University of Helsinki Department of Computer Science, ©Harri Laine

Exercises

• Exercises on the Relational Algebra (no credit points)
  You may discuss the solutions with Anna Pienimäki.
• 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 a 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.

    Explanation of Oracle error codes may be searched in Oracle manuals. Search for Error Messages manual within Oracle Server Manuals. The manuals are visible only within domain Helsinki.fi.

  • Exercises use the example database (as a figure).
  • The software presents the tasks for you to solve. Tasks are listed below
    • First set of tasks will appear here, deadline 16.10. at 12.
      • Tasks and solutions
    • Second set of tasks will appear here, deadline 1.11. at 24.
      • Tasks and solutions
  • You may find it usefull to print a Brief SQL syntax. Only date related functions are needed in our first set of exercises. Date in transformed into Finnish -format character string as
    to_char(the_date, 'DD.MM.YYYY'). Date constants are presented in American form 'DD-MON-YYYY' for example '20-SEP-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 October 16th at 14.00, and the deadline for the second group is November 1st at 24.00. There will be an explanation session after each deadline.

    If you have any problems with the exercises, Anna Pioenimäki (email: Anna.Pienimäki@helsinki.fi) is available for guidance weekly. Anna's office hours will be on Wednesdays at 12-14 and Thursdays at 10-12 in room A205 (Teollisuuskatu 23). Anna is prepared to answer also small quetions by email. There are also two (2) exercise explanation lectures (in Finnish, maybe also in English if there are enough foreign students) the first Finnish session is on October 16th at 16-18 and the second on November 2nd at 8-10, both in Teollisuuskatu Auditorium. Explanation lectures are given by Anna Pienimäki.

  • The answers for the exercises appear here after the explanation sessions.