Barkah’s Zeitgeist

As I’ve been receiving questions regarding our assignment, I decided to arrange it in a hopefully-coherent FAQ. Please read on this before asking further questions.

Q: I am not quite understand what I am suppose to do
A: Read the problem again.Questions nr. 1 thru 4 are just there to aid you doing question nr 5.

Q: Can U give me a hint for nr.5?
A: Of course I can. Here they are:

1. First, create your database! I provided you with the database schema. All U have to do is to create the DDL (the “create table…” statements).
2. You can register the txt files and excel file as an ODBC datasource. How? See here.
3. As for the XML file, you can parse it using JAXP (Java API for XML processing). How? See here.
4. From your java program, connect to the ODBC datasources using JDBC. How? See here.
5. From your java program, connect to your MySQL database.
6. The rest is just plain querying the first data sources (ODBC) and inserting to the second (MySQL).

Q:Should I parse all the text files individually? (by Najihah Zamanhuri)
A: Well technically you can do that, but I’m sure you have better things to do with your time. I suggest you go for the ODBC way (see previous question). It is alot ‘cleaner’. And you can use your extra time for beautifying your program or saving rain forests.

Q: Will this assignment affecting our final mark?
A: Don’t know. The decission about this is on the lecturers, not tutors. But, I am required to report them. Dont’ worry, I will not waste any sincere effort. But instead of worrying ’bout final marks, how ’bout doing this for fun?

Q: I see other file types in the northwind folder. What should I do with them?
A: Just ignore them. You only need to load the data int txt,xls, and xml files.

Q:Should we submit hardcopies?
A: I’m not quite a fan for hardcopies. Just bring along your (softcopy of) java app, and DDL on the next session. Save rain forest by using less papers.

Q: I have other question. What should I do?
A: Drop a mail in my inbox : barkah[dot]yusuf[at]gmail[dot]com, Buzz my IM : barkahyusuf, or scout for my existence in postgraduate lab.

Q: I dont have MySQL.
A: Get one. It’s here and it’s free.

Q: I’d uninstall my java since I didn’t think i’d be needing it anymore.
A: Well then go get it again. It’s here

Q: What is the answer to life, the universe, and everything?
A: Forty two.

Have a nice day.