Information and Communication Technology (9-1) - 0983 CIE

Design

Overview

Once the analyst knows what the new system must do, the next stage is to design it on paper before anyone builds it. Design is where the shape of the data, the look of the screens and printouts, and the rules that keep bad data out are all decided in detail. A good design saves enormous amounts of wasted effort later, because mistakes are far cheaper to fix on a design sheet than in finished software.

In this lesson you will learn how to design file and data structures, choosing field names, lengths and data types and using codes to save space. You will design data capture forms, screen layouts and report layouts, and you will master the six validation routines (range, character, length, type, format, presence) plus the check digit, knowing exactly what each one does and when to use it.

Objectives

Design.
Design file/data structures, input formats, output formats and validation routines File/data structures including field length, field name, data type, coding of data for example M for male, F for female Validation routines including range check, character check, length check, type check, format check, presence check, check digit Input formats including data capture forms Output formats including screen layouts and report layouts.

Lesson Note

Design is the bridge between knowing what is needed and building it. Every decision made here, the way data is stored, how it is entered, what the outputs look like and which checks protect the data, shapes the system that gets built. Designing carefully on paper means the developers in the next stage have a clear plan to follow, and it means errors are caught while they are still cheap to correct rather than after the system is live.

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Lesson Evaluation

Congratulations on completing the lesson on Design. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.

You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.

Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.

Which validation routine would check that a date is entered as dd/mm/yyyy? A. Range check B. Format check C. Presence check D. Type check Answer: B
A telephone number should be stored as which data type? A. Numeric: integer B. Boolean C. Alphanumeric/text D. Currency Answer: C
The field that uniquely identifies each record is called the: A. Foreign key B. Primary key C. Field length D. Data type Answer: B
Which validation routine can detect that two digits have been transposed during input? A. Length check B. Presence check C. Check digit D. Type check Answer: C
Validation is best described as a check that data is: A. Accurate B. Correct C. Reasonable D. Verified Answer: C