Prototype of the System.

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Prototype of the System

I have designed a prototype of my final program.  The prototype resembles the final program exactly, but it does not have the programming in order for it to do the required processes.  The prototype has been made to show what the program will look like as a finished product.

I have taken some screen shots of the various screens and explained all of their features.

Main Menu:

Above it the starting screen of the program, it is the main menu as labelled in the title bar and also the name of the screen beside the picture box for user navigation.  As you can see the interface is large and simple with only a few buttons, in order to keep it simple, as specified in the specification prior to the prototype.  The user has three options; they can choose one of the command buttons, which will then take them to the according page.

On the click of the command button the current screen is closed and the target screen is then opened where the user can then chose their next process.

The Picture box is used to store a picture set by Hollywood video, this will be added onto the design, but for the prototype I decided it was not necessary.  The text used is Ms Sans Serif. I have used certain sizes, size point 14 for titles in bold, size point 10 for text and size point 8 for buttons which are both regular style.  I have made sure that I have set certain standards which must be kept to throughout the program such as the font and the button size.

This is done to keep uniformity to the whole program and make it look as though all the forms are linked together.  I will use this as template for the whole program.

Members Command

When the user clicks on the “Members” button it closes the main menu and opens the “Members Options” which has several options for the user.  The first function of the members options is the search member process.  This requires the user to enter either a member number of member surname.  Both boxes are mask edit boxes, which validate any characters entered into the text boxes.  The member number box has number validation of a 10 string number and the member surname has uppercase text validation which can support up to 15 characters.  Once the user has entered the details they wish to view they then click the “Search” command button which performs a system search to retrieve the query made in the appropriate box.

The user also has the options of “Add Member” and “View All Records”.  “Add Member” takes the user to the “Add Member” form where information gathered is entered.  “View All Records” when pressed takes the user to the view all members screen where the information is displayed.  There is also a “Main Menu” command button which located in the bottom right corner of each form as a quick escape to the main menu.

I have added boxes around the different functions so that the user does not get confused with functions such as I have separated the search function from the add member and view all because they are separate commands.

All of the command buttons within the system are logically named in order to keep it simple for the user, the font is clear and the button sizes are kept the same size according to function.

Universal Search Result Error:

This error message appears when a user searches for either a member or video which is not in the system.  

The error message is clear and concise and lets the user know that there is problem by appearing on top of the current operation.

Once the user has acknowledged the error, they must click “OK” which then returns the user to the previous search window, “Members Options” or “Video Options” where the user can verify spelling or the mistake made.

Join now!

Member Details:

The “Member’s Details” from is accessed by the “Search” or “View Details” command buttons.  It displays the member’s details in depth. Using text boxes and drop down list boxes.  It is of similar format to that of the “Add Member” form, but this displays a previously saved member.  The name of the form is situated at the top of the form in bold text.  I have used the same layout style as the previous pages.  There are three buttons at the bottom on the form each performs a different function, they are labelled according ...

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