CHAPTER FOUR

SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION AND DOCUMENTATION

4.1 System Implementation

A System is a network of interdependent components that works together to accomplish the aim

of the system. Also it can be defined as an integrated set of element that accomplishes a defined

objective. The process of system implementation is the stage of development that involves all the

steps necessary to put the new system into operation. System implementation is very important

and necessary in system development because if not properly planned and carried out it could

result in a waste of time and resources.

After system implementation takes place, the program codes for the system, program testing,

debugging and detailed documentation of the software are also presented. Others include

conversion of the data files, preparing the site for the new system testing, staff training and

changeover procedure.

System implementation can be described as the conversion from an old system to a new

improved (computerized) system. Staff training is also a fundamental stage in the system

development life cycle. Staff training is the last phase of the system development life cycle. The

staff will be informed and enlightened (trained) about the new system to convince them of its

effectiveness and efficiency.

System implementation involves the following;

4.2 Program Development

The Web Technology language used in developing the proposed system is PHP embedded in

HTML and the suitable and effective handling of the information and records will be made using

SQL.

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PHP is a server-side scripting language designed for web development but also used as a

general-purpose programming language. As of January 2013, PHP was installed on more than

240 million websites (39% of those sampled) and 2.1 million web servers. Originally created by

Rasmus Lerdorf in 1994,thereference implementation of PHP (powered by the Zend Engine) is

now produced by The PHP Group.While PHP originally stood for Personal Home Page, it now

stands for PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor, which is a recursivebackronym.

PHP code can be simply mixed with HTML code, or it can be used in combination with various

templating engines and web frameworks. PHP code is usually processed by a PHP interpreter,

which is usually implemented as a web server's native module or a Common Gateway Interface

(CGI) executable. After the PHP code is interpreted and executed, the web server sends the

resulting output to its client, usually in the form of a part of the generated web page; for example,

PHP code can generate a web page's HTML code, an image, or some other data. PHP has also

evolved to include a command-line interface (CLI) capability and can be used in standalone

graphical applications.

The standard PHP interpreter, powered by the Zend Engine, is free software released under the

PHP License. PHP has been widely ported and can be deployed on most web servers on almost

every operating system and platform, free of charge

SQL is a special-purpose programming language designed for managing data held in a relational

database management system (RDBMS), or for stream processing in a relational data stream

management system (RDSMS).

Originally based upon relational algebra and tuple relational calculus, SQL consists of a data

definition language, data manipulation language, and a data control language. The scope of SQL

includes data insert, query, update and delete, schema creation and modification, and data access

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control. Although SQL is often described as, and to a great extent is, a declarative language

(4GL), it also includes procedural elements.

SQL was one of the first commercial languages for Edgar F. Codd's relational model, as

described in his influential 1970 paper, "A Relational Model of Data for Large Shared Data

Banks." Despite not entirely adhering to the relational model as described by Codd, it became the

most widely used database language.

SQL became a standard of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in 1986, and of the

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 1987. Since then, the standard has been

revised to include a larger set of features. Despite the existence of such standards, though, most

SQL code is not completely portable among different database systems without adjustments.

4.3 System Requirements

The requirements involved in the implementation of the proposed system are broadly divided

into two:

Software Requirements

Hardware Requirements

4.3.1 Software Requirements

Software refers to series of instructions written in a particular language understandable to

computer and directs it to perform some processing function or combination of functions. In

computer architectures, application software resides on the system software while the system

software reside on the hardware components. The following are the minimum software

requirement for the proposed system:

 Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/Windows7/Windows *

 Web Browser: Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, etc

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  SQL Server(e.g Wampserver, XAMMP)

4.3.2 Hardware Requirements

Hardware refers to the physical components of a computer system that can be seen and touched.

The new system has been developed to be run on standalone computer system over a network.

The system should at least have the following minimum configurations.

 Processor: A minimum of 1.0 GHz

 Memory: A minimum of 1 GB of RAM

 Hard Disk Drive of at least 20 GB (For the dynamically expandable database)

 Drives CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive (since the installation would be made

through this medium)

 Display Unit: A colour 14inches or 15inches (VGA or SVGA) monitor

 Keyboard

 A UPS (Uninterruptible Power supply)

4.4 System Interface

System interface is a boundary across which two independent systems meet and act on or

communicate with each other. Two interfaces shall be discussed in this section – input interface

and output interface – which aids communication between the user and the system.

4.4.1 Input Interfaces

In the input design, user-originated inputs are converted into a computer-based system format. It

also includes determining the record media, method of input, speed of capture and entry on to the

screen. Online data entry accepts commands and data through a keyboard. The major approach to

input design is the menu and the prompt design. In each alternative, the user’s options are

predefined. Input data are collected and organized into a group of similar data once identified

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input media are selected for processing. The system consists of the following input graphical

interfaces which are explained in the above chapters.

4.4.2 Output Interfaces

In the output design, the emphasis is on producing a hard copy of the information requested or

displaying the output on the Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) screen in a predetermined format. Two of

the most output media today are printers and the screen. Most users now access their reports

from either a hard copy or screen display. Computer’s output is the most important and direct

source of information to the user, efficient, logical, output design should improve the systems

relations with the user and help in decision-making.

As the outputs are the most important source of information to the user, better design should

improve the systems relations and also should help in decision-making. The output device’s

capability, and response time requirements should also be considered, form design elaborates the

way the output is presented and layout available for capturing information. It’s very helpful to

produce a clear, accurate and speedy information for end users.

A database is very important because it provides the system with reliability, consistency, and

efficiency. The query subsystem shows how the user communicates with the system and how the

system responds to the user. It shows the student searches for information (project) either by

using the content if the book, supervisor's name, student's name or project topic. It also shows

how the system performs intellisense (word prediction).

4.5 System Performance

A step-by-step evaluation of all the subsystems is carried out to determine the performance and

efficiency of the system and its subsystem comparing the result to the over-all desired result. The

test plan involves creative criticism hence the system elements have been properly integrated.

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System performance is a feedback process from a system that has been developed. This process

is used to determine the correctness, efficiency, reliability and robustness of the system. It also

determines the compatibility, portability, usability and maintainability of the system.

4.6 System Training

In this project, after the individual modules have been checked for code and logical errors, the

entire system was tested to see if the expected result could be gotten by applying top-down

strategy. That is, the high-level components of the system was validated and worked down to the

smaller components.

The new system has been subjected to rigorous test and appraisal to test the authenticity,

reliability and validity of the system. The new system i.e Warehouse Management system was

test-with sample data of goods. The new system is faster and provides accurate result than the

previous system.

Therefore, users of the system, especially the admins should be trained on how to properly key in

the required information for effective and robust result.

4.7 Conversion to the Proposed System

A bottom-up approach will be adopted in converting from the manual system of Warehouse

Management system. This means that the integration would be gradual by allowing those that

familiar with online first to start using the designed website before everybody finally move to the

platform

4.8 System Documentation

Documentation is giving the written detail of all the information necessary to provide the user

with the understanding of the purpose and how to use the designed program for the system to

achieve its objectives. This helps in carrying out further research and improvement on the

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system. Also comprehensive information about the new system and its working procedures are

outlined so that modification can be done on the system without studying the entire system.

4.9 System Maintenance

Maintenance is the amendment of the program where they have been found to contain errors or

where the new processing requirement arise programs might also require adaptation to meet new

external requirements or because of the changes in the general hardware and software of the

system of which they are apart.

The system will be maintained periodically by the super admin at anytime new function is

needed. At every stage, the functionality of the system may be totally changed to suit the demand

of that time or slightly adjust some of its function where necessary.