Steps in Program Development

Introduction to VBA
 Data and Information
 Data are raw facts
 Examples of data include transactions, dates,
amounts, etc.
 Information are data that have been processed into
a usable form
 Information includes tables, documents, charts, etc.
 Goal of computer applications is to process data
into information

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 Six Basic Computer Operations
1. A computer can receive (input) data
2. A computer can store data in memory
3. A computer can perform arithmetic and manipulate
text strings
4. A computer can compare the contents of two
memory locations and select one of two alternatives
5. A computer can repeat a group of operations
6. A computer can output information (processed data)

We will use pseudocode statements to demonstrate

these six operations.

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Computer Operations

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 Programs and Programming
A program is a very specific set of rules that
tell the computer which switches should be
"ON" or "OFF".
The process of creating a program is called
programming.
The computer only knows what it is told
through programs, so they must be accurate
and very specific.

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 What is Programming?
 Deciding if there is a task to be accomplished or problem to be
solved using a computer, e.g., is there a need for a program?
 Determining the nature of the task or problem, e.g., what must the
program do?
 Developing a plan that will accomplish the task or solve the
problem, e.g., generating the step-by-step process that the
program will follow (algorithm).
 Converting the plan into a computer language program
 Testing the program to ensure it accomplishes task or solves
problem defined earlier.
 Implementing the program to accomplish the task or solve the
problem.

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 Types of Computer Languages
Procedural: Monolithic programs that run from start to finish
with no intervention from user other than input
Basic, QBasic, QuickBasic
COBOL
FORTRAN
C
Object Oriented/Event Driven (OOED): Programs that use
objects which respond to events; use small segments to
code for each object
JAVA
Visual Basic
Visual Basic for Applications (VBA)
Visual C++

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 Levels of Computer
Languages
Low Level: at the level of the computer, i.e., in binary (0-1)
format Computer can only execute a binary form of a program
Intermediate Level: close to the computer but uses English
words or mnemonics, e.g., Assembler, that is converted
directly into binary
High Level: at the level of the programmer using English words
and clearly defined syntax; must be converted or translated
into binary for computer to implement it, e.g., VBA

Need a software program to handle the conversion of high-level

into binary

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 Translating from High-level
Language to Binary

Interpreted: each statement translated as it is

executed--slow but easy to use
Compiled: entire program is converted to
binary--executes faster, but more difficult to
use (.exe files are compiled programs)
VBA is interpreted during creation and testing
but can then be compiled into an .exe file

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 Total = 0 10111000
Current = 100 101110001 00000000
do while current <> 0 Translation 01100100
Total = Total + Current 00000001 11001000
Current = Current - 1 Program 01001001
Loop 01110101 11111011

High level Machine language

language program progam

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 Steps in Program Development

 Define the problem

 Inputs

 Outputs

 Processing steps to produce outputs

Defining Diagram

Input Processing Output

Num-1 Read 3 numbers Total

Num-2 Add numbers together

Num-3 Print Total number
 Outline Solution – rough draft

 Major processing steps

 Major subtasks (if any)
 Major control structures (repetition loops,
branches etc)
 Major variables & record structures
 Main logic
 Develop Outline into Algorithm

 Pseudocode (form of Structured English)

 Nassi-Schneiderman diagram
 Flowcharts for small parts of program
 Test Algorithm for Correctness

 Desk checking using test data

Code the Algorithm

 Run Program on the Computer

 Compile
 Correct syntax errors
 Run program with test data
 Correct logic errors
 Document and Maintain
Program
 On-going task
 Comments within program – very important in Java
 Structure charts
 Solution Algorithm
 Test data results
Maintenance often done by other programmers. If program
well designed, code will be easier to maintain
 Introduction to Algorithms and
Pseudocode
 Algorithm –lists steps in accomplishing a
task
 Lucid, precise, unambiguous
 Give correct solution in all cases
 Eventually end
 Example of Algorithm

 Turn on calculator
 Clear calculator
 Repeat the following instructions
 Key in dollar amount

 Key in decimal point

 Key in cents amount

 Press addition key

 Until all prices have been entered

 Write down total price
 Turn off calculator
 Using Pseudocode
 An important part of the developing the logic for
action objects is generating corresponding
pseudocode.
 Pseudocode involves actually writing a program in
English rather than in a computer language.
 When the actual computer program is written, the
pseudocode is translated into computer language.
 A pseudocode program is useful for two reasons:
 The programmer may use it to structure the

algorithm's logic in writing.

 It provides a relatively direct link between the

algorithm and the computer program

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 What is Pseudocode?

