Relational Database Design: A Practical
Approach (Millennium Design)
Course specifications
Course number: 076 410
Software version number:
Course length: 1 day
Hardware/software required to run this
course
The conceptual content of this course in not
specific to any software application. Microsoft Access 97 or
Access 2000 is needed to perform the tasks in the lessons
pertaining to queries.
Course description
Overview: Students will learn the
general principles involved in designing a database that complies
with the relational database model.
Prerequisites: Some familiarity with
data tables and basic knowledge of how to create queries in
Access 97 or Access 2000.
Delivery method: Instructor-led,
group-paced, classroom-delivery learning model with structured
hands-on and minds-on activities.
Benefits: Students will learn how to
correctly design tables for use in a relational database
application.
Target student: Students enrolling in
this course should have a need to design or modify the design of
tables to be used in a relational database management system.
Performance-based objectives
Lesson objectives help students become
comfortable with the course, and also provide a means to evaluate
learning. Upon successful completion of this course, students
will be able to:
- Be conversant with the terminology used in
reference to relational databases and be familiar with
the design process.
- Identify data as fields, group fields into
tables, select key fields, and identify table
relationships.
- Identify data problems and apply data
normalization techniques to solve them.
- Use referential integrity and other data
integrity techniques to support the accuracy of data in
the database.
- Use criteria and operators and perform
appropriate table joins in queries.
- Understand basic SQL queries and
techniques for improving the performance of queries.
Course content
Lesson 1: Introduction to Relational
Databases
- The Basics of Relational Databases
- Planning the Database
Lesson 2: Designing Tables
- Deciding on Tables and Fields
- Selecting Primary Key Fields
- Identifying Table Relationships
- More on Keys and Relationships
Lesson 3: Data Normalization
- Solving Data Problems
- Higher Normal Forms
Lesson 4: Data Integrity
- Referential Integrity
- Field-level Integrity
- Table-level Integrity
- Reviewing and Finalizing the Database
Design
Lesson 5: Query Basics
- Performing Queries
- Multiple Table Queries
Lesson 6: More on Queries
- Other Types of Queries
- SQL
- Optimizing Query Performance
Appendix: Additional resources
