Analysis
Task1
System to create a drivers championship
For me to be able to complete this task I first must analyse the points that will need to be output and the points that will need to be input.
Information to output
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Various A4 sheets for each class showing the championship in the order of points: this should contain the number of drivers in each class, the drivers race numbers, the points they have scored at each round and the total number of points scored by each driver.
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The round at which the points where scored: this will have to be shown on the sheet to show after which round of the championship the points were in that order.
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Points for places: the points that are available for each finishing position. These will have to be somewhere on the table so that the points can be checked against that of the table.
Information to input
- When I am creating this scoring system I will have to input the necessary points that are scored for each finishing position.
- I will have to add in the drivers names so that I can just add the finishing positions along side them.
- My second input will be formula’s this is because the computer will have to workout from the points, who has scored what.
- I will also have to add any other inputs that are needed for me to be able to get the necessary outputs
Judgement of completing the task
- I will know when I have completed the task because by inputting the drivers finishing positions the computer should workout the total points each driver has scored.
- This task will be complete when all testing has been finished and scoring system is accurate giving the correct points of each driver
Testing
For this task I will have to test whether or not my system and formula’s work to give an accurate score for each driver. To test my system I will type in different finishing positions, which I know the total to. If the final score is different to what it should be I will know there is something wrong. I will then have to check I have typed in all the formulae correct and the points for positions are also correct. After completing this testing I will have completed the task so that it works correctly giving the right answers.
Analysis
Task2
Database for mailing list
This problem also means that I will need to create a system for informing the drivers who are competing in the championship what the point's standings are after each round. When implementing this task I want the computer to show which driver's race in which categories, this is so I don’t send the wrong table to the wrong driver.
Information to output
I will create a database using various fields for which I can have the necessary information, on addresses and the types of class each person races in. to do this I must first decide what information I need to get out of the computer and then following that. The information that I will need to put in, to get the out puts.
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Shows all the driver's name's: I want the computer to show all the drivers names in the database, along with their details.
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Filters: there must be filters in use for this database to function properly, this is because I require the ability to send different sets of results out on different days. For example one category of karts may have not raced at a certain round and so it is not necessary for me to send them a copy of their championship table.
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Information: I want to have other types of information contained in this database such as whether a certain driver wants additional items sent to him/her, e.g. a championship table for a class other than their own.
Information to input
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Address: I will have to add the address in the address of the driver because I may not be able to send out the necessary championship table.
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Additional information: this will have to be inputted so that I will be able to send out any additional information to anyone who has requested it.
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Class or racing category: this will be one of the most important fields that I need to include this is because I want to be able to send the correct table to the correct person at the correct time.
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Driver name: the name of the driver needs to be inputted so that I can address the sheet to that particular person.
Judgement of completing the task
I will know when I have completed this task when all the outputs I have said will be included in the system will be present. Should also know when this task has been completed when I have the correct number of drivers for each class arranged in race number and then class number order.
Testing
I will have to test my system when It has been created. to do this I will use a fillter to select a certain class for which I need to mail the table too.
The software that could be used
Microsoft word
This program would not be ideal for completing this sort of task because it does not set the data out in a table form, you are unable to do searches, filters or sorts, you can’t put information into graphs and information can not be entered into cells. If you had a spreadsheet or database program then you would not use this, simply because it does not have the correct functions and is too difficult and far to much effort to complete the task successfully.
Microsoft works
This program could be used because it has a spreadsheet system, that you can do calculations on and searches that draw out the information that should be contained on the printout. You can spell check the data and the information is automatically put in a table, the program also lets you import data. There aren’t really any bad points to this program.
Publisher
This program would not be ideal for completing this sort of task because it does not set the data out in a table form, you are unable to do searches, filters or sorts, you can’t put information into graphs and information can not be entered into cells. If you had a spreadsheet or database program then you would not use this, simply because it does not have the correct functions and is too difficult and far to much effort to complete the task successfully.
Ability database
This program could be used because it has all of the functions needed to complete the task, you can calculate formulas, use searches and filters and import and export any data. This program is very similar to word or excel because of the functions available to use, the only main reason you wouldn’t use it is because people are not familiar with and it is not that common on computers.
Excel
This program could be used because it does all of the functions that are needed to complete this task successfully, you are able to do calculations, enter data into cells and do searches, filters and sorts. This program is great if you are familiar with it but it would be confusing and more difficult to use than works to people who haven’t had much experience with it, but it is very useful to people who can use it. The only real thing that excel is unable to do as well as works is it can’t use
The software that could be used
For producing the mailing list database I could use these applications that I have explained below all could be used for different reasons. The aim of this task is that I create a database which is easy and efficient to use, I will judge each piece of software on the ability it has to be able to do what I want.
