Introduction to Computer

Sciences
FSC 103

2015/2016 Academic Session

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 Course Details
• Venue: DLI, Auditorium A, B & C
• Time: Tuesdays 8am – 10am
• Lecturer: Mrs. Ojiako, Mr. Ajayi & Mr.
Edagbami
• Texts: Computer Fundamentals &
Visual Basic Language
(Highly recommended),
Other relevant texts
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 Course Objectives
At the end of this course, students
should:

• Understand the Software Development

Life Cycle (SDLC).

• Be introduced to writing programs in

Visual Basic

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 Outline
• Introduction to Programming (2
Parts).

• Programming with Visual Basic (2

Parts).

* Term assignment.

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Introduction

LECTURE 1

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 What is a Computer?
• It can be defined as a data processing
machine that is capable of accepting input
from users in form of data, processing or
storing these data and giving output
based on user supplied logic.

• A computer is a general purpose device

that can be programmed to carry out a
set of arithmetic or logical operations
automatically

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Types of Computers

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Source: informationq.co m
 Stored Program Concept
• A concept of storing alterable
instructions that will direct the
machine to automatically perform
the necessary processing steps to
carry out a task.

• This is the major feature that

distinguishes a computer from a
basic calculator or other data
processing machines
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 Machine of Machines
• Computers on their own are dumb machines
that simply do nothing. It is the program
supplied that actually makes them useful.

• A computer for example becomes an

arithmetic calculator or a music player once a
calculator or media player program is loaded
into it.

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Introduction to
Programming
LECTURE 1

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 What is a Computer
Program
• A computer program is a sequence of
simple logical instructions into which
a given problem is reduced and
which is in a form a computer can
understand.

• A given problem can be broken

down/reduced into…
– Sequence of simple logical instructions
– A form the computer
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PLEASE understand
• A program is simply a list of logical
instructions that tell the computer what to
do.
– Simple addition program
• Accept first number = x
• Accept second number = y
• Add x and y = z
• Output z as answer

• The program should incorporate the

logical procedure to solving a given
problem, hence a computer does not
produce logic, it simply follows that, which
is supplied in the programmers codes.
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• Computer Programming is the act of writing
code which can be executed by a computing
system to perform a meaningful task or give
a desired result.

• Programs are written to solve specific

problems of varying level of complexity
requiring different level of resources and
planning.

A sample program might be to add/subtract

two numbers while another to manage the
customers’ accounts of a large enterprise bank
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• All problems to be solved by a
computer must be broken down into
four basic operations:
– Calculating or computing
– Comparing and testing
– Shifting operation
– Jumping operations

As long as a problem can be reduced to

these basic operations it can be solved.

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The Software Development Life
Cycle
Problem
Definition

Documen Problem
tation Analysis

Development or Design /
Implementation
Model

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*Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
 Problem Definition
• A complete, precise and unambiguous
statement of the problem to be solved.

• It is a clear definition of what the

program does or is meant to do.

Problem definition example:

“Program to Multiply two integer numbers”
“Program to calculate XYZ Limited’s current
employee pension”
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 Class Programming Example
Write a program to sum first 10 natural
numbers.

• Problem Definition:
– Program to find the sum of the first 10
natural numbers

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 Problem Analysis
• A thorough examination of the problem
defined in the problem definition stage.

• It involves breaking down the problem

into its constituent parts and determine
what is/are needed to solve the it.

• Here the Input(s), Output(s) and

Procedure(s) are identified.
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 Problem Analysis Example
• Program to calculate XYZ Limited’s current
employee pension

– Input = EmployeeID, [Full Name], Department,

Designation, Employment Date, Salary,
Pension percentage

– Output = Pension

– Procedure = Get active service year by subtracting

current date from employment date,
then multiple by the pension
percentage to get pension value
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* More examples available in the course text
 Class Programming Example
Problem Analysis:

• The first 10 natural numbers are:

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10
• Input = first 10 natural numbers
• Output = the summation
• Procedure=
Start from the first natural number (1).
Add the next number to it
Store summation
Continue till
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 Model / Design
• A model is an abstraction of the real
problem and it defines the
relationship between objects of the
problem space.

– Mathematical models illustrated on page

74 of course text.
– Logical model: flowchart, business
process chart
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 Algorithm
• A finite process or set of rules which
spells out a step-by-step sequence of
operations to be followed to solve a
specific
Finite problem. It must end
Definite steps Each step must be clear,
precise and unambiguous
Input It should have at least an
input
Output It should have at least an
output
Effective The steps can be done
exactly in a finite and
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 Examples of Algorithm: Simple
Addition
Given 1234 + 5678
1. Arrange the two numbers in
standard form.
2. Start with right most c
column (current column). 1 2 3 4
3. Add the digits in the current
5 6 7 8
column.
2
4. If sum < 10, record sum
under current column
5. If sum > 10, subtract 10
from the sum and record
remainder, add 1 to the
column left of current
column.
6. Current column =
immediate left column
7. If current column is empty
then stop else goto FSC 103 NOT FOR SALE PLEASE
step 3
 Algorithm Notations
• Assignment notation:
A B, meaning assign value of B
to A
• Arithmetic notations: +, -, *, /
• Logical notations: =, <>, ≠, <, >

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 Simple Addition Algorithm
V1 1 2 3 4
1. Set V1, V2 and SUM
V2 5 6 7 8
0 SUM 6 9 1 2
2. Set V1 1234
3. Set V2 5678
4. SUM V1 + V2
5. Output SUM as
answer

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 Class Programming Example
• Sum of first 10 Plan / Procedure
numbers, ie • Let n = number of
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +5 + 6 natural numbers ie 10.
+ 7 + 8 + 9 + 10 • Let SUM = summation
• Let i = current number
Written mathematically • Initialize all variables*
as n = 10
SUM = 0
i=1
S=
• Thus the algorithm is
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*Why initialize? Page 83 & 84 of Course Text for de
Algorithm to sum first 10 natural numbers

1. i 1
2. SUM 0
3. SUM SUM + i
4. i i + 1
5. If i > 10 GOTO Step
7
6. Else GOTO step 3
7. STOP
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 FLOW CHART
• A flowchart is a diagram that
presents logical structures pictorially.

