[Thursday, Jan 6, 12:30] > I am not clear regarding the Oracle software. I would prefer to install the > software on my PC at home versus going to the IS labs. Is it necessary to > get the account for the SUN workstations if I get the software for my PC? Yes, it is not necessary to come to the University if you install the software at home. However, I have already requested Solaris accounts for all registered students. So you probably should change your Solaris password for security reasons, since you will be responsible for the account. You can do this also via telnet from home. I could tell the system administrator (Mark Steggert, mark@sis.pitt.edu) to delete your account, but we probably should wait until you successfully installed the Oracle Software at home. I personally find the PDF documentation nicer to work with than the HTML documentation, so maybe you should spend another $5 for the generic documentation CD. But you can also wait and first look at the HTML documentation which comes with Personal Oracle. The homework results database is completely independent from the Solaris accounts. You can register for it with any web browser and define your own password. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Friday, Jan 7, 14:40] > Thank you for the information. I will keep the account and also get the > software for my PC. DO you think it is possible to do most of the > assignments from home with my PC? I am sorry for the late answer. Yes, you will be able to do all (or nearly all) homework assignments at home if you have Personal Oracle installed there. Not all assignments involve SQL and Oracle, e.g. at the beginning you will have to draw Entity-Relationship-Diagrams, but you can do this by hand. There may be one assignment for which you would need a C compiler and Oracle Programmer and maybe a web server, but there will most likely a replacement for this (e.g. writing a PL/SQL procedure). But certainly there should be at most one assignment which you cannot do easily at home. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Tue, Jan 11, 9:25] > I've been having trouble getting the text. How > significant is the difference between the 2nd and 3rd > editions of the text? If you have the 2nd Edition of Elmasri/Navathe, there is no need to buy the 3rd one (you can spend your money better for some other database book, e.g. about Oracle). However, I would say that it is not a good idea to buy the 2nd Edition now, unless it is really cheap. The field of databases develops further, there is some new material in the book, and the old material is in some part better organized. Of course, the basic material is the same. You may also compare the reading lists in the syllabus: They are given for both editions. I hope this helps. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Tuesday, Jan 11, 9:35] > What book would you suggest for studying SQL. There is so many to choose > from - Would the Oracle book suffice? Thank you The textbook contains a chapter about SQL, and the class handouts are quite detailed. Normally, both together should suffice (you can also look at the Oracle SQL Reference online). The Oracle book by Sunderraman also contains a chapter about SQL, but it is about the same level of detail. I wanted to look at some of the SQL books which are around, but I haven't had the time yet. Maybe this term I will do it and mention something later in class. I personally use the book by Date/Darwen, A Guide to the SQL Standard, when I have a question about Standard SQL, but it is certainly not intended for learning basic SQL. However, once you are finished with this course, you should have no problems with it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Friday, Jan 14, 18:25] > I am questioning whether there exists a solutions manual for our database > textbook? In an attempt to do the exercises at the end of chapter three I > found myself in a panic because I do not know if I am doing these correctly. > I really can't do the homework until I am comfortable with my solutions for > the chapter. Is there a solutions manual for the exercises at the end of > the chapters in the DB book? > > Thank you for your assistance, I am sorry. I don't know. You may check the web pages of the authors. (They are reachable via the course web page). However, probably they wouldn't publish the solutions there, since some instructors want to use the exercises as homeworks. I got a copy of the book from the publisher (for free, since I am using it in this course, however, I paid for the preceding two editions). If there were such a solution manual, they would probably have told me. You may come to my office hours to let me check a few exercises, or ask me after the course. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Monday, Jan 24, 10:05] > The login in ID and/or password I was given in class is not correct. I am > unable to log into paradox. Who should I contact? Thank you Mark Steggert 624-7353 is our UNIX system administrator. I do not have super-user rights for the UNIX systems. I can change passwords for Oracle though. Please note that the password is written the second time in uppercase printed letters, since the handwriting may be not easily readable. However, UNIX passwords are case sensitive and it is very likely that the passwords do contain lowercase letters. So please check the handwriting above the printed version to see which letters are lowercase. Mark does not like to send passwords via email. However, you can ask him to give me your new password and I give it to you in class.