University of Helsinki Department of Computer Science, ©Harri Laine

Exercises

• Exercises on the Relational Algebra (no credit points)
  You may discuss the solutions with Jaana Heino.

• In order to learn the topics taught in the course you should practice them. To assist practicing, there is a WWW-based practice software that acts as the user interface (English and Finnish) for executing SQL-queries. The program also keeps account of the tasks you have done and your solutions to these tasks. When practicing using this software you get information about possible problems in your solutions. If you are able to perform the tasks succesfully and in schedule you get also points affecting your grade on the course.

  Trainig software

  • Start the Training software by clicking here.

    Explanations of Oracle error codes may be found in Oracle manuals. Look for the Error Messages manual within the Oracle Server Manuals. The manuals are visible only within the domain Helsinki.fi.

  • The exercises use an example database (as a figure).
  • The software presents the tasks for you to solve. Tasks are also listed below
    • First set of tasks, deadline 19.2. at 10.
    • Second set of tasks, deadline 28.2. at 8.

• You may find it usefull to print the Brief SQL syntax. Date related SQL functions are the only functions you need in the first set of exercises. Date in transformed into the Finnish date format using function
  to_char(the_date, 'DD.MM.YYYY'). Date constants may be given in the American form 'DD-MON-YYYY' for example '20-SEP-2000' or in the Finnish form 'DD.MM.YYYY' for example 20.9.2000.

• The tasks are divided in two groups. Both groups have a deadline by which you have to do the tasks in order to get points. You get points of answers found successful by the software. The deadline for the first group of tasks is February 19th at 10.00, and the deadline for the second group is February 28st at 8.00. There will be an explanation session after each deadline.

  If you have any problems with the exercises, Jaana Heino (email: Jaana.Heino@helsinki.fi) is available for guidance weekly on Tuesdays and Thusdays at 16-18 in computer class D326. Jaana is prepared to answer small questions by email, too.

  There are two (2) exercise explanation lectures (in Finnish, maybe also in English if there are enough foreign students) the first Finnish session is on February 19th at 10-12 and the second on February 28nd at 8-10, both in Teollisuuskatu Auditorium. Explanation lectures are given by Jaana Heino.

• The answers for the exercises will be published after the explanation sessions.