 Statements written in simple Englih

 Each instruction written on separate line
 Keywords and indentation are used to signify
particular control structures
 Groups of statements are formed into
modules (later we will talk about Classes0
 Program Data

 Variables
 Name given to collection of memory cells
designed to store a particular data item
 Variable because value stored in that variable
may change as program executes
 Program Data (continued)

 Constant
 Data item with a name and a value that remain
the same during program execution.
 The name Fifty may be given to a data item that
will always contain the value 50
 Program Data (continued)

 Literal
 A constant whose name is the written
representation of it’s value
 For example the program may contain the literal
’50’
 Program Data (continued)

 Elementary Data item

 One containing a single variable that is always
treated as a unit
 These are classified into data types
 A data type consists of a set of data values and a
set of operations that can be performed on those
values
 Integer, string and boolean, double re examples
 We will talk more about this later
 Program Data (continued)

 Data Structures
 An aggregate of other data items
 Data is grouped together in a particular way
 Record- a collection of data items or fields hat
bear some relationship to each other. For
example a student record may contain student
number, name address, etc
 Program Data (continued)

 Data Structures (continued)

 Record- a collection of data items or fields hat
bear some relationship to each other. For
example a student record may contain student
number, name address, etc
 File – a collection of records. For example a
student file may contain a collection of student
records
 Program Data (continued)

 Data Structures (continued)

 Array – made up of a number of variables or data
items that all have the same data type and are
accessed by the same name. For example an
array called scores may contain a collection of
students’ exam scores. Access to the individual
items is made by the use of an index or subscript
beside the name of the array i.e. Scores(3)
 Program Data (continued)

 Data Structures (continued)

 String – a collection of characters. For example,
the string “Jenny Parker” may represent a
student’s name
 How to Write Pseudocode

 Pseudocode allows the programmer to design

an algorithm to solve a computing problem
without having to be concerned with the
syntax of the programming language (Java)
 Six Basic Computer Operations

 A computer can receive information

Read student name
Get system date
Read number_1, number_2
Get tax_code
 Six Basic Computer Operations
(cont)
 A computer can output information
Print ‘Program Completed’
Write customer record to master file
Put out name, address and postcode
Output total_tax
Display ‘End of data’
 Six Basic Computer Operations
(cont)
 A computer can perform arithmetic
Add number to total
Total = total + number
 + Add
 - Subtract
 * Multiply
 / Divide
 % Modulus
 ( ) Parentheses
 Six Basic Computer Operations (cont)

 A computer can assign a value to a variable or memory

1. To give data an initial value in pseudocode, the verbs Initialize or Set are
used
2. To assign a value as a result of some processing, the symbol ‘=‘ is used
3. To keep a piece of information for later use, the verbs Save or Store are
used
Examples
Initialize total accumulators to zero
Set student_count to 0
Total_price = cost_price + sales_tax
Store customer_num in last_customer_num
 Six Basic Computer Operations (cont)

 A computer can compare two variables and

select one of two alternatives
IF student is part_time THEN
Add 1 to part_time_count
ELSE
Add 1 to full_time_count
ENDIF
 Six Basic Computer Operations (cont)

 A computer can repeat a group of actions

DOWHILE student_total <50
Read student_record
Print student_name, address to report
Add 1 to student_total
ENDDO

WHILE student_total < 50 DO

Read student_record
Print student_name, address to report
Add 1 to student_total
ENDWHILE
 The Structure Theorem

 Three Basic Control Structures

1. Sequence
2. Selection
3. Repetition
 Object-Oriented Event-driven
Programming (OOED)

OOED uses objects, or self contained modules that combine

data and program code which pass strictly defined messages
to one another.
OOED is easier to work with, because it is more intuitive than
traditional programming methods.
Visual Basic is an OOED language.
Users can combine the objects with relative ease to create new
systems or extend existing ones.
Properties of objects are attributes associated with an object.
Methods of objects are those activities that the object can carry
out.
Objects respond to events.

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 OOED Programming Process
A six step process for writing an OOED computer program:
1. Define problem.
2. Create interface
3. Develop logic for action objects
4. Write and test code for action objects
5. Test overall project
6. Document project in writing

No matter how well a program is written, the objective

is not achieved if the program solves the wrong problem.

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 Step One: Define Problem
 Before you can create a computer application to solve a
problem, you must first clearly define it.
 This may involve a study of the problem to understand the
inputs and outputs.
 Must identify the data to be input to the program and the results
to be output from it.
 Sketching an interface is a good way to understand the
problem and to communicate your understanding to other
people.
 Denote input and output objects as well as action objects--
those for which code (instructions) are needed.

