Creating and Maintaining a Database Systems Textbook

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Creating and Maintaining a Database Systems
Textbook

• Presented by Carolyn Begg
• School of Computing
• Paisley University
• Scotland

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Overview of Presentation

• To demonstrate the main features of a textbook
  called
• Database Systems A Practical Approach to the
  Design, Implementation and Management
• by T. Connolly and C. Begg.
• To identify the factors that led to the creation
  of the this book.
• To describe the process of maintaining this book.

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Database Systems A Practical Approach to the
Design, Implementation and Management

• 1st edition published 1995. Latest is 4th edition
  published 2005. Book is on a 3 year cycle of
  revision.
• Size of text has grown from 1st edition at 839
  pages to 4th edition at 1374 pages.
• Instructors Guide has accompanied textbook
  since 1st edition. Available on companion website
  since 3rd edition.
• Translated into 9 languages.

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Creating Maintaining a Database Textbook
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Creating Maintaining a Database Textbook
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Factors Driving Creation of New Database Systems
Textbook

• In mid-1990s, database systems growing in
  popularity.
• Two main textbooks were by Elmasri and Navanthe
  Date
• Perceived gap in the market.
• Authors motivation to fill this gap.

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Creating Maintaining a Database Textbook
Publish Database Systems Textbook
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Factors Affecting Content of Database Systems
Textbook

• 1st edition influenced by competitor textbooks
  and requirement to create appropriate textbook
  for our students.
• Later editions influenced through use and by
  observing how database systems taught at other
  institutions.

Competitor textbooks
Publisher
Educational Bodies e.g. IEEE, ACM
Industry
Establish Content of Database Systems
Textbook
Professional Bodies e.g. BCS
Lecturers adopters and non-adopters
Programmes at other institutions
Students
Publish Database Systems Textbook
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Creating Maintaining a Database Textbook
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Factors Influencing Need to Update Database
Systems Textbook

• Greatest driver for updates is the Publisher.
• Next is requirement to keep content up to date.
• Web now supports the second-hand book market.

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Creating Maintaining a Database Textbook
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Whats New in Next Edition?
Emerging / new standards

• New material is added to content to reflect new
  or emerging developments.
• Creating space for new material means that some
  established content must be moved to appendix /
  website.

New topics
New software /new versions of software
Adapt methodology
New Edition of Database Systems Textbook
New questions / exercises / case studies
Identify chapters/sections for Appendix
Data Cube Analysis
New website resources
Identify chapters/sections for website
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Creating Maintaining a Database Textbook