Microsoft works
I would use works because it allows me to put the information in a table and set it out neatly, you can do quite complicated searches where you need to pick out certain information from your designed spreadsheet and print it out on a separate page. It lets you enter data when you need to update the current spreadsheet, it can do small calculations like when it is needed for the choosing of an appropriate sized room. So this software is very useful for this kind of task.
Excel
Excel is useful because it sets up all of the entered data in a table so it is easy to read and find, it allows you to enter data that is needed for updating, in order for the computer to calculate the room size this spreadsheet can do calculations. The only main thing that excel is unable to do as well as works is it can’t do any complicated searches which involve taking information out of a table and printing it out. But this software is good for if you are familiar with it and in many ways is exactly the same and just as good.
Microsoft access
This program allows you to create your own database for whatever you need to display and organise data in, the wizard gives you choices of databases pre-set in the program. It has all the functions of works and excel that are needed to make the wedding booking system work. You can import and export text that will be contained in the database. You are able to spell check and it allows you to perform filters and sorts to organise and put the correct information on the printout. Reasons for not using this program are that is perhaps a bit complicated for untrained staff and those who are not familiar with the program.
Analysis
Task3
A4 sheet to display the championship table
To solve this problem I will finally create an A4 sheet showing the championship using a DTP program. This means that I will have to input the final sheet made by my system for points scoring to create the main feature in this sheet.
Information to output
There are very few things, which I want to output to make this part of my project a success. This is because this DTP sheet is only going to be used to make the championship table look more presentable. Apart from mailing this sheet by post it could also be attached in e-mails this as a result would be cutting down on the cost of paper and postage.
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The championship table: the championship table which I will have already created will be the main point of this project and so will be the main item that need to output.
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The decoration: the sheet that I create will have the main output as the championship table but the second most important will be decoration that I add as the border to my table.
Information to input
- I will have to input the championship table and I also need to input the decoration although the decoration will be added only once I have designed it.
Judgement of completing the task
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Easy to read: I will know when I have completed this part oif the task because the writing on the table and any additional writing will be clear and easy to read at a glance.
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Colour: this sheet will be bright and eye catching, so that it attracts immediate attention.
Testing
There is no testing necessary for this part of the project, this is because it is basically just a neater version of the first task which will have already been tested for formula errors. This sheet of coarse will not contain the formulas, as it will just be a read only copy of the finished table.
The software that could be used
For producing the DTP sheet I could use These could both be used for different reasons.
Microsoft publisher
Publisher is a good program to use because you can copy a spreadsheet, and mail merge the address labels and the invitation inserts. The paper size can also be changed so that it is the actual size of the product when they are printed out. Another reason that this program is useful is because Catherine asked the invitation to be decorative and so in publisher it is really easy to add clipart and other images.
Microsoft word
This program could be used because it allows you to mail merge the information from a database, to produce the invitation and address labels and it is very easy to do. You can import some clip art and other images but it takes a lot longer and is more difficult to do than in publisher ( there is not that wider range of designs and pictures to choose from ), so it is not quite as good for decorating the invitation and the size is a lot harder to get accurate.
Microsoft works
For this task works is a lot like word, so it wouldn’t make much difference which one was chosen to use. It lets you mail merge the invitation and address labels, quickly and easily, pictures can be imported easier than with word and the size of the product can be changed relatively easily by changing it to one of the sizes already given, so you can make sure that the size is right on the screen.
Paint
has the option to change things in greater detail, you have the ability to do this with paint because all the images produced in it are bit mapped, this means this means that the images are made up of small blocks, these are able to be deleted separately or have there colour changed easily. Another advantage of paint would be that the program has the ability to import images from other pieces of soft or hardware such as a scanned image or photograph, these can be imported and edited inside this is program.
The main disadvantage of this program is that if an image that has been imported or created loses its detail when shrunk this is mainly because all images are bit mapped and if they are shrunk less bits are used meaning the image becomes more vague. With paint, if you where to add text then once you have finished the text you don’t have the option to go back and edit text. To change the font or text in anyway you must cut out the previous text frame and rewrite your text unfortunately when doing this paint may take out chunks of the background as well as the piece you are trying to delete, yet there is a way to stop this. This piece
Drawing
has a slight advantage in this area as images created inside this program are vector mapped this means they do not become distorted when they are enlarged or shrunk. This is a great advantage for if images need to be resized in anyway this is because they can be produced and used for any host program. This could be a disadvantage of the software because you must have a piece of software open such as Microsoft word, excel or publisher to be able to use the software.