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Sketch of Calculate Revenue Interface

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 Step Two: Create Interface

 Once you have defined problem and sketched

interface, you are ready to create interface.
 Doing this with VBA is quite easy.
 For our first program you only need four objects:
 button for action

 inputBox for input (Selling Price)

 inputBox for input (Units Sold)

 MessageBox for output

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Calculate Revenue Interface - Input

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Calculate Revenue Interface -
Output

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Step Three: Develop Logic for Action
Objects
 Need to think about what each action object should
do in response to an event
 This is the logic for each object
 Use Input/Processing/Output (IPO) Tables and
Pseudocode to develop the logic
 IPO Tables show the inputs, outputs, and the
processing to convert inputs into outputs

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IPO Table for Calculate Revnue Button

Input Processing Output

Unit Price revenue = unitPrice X quantitySold Revenue

Quantity Sold

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Pseudocode for Count High Values Button

Begin procedure
Input Selling Price
Input Quantity Sold
Revenue = Selling Price x Quantity Sold
Output Revenue

End procedure

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 Step Four: Write and Test Code of
Action Objects
 Once you learn the vocabulary and syntax of a language,
you should be able to convert the logic embodied in the
pseudocode into a computer language. In our case, we use
VBA.
 You need to test each code for each action object as they
are created.
 Once the object code is written, the programmer must test
and correct it. This stage is referred to as debugging, since
it involves removing "bugs".
 Use test data for which you know the correct answer to test
the object code.

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 VBA Code for Calculate Revenue Button

Sub CalculateRevenue()
Dim unitPrice As Currency
Dim quantitySold As Integer
Dim revenue As Currency

' Get the user's inputs, then calculate revenue.

unitPrice = InputBox("Enter the unit selling price.", "Selling price")
quantitySold = InputBox("Enter the number of units sold.", "Units sold")
revenue = unitPrice * quantitySold

' Report the results.

MsgBox "The revenue from this product was " & Format(revenue, "$#,##0") _
& ".", vbInformation, "Revenue"
End Sub

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 Step Five: Test Overall Project

 Even with extensive testing, some bugs can often

be found in most commercial software.
 With computer software, each program instruction
must be absolutely correct. Otherwise, the whole
program might fail.
 BE SURE to test your program in the actual
environment and on the actual data on which it will
be used (just ask IBM at the Olympics).

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 Step Six: Document Project in Writing
 Documentation includes the pictorial and written
descriptions of the software. It contains internal
descriptions of programming commands and
external descriptions and instructions.
 Documentation is necessary since, sooner or later,
the program will need to be maintained (correct
bugs, add new features, handle problems not
thought of previously, etc. This is NOT possible
without documentation.
 Written documentation includes books, manuals,
and pamphlets that give instructions on software
use and discuss the objectives and logic of the
software.

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 Risks in Numerical Computing
 Almost all computer calculations involve
round off error (limited precision error)
 If not monitored and planned for carefully,
such errors can lead to unexpected and
catastrophic results
 Ariane 5 Rocket Failure
 Patriot Missile Failure during Gulf War
 The Explosion of the Ariane 5

 On June 4, 1996 an unmanned Ariane 5 rocket launched by the

European Space Agency exploded just forty seconds after its lift-off.
 The rocket was on its first voyage, after a decade of development
costing $7 billion. The destroyed rocket and its cargo were valued at
$500 million.
 It turned out that the cause of the failure was a software error in the
inertial reference system. Specifically a 64 bit floating point number
relating to the horizontal velocity of the rocket with respect to the
platform was converted to a 16 bit signed integer. The number was
larger than 32,767, the largest integer storeable in a 16 bit signed
integer, and thus the conversion failed.

 Back
 Patriot Missile Failure during Gulf War
 During the Gulf War, an American Patriot Missile battery in Saudi Arabia, failed to track
and intercept an incoming Iraqi Scud missile. The Scud struck an American Army barracks,
killing 28 soldiers and injuring around 100 other people.
 The General Accounting office reported on the cause of the failure. It turns out that the cause
was an inaccurate calculation due to computer arithmetic errors.
 The time in tenths of second as measured by the system's internal clock was multiplied by
1/10 to produce the time in seconds.
 The value 1/10, which has a non-terminating binary expansion, was chopped at 24 bits. The
small chopping error, when multiplied by the large number giving the time in tenths of a
second, led to a significant error. Indeed, the Patriot battery had been up around 100 hours,
and an easy calculation shows that the resulting time error due to the magnified chopping
error was about 0.34 seconds. (The number 1/10 equals 1/2 4+1/25+1/28+1/29+1/212+1/213+....
 A Scud travels at about 1,676 meters per second, and so travels more than half a kilometer in
this time. This was far enough that the incoming Scud was outside the "range gate" that the
Patriot tracked.

 Back