I.T. Project - Converting a Card Index System to a Database Essay Example for Free

I.T. Project Converting a Card Index System to a Database EssayThe present system is based on the manual card office system so most of the course is d i by hand, however due to the ever increasing g hagglingth of technology, and the internet, a wide range of resources are now being made tardily accessible.British Airways has recently introduced booking online, where customers can book a flight and accommodation all over the Internet. macrocosm such a big company as British Airways, most of their bookings are made with travel agents who book the flights and pass the information on to them. Question 1 Could you describe the current system being used byQuestion 2 How are these cards stored?Question3 What problems do you encounter at the moment?Software AvailableMICROSOFT OFFICE 2000WORD PROCESSOR MICROSOFT WORD 2000A word processing package is a program or lop of programs used to edit, format, store and print documents.Word processors absorb many important unique featur es* Spelling and Grammar CheckerMisspelt words, or grammatical errors can be place and corrected by the words in the computers dictionary. Correct words, identified by the spell check as wrong can be added to the dictionary.* Automatic knowledgeability of index and table of contentsAny word in the text can be marked for inclusion in an index. Headings and subheadings in a addicted style can be included automatically in a table of contents, which can be updated at any time.* Import FilesTables, photographs, graphics, video and hard files can be imported from other sources and inserted in a document.* Mail mergeA document and a be given of names and addresses can be merged to produce personalised letters.* Creation of templates with preset text styles. Margins, formatting, letterheading etc.* WYSIWYGThis stands for What You See Is What you Get, and refers to the ability to display on the screen. And enables the user to see their work on the screen exactly as it will be printed.SP READSHEET MICROSOFT EXCEL 2000Spreadsheet packages allow a user to create worksheets (spreadsheets) representing info in column and row form. Spreadsheets are used for any application that uses numerical data, such as budgets, cash go down forecasts, profit and loss statements, student marks or results of experiment.Spreadsheet features* formatting cells, rows and columns, specifying for example, the alignment of text, number of decimal points, height and width of cells.* Copy cell contents to other locations, with automatic adjustment of formulae from an area to another location.* Determine the moment of several different hypothetical changes of data this facility is called what-if calculation.* Insert, move or delete rows and columns.* Use functions such as sum, average, max, min in formulae* Create a simple database and sort or query the data to produce a report of, say for example, all males gaining over a C grade, for a list of students.* Write macros to automate common pr ocedures* Create templates Spreadsheets with formats and formulae already entered, into which new figures may be inserted.* Create multi dimensional spreadsheets use several sheets, and copy data from one sheet to another* Create many different types of chart and graphsDATABASE MICROSOFT ACCESS 2000A database is a collection of data. It may be something as simple as a list of names and addresses or details of the CDs in your personal collection, or it may contain details of all the customers, products, orders and payments in a astronomic organisation. When made reference to, the word database is assumed to be data held on a computer, but manual databases also exist. Some smaller business (a garage) may hold a card index file with details about a customer and their car.The main difference between a manual and computerised databases is the secureness at which data can be accessed.PRESENTATION GRAPHICS MICROSOFT POWERPOINT 2000Presentation graphics software such as PowerPoint is useful for putting together a presentation which can be delivered using a computer attached to a projection device, using transparencies and an ordinary overhead projector or as a self-running presentation in, say a shopping centre or cinema. The software allows the user to quickly create slides combining text, graphics and pictures and to create animation or sound effects and transition effects between slides. in operation(p) SYSTEM MICROSOFT WINDOWS 98Hardware AvailableThese are the specifications of the PC I am using at HomeOPERATING SYSTEMWINDOWS(r) 98 PLUSCPUINTEL(r) CELERONTM / 333MHZRAM64MB FOR WINDOWS(r) 98SCREEN DISPLAY800 BY 600 PIXELSTRUE COLOUR (32 BIT)compact disc read-only memory SPEED32-SPEEDAVAILABLE billet ON HARD DRIVE2.4GBAUDIO16-BIT SOUND CARDOTHERLOUDSPEAKERSThese are the system specifications for the systems at schoolOPERATING SYSTEMWINDOWS(r) 98CPU433MHZRAM32MB FOR WINDOWS(r) 98SCREEN DISPLAY640 BY 480 PIXELS256 COLOURSCD-ROM SPEED24 SPEEDAVAILABLE SPACE ON HARD DRIVE10MBAUDIO8-BIT SOUND CARDPRINTERHP LASERJETAll systems should piss Microsoft military post 97/2000.All systems must apply Microsoft Excel 97/2000.End Users IT LiteracyThe end user of my system will already have basic IT skills and will have already had experience with the Microsoft Office Package. As they are working for a big trans-national company, they would have already undergone training in the secretarial sector, of which IT skills are a key part. To even have the job, they would have to be able to type quickly, answer calls and transmit data efficiently. Therefore, training costs will be kept to a minimum.Final resourceHaving looked at the current system and the software and hardware available, I have decided to use Microsoft Excel, a spreadsheet program to design my booking system. Spreadsheet packages allow a user to create worksheets (spreadsheets) representing data in column and row form. Spreadsheets are used for any application that uses numerical data, s uch as budgets, cash flow forecasts, profit and loss statements, student marks or results of experiments. Spreadsheets offer a wide range of facilities making the task easier to perform.SKILLS Current/To be acquiredI have a good understanding of the Microsoft Excel package. I have done quite a few calculations and performed basic macros. Having looked through the coursework of former students, and reading through the coursework guide, I realise that I need to improve my knowledge of Excel. Excel is a powerful package and can carry out many tasks easily if instructed correctly. I have already started to go through sample projects showing me how to go about certain tasks with a book titled Successful I.T. Projects in Excel, written by P.M Heathcote.End User Requirements Provide detailed reports showing customer booking for every working day. Produce summary reports for flight bookings in order of popularity. Allow data entry for new customers. Provide easy access for amendments to cus tomer details and flight details. Automatic backup for all change records daily and weekly. Provide an exception report for outstanding customer debts or extreme bank credit limits. The system should record financial details concerning currency in/outstanding. Allow queries on the current flight availability.Quantitative Criteria Printed tickets are to be generated within 15 minutes. Accessing and amending customer/Fight/Airport details should be instantaneous. Queries are processed promptly on customer request. Backup should occur automatically every 24 seconds. Flight details processed every Friday (1 hour max) Exception reports are produced quickly on demand within a minute.Qualitative Criteria The system should provide a workable Human Computer interface system according to different users, i.e. simple menu selections or buttons The company logo is consistent on all forms and reports. Amount of available screen data is kept to a minimum (increase usability) Help systems are easily accessible.