BUSINESS PROGRAMMING I

Year	No.	Offer	Mode	Description			Cred. Pts
96	75123 	S1  	D 	BUSINESS PROGRAMMING I    	1.00

Contents


STAFFING:

Examiner: B. WICKS
Moderator: M. HAY

PRE-REQUISITE(S)

75001


RATIONALE:

COBOL is the most commonly used commercial programming language today. This is due to its ability to handle complex input/output functions for large volumes of data, its suitability to commercial applications and its transportability between hardware. Since the 1970's when programming became a major profession there has been much discussion about improving the design of COBOL programmes. This has led to the technique known as structured programming. Structured programmes are easier to read, test, modify by programmers and their peers and have led to greater productivity and reliability in developed applications.


SYNOPSIS:

This unit introduces students to the procedural programming language of COBOL. Students design, write, test, debug and evaluate well-structured computer programs in accordance with production standards to solve non-trivial problems. Advanced programming techniques and language use are presented and practised. Structured programming tools and techniques are applied to commercial problem- solving applications.


OBJECTIVES:

Completion of this unit will enable students to:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of: (a) the COBOL programming language from the elementary concepts through to its more advanced features; (b) the tools and techniques of structured programming; (c) how to design programs which are easy to read, debug, modify and maintain;
  2. Design, write, test, debug and evaluate well-structured elementary, intermediate and advanced programs in accordance with installation standards to solve non-trivial problems using the COBOL programming language;
  3. Demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate and compare various computing techniques;
  4. Demonstrate an ability to analyse a problem and produce a logical and concise programming solution.

TOPICS:

 Description                                                    Weighting(%)
  1. Input and Output Operation 5.00

  2. Arithmetic Operations 5.00

  3. Conditional Operations 5.00

  4. Sequential File Handling 5.00

  5. Field Editing and Output Formatting 10.00

  6. Reports 15.00

  7. Sort/Merge 5.00

  8. Cobol Tables-single dimensional 5.00

  9. Cobol Tables-multi dimensional 5.00

  10. Screen Handling 5.00

  11. COBOL Subprograms and Segmentation 5.00

  12. Direct Access Files 10.00

  13. Indexed Sequential Files 10.00

  14. Character Oriented Data Processing 5.00

  15. Internal Data Representation 5.00


TEXT and MATERIALS to be PURCHASED:

Stern, N B and Stern, R A 1988 'Structured COBOL Programming', John Wiley and
Sons, New York.


RECOMMENDED REFERENCE MATERIALS:

Yourdon, E 1979, 'Managing the Structured Techniques', Yourdon Press, New York.

Welburn, Tyler 1983, 'Advanced Structured COBOL', Mayfield, Palo Alto.

Haggard, G & Jones, W 1985, 'Structured COBOL', Heath & Co, Lexington.

Weinberg, G 1972, 'The Psychology of Computer Programming', Van Nost, Reinhold.

Weinberg, G, et al 1977, 'High level COBOL Programming', Winthrop.


STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

	ACTIVITY				HOURS
Lectures                                      	28
Tutorials/Workshops                           	28
Private Study                                 	84
Assessments                                   	25

ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

No	*F/S	Marks		Due		Description					Wtg(%)		LBL
1 	S 	20.00   	07/05/96	ASSIGNMENT 1                            	20.00   	Y
2 	S 	20.00   	03/06/96	ASSIGNMENT 2                            	20.00   	Y
3 	S 	60.00   	END S1  	3 HOUR FINAL EXAMINATION                	60.00   	N

F=Formative, S=Summative

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

1  To obtain a pass in a unit, students must perform satisfactorily
   in overall assignment work and the examination.
2  The due date of an assignment is the date by which a student
   must despatch the assignment to the University, and is normally
   that defined in the relevant unit specification.  The onus is on
   the student to provide, if requested, proof of date of despatch.
3  Students should organise their affairs to ensure that they meet
   due dates for all assignments.  Extensions will be granted only
   under exceptional extenuating circumstances, normally involving a
   significant medical condition.
4  Students may apply for an assignment extension either by
   application through DEC before the due date or by including
   application with the submitted assignment after the due date.
   Such applications should be in writing and include supporting
   documentary evidence.  The authority for granting extensions
   rests with the relevant Unit Leader.
5  All assignments despatched after due dates without appropriate
   extension approvals or after approved extension dates, will be
   penalised up to a maximum of 20% of the assigned mark per work
   day.
6  Students must retain a copy of all assignments which must be
   produced if/when required by the Unit Leader.
7  Unit weightings of topics should not be interpreted as applying
   to the number of marks allocated to questions testing those topics
   in an examination paper.

This information is accurate as at 02/12/96