• It serves to help a person easily

understand a program written by
someone else.

• To achieve this, present / standard

symbols are used to denote different
operations. These most used symbols
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 Flowchart Symbols
SYMBOL MEANING

START / STOP

PROCESS

DECISION

INPUT / OUTPUT

PREDEFINED PROCESS

CONNECTOR

LOGIC FLOW
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 Class Programming Example
Flowchart for Summing first 10 natural
numbers START

i = 1, SUM = 0

Is i YES
> STOP
10
NO

SUM = SUM + i
i=i+1

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 Flowchart Example 2

• The order of a new customer is

accepted provided it is not more than
N5,000 otherwise it is referred to a
supervisor. An order from a regular
(old) customer is always accepted.

– Define the problem

– Analyze the problem
– Draw a flowchart
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 Flow Chart
START

CHECK
CUSTOMER
STATUS
Order
NEW
CUSTOM
YES >
ER? N500
0?
NO NO YES

ACCEPT REFER TO
ORDER SUPERVISOR

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DEVELOPMENT & IMPLEMENTATION
(PROGRAMMING)

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 DOCUMENTATION
• Programs are meant to be documented, much
like how an equipment manufacturer adds a
USER MANUAL.

• This ensures that others can read the

documentation and use the appliance / program.

• Documentation should start from the Problem

Definition stage and run all the way to the
programming stage and even beyond (such as
pictures of the program in use and possibly
maintenance / troubleshooting
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steps).
PROGRAMMING IN VISUAL
BASIC
LECTURE 2

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 VISUAL BASIC
• BASIC means Beginners All-Purpose Symbolic
Instruction Code.

• It is arguably the most used programming language in

the history of computing.

• It is a very simple but powerful programming

language that combines the mathematical capabilities
of FORTRAN and the business orientation of COBOL.

• VISUAL refers to the method used to create Graphic

User Interfaces.

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 TYPES OF PROGRAMMING
LANGUAGES
• PROCEDURAL PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE:
This is essentially a list of instructions
telling the computer what to do step-by-
step, from the first line to the last line of
code. These type of language are also
called IMPERATIVE or TOP-DOWN
language. Examples are FORTRAN, COBOL
and C.

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 Object Oriented Programming
Languages
• Unlike procedural languages, OOP languages are all about objects.
• An object is a self-contained component of a program that knows how to
perform certain actions and how to interact with other elements of the
program.

• Objects are the basic units of object-oriented programming.

• A simple example of an object is a car.

– Make, Model, Colour would be considered as the properties of the car.
– Abilities of a car include Accelerate, Turn, Stop…. these would be considered as
methods of the car.

• A method in object-oriented programming is like a procedure in procedural

programming. The key difference here is that the method is part of an object.
In object-oriented programming, you organize your code by creating objects,
and then you can give those objects properties and methods.

• A key aspect of object-oriented programming is the use of classes. A class is a

template or blueprint of an object. You can think of a class as a concept, and
the object as the embodiment of that concept.
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• Examples of object-oriented languages include Visual Basic, C#, Java, Python.
• Visual Basic (VB) is an event-driven OOPL, and
consists of two major components – the
Controls & Commands.

• Controls are graphical items (such as Buttons

& Text Box) that could be placed on the FORM.

• Commands are instructions written by the

programmer instructing VB to carry out a
specified action.

• Event driven means an action has to be

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• Event-driven programs have
items/controls on a form, that carry
out associated procedures once a
user interacts with them. Example
includes clicking a button

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 VB Programming
Environment
• To Launch VB 6: • To Launch VB:NET
– From Windows Desktop
– Click Start
– Click All Programs
– Click Microsoft Visual
Studio 6
– Click on Microsoft
Visual Basic 6.0

* To be demonstrated in
class

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 Features of VB
• KEYWORD: a pre-defined word that is
already defined and reserved for a
specific purpose. In VB these include:
DIM, REM, LOOP, IF, ELSE, END, FOR, SUB
etc

• CONSTANT: a numeric or string value that

does not change in a program. They
include Integer, Long, Single, Double,
String
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* Assignment: Learn all the keywords in VB
 Features of VB
• VARIABLES: A location or area within
a computer memory where data
is/are stored.
– Variable name is the name given to a
storage location in a program.
– Variables are assigned values
– The assigned value can change but the
variable name and storage location
cannot change until the program
terminates or the variable is released.

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 A Variable Name…
• Must begin with a letter
• May contain letters, digits and underscore all
others characters are not allowed (not even
space). Similar to an email address.
• Cannot exceed 255 character in length
• Cannot be a VB keyword
• Can be in any case ie Capital or Small letters.

Example
amount = 10000
fName = “ADE”
address = “Block 2, House 14, Ikeja”
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 DATA TYPES IN VB
• Data type is the attribute of a
variable or field which determines
the kind of data it can hold.

• Common Data types in VB include:

– Integer - String
– long - Boolean
– Array
– User-defined (see page 114 of course
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 DATA DECLARATION IN VB
• The keyword DIM is used to declare
variables in VB.
• It tells VