COSC 6340 Course Project

Fall 1997

The objective of this assignment is to develop an application system using SQL-based relational DBMS. We (hope to) have Oracle available on bayou for this purpose. If you yould like to use another system, it is OK, as long as the follwing conditions are satisfied:

1.    The acceptable database management systems are Oracle , Informix, or Sybase
2.    The acceptable operating systems are UNIX and Windows NT
3.    You must be able to login remotely to the computer you use and show the TA your system   running

Whenever the word "Oracle" is used below it means "the approved DBMS of your choice". The assignment will consist of several parts.

First, you should choose the area of your application and decide on the informational content of your database. You may choose any area, such as university course registration system, a system to computerize a dentist office, or a database for a basketball team. You should decide what tables you will have and what will be the attributes of each table. Then, list explicitly all the assumptions you made, analyze functional dependencies among attributes involved, determine normal forms of your tables, specify keys and integrity constraints for each table. If appropriate, define views and indices. This phase of your project constitutes the "database design" Typically, 4-5 tables with several attributes each, should be enough. You should prepare a written report that documents this work; this is the first "deliverable" of your project and will be due around October 10

Using ORACLE's interactive interface, perform the necessary database definitions (CREATE TABLE, INDEX and VIEW). Using ORACLE's interactive interface, insert records into each of your tables. Typically, 5-10 records per table should be enough. Test all integrity constraints that should hold for your database. The database is now ready.
In the next phase you should develop programs to manipulate it. Like most modern DBMSs, ORACLE provides several tools to assist the application programmer, including Report Writer, Screen-Oriented Interactive Application Development Facility, Host Language Interface, etc. You should first decide what programs do you want to implement and then choose right tools to do it. Use the simplest tools that are sufficient to accomplish your objectives (if the only function of the program is to input or modify data from a terminal, use forms; if you want a printed report, use a report writer, etc.) Typically, two examples of reports prepared by the report writer, two interactive screen applications (preferably using more than one form and more than one table per form) and two host language programs, will be sufficient.

You should make an appointment with the TA to allow testing of your programs.

You should prepare a report containing the documentation of your system. The documentation should consist of three parts.

- database design documentation, as specified above,
- programmer's documentation, describing the software you developed,
- end-user's documentation, explaining how the system should be used.

Your report will be part of the grade, so make sure that it looks nice.

The last (and optional) phase of the project is an oral presentation to be given in the class. It should present the work done during your project. Imagine that you are presenting it to a potential customer who may buy your system for real money, or to your management, to justify why you should get a pay raise. You should consider using appropriate means of presentation: handouts, transparencies, slides, or multimedia animated movies (Full productions with live actors are also acceptable).
All phases of the project are important and the final project grade will reflect this fact.

6. Schedule:

1. 1-2 page proposal, describing the application area: September 29

2. First progress report (database design): TBD

3. Ready to show your system to the TA: TBD

4. Programs and the final report: last day of classes: Dec 4th

Late penalties: 1 and 2: 10% per calendar day; 3 and 4: no late assignments accepted.