the system you deliver will perform as you need it to.

Week 4

Wednesday - Lesson 07

Today, we move to the hands-on portion of the course. You will take what you have learned so far to build an actual database, using the popular Microsoft Access database management system. The database will track important information for a fictitious nonprofit organization.

Friday - Lesson 08

In this lesson, you will learn how to build a database with the SQL language--a language that is supported by all relational database management systems. You'll also learn how to protect it from accidental or intentional harm.

Week 5

Wednesday - Lesson 09

Databases store data. That's important, but it's not worth much if you can't pick and choose the information you want to retrieve from the database. Today you will learn how to create a database application that will give users a turnkey tool for retrieving exactly the information they want with a minimum of hassle.

Friday - Lesson 10

It's more important than ever to ensure that your company's organizational data does not fall into the wrong hands. This lesson teaches you how to control who accesses your data. We'll also cover how to protect your data if your hardware fails or if some other unexpected disaster occurs.

Week 6

Wednesday - Lesson 11

This lesson takes you to the next level--creating sophisticated database applications by combining code written with procedural languages such as Visual Basic, or C with SQL statements. We'll go on to discuss how to make databases and database applications available on an organization's network and on the World Wide Web.

Friday - Lesson 12

This lesson emphasizes the critically important (but often overlooked) human aspect of a database development project. Your client may not have a clear idea of what they want at the outset of your database project. That means your communication and interpersonal skills are going to be just as important as your technical expertise. After we complete this final piece of the database puzzle, you'll be ready to create database systems that truly meet the needs of your client organization.

Requirements

Internet access, e-mail, the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Web browser, and the Adobe Flash and PDF plug-ins (two free and simple downloads you obtain at http://www.adobe.com/downloads by clicking Get Adobe Flash Player and Get Adobe Reader), any type of computer, and a database management system, including Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, or MySQL.