Web Database Applications

Winter 2003

Course Syllabus and Website

taught by

Robert F. Else

Course Description: This course describes and demonstrates the ways in which a database can add power and flexibility to a web site. It covers database technology and products, server-side web technology, and how to link web pages to a database using a variety of techniques.

Instructor: Robert Else is the founder of Elseware, a database consulting firm in Santa Barbara specializing in Oracle. Mr. Else is an Oracle Certified DBA, and has over 20 years of experience as a software designer and developer. Mr. Else is also a professional classical and jazz pianist, and holds music degrees from Humboldt State University, USC, and Berklee College of Music.

Instructor Contact

Robert Else

Phone/Fax: 805-682-1302 anytime

email: relse@elseware.net

General Information

Course Meeting Dates

Mondays 6-9pm, Jan. 6-Mar. 24, excluding Jan 20 and Feb 17 (10 meetings)
1518 Phelphs Hall (the Rincon Lab)
EDP # 23A20
Course # CMPSC X430.11 (3.0 Units)

Course Objectives:

Review the basics of how the web works, and how to create static web pages.

Learn how to add database capabilities to a website, and why you might need or want it.

Provide both technical knowledge and hands-on practice in this technology

Increase awareness of what's behind the curtain out there on the Web.

Increase your job potential.

Provide a foundation for "build versus buy" business decisions.

REQUIRED Course Prerequisites (if you can't do these, you and I will be very uncomfortable).

This is a technical class, meaning that we will be acting like real web developers and programmers, building real database-powered web sites on these computers, and running them on the real Web. We will be writing HTML, and programming in languages like Perl, PHP, and Visual Basic.

You definitely need to be comfortable using a computer with the Windows operating system. You should be able to :

Type. You don't have to be speedy, but you must be extremely accurate. You will be typing a lot.

Create and save a file using Notepad.

Copy the file to a different directory (folder), and give it a different name.

Open Internet Explorer from the Start menu.

If you can't do these things, or aren't sure you will be able to catch on in a very short time (i.e., by next week), you should not take this class.

Helpful Course Prerequisites (if you have any of these, you will be very comfortable).

Some experience developing web pages.

Familiarity with Microsoft Access or other database software.

Familiarity with SQL

Some programming experience.

Course Presentation:

Lectures, based on handouts
Handouts, which are printed exactly from the course website
Discussions
In-class exercises
Homework
Final Project
Course Website

Grading:

Attendance and Class Participation: 50%
Class Exercises/Homework 25%
Final Project: 25%

Attendance:

Class starts promptly at 6:00 pm, and will let out promptly at 9:00pm. There will be a 15 minute break around 7:30pm.
With prior approval, you can miss 2 classes without affecting your grade, provided you keep up with homework and projects.
Missing 3 or more classes, with or without approval, takes your final grade down 1 notch for each absence. Missing 3 classes means the highest you can get is a B. Missing 4 or 5 classes means a C or D at best, respectively.
If you miss 6 or more classes, you flunk.

Textbook:

None required, but outside reading and web research is highly recommended.
See the Resources page for related books and websites.

Homework Assignment Summary

Due Class #	Homework Description
Class 2	Find and describe 5 database-driven websites.
Class 3	None.
Class 4	Brief description of 3 ideas for a Final Project.
Class 5	Choose project idea and draw sketch of home page
Class 6	Project Description Part 1: Project Functional Description
Class 7	Project Description Part 2: Project Architecture and Design Description. Include Part 1 from previous homework.
Class 8	Working prototype of your Project.
Class 9	None (continue work on your Final Projects)
Class 10	Project show and tell.

Final Project

The final project for this class is to build a simple website that can read and write information in a database.

Click here for more information and specific requirements.

Course Outline and Lesson Plan

Class 1: Course Introduction. Overview of Database Technology. Overview of Databases on the Web.

Class 2: Using Perl for CGI Programming

Class 3: Using PHP for Web Database Applications

Class 4: Introduction to SQL and ASP

Class 5: ASP Continued

Class 6: Using ColdFusion for Web Database Applications

Class 7: ColdFusion Continued

Class 8: Introduction to XML

Class 9: Java Server Pages

Class 10: Present Final Projects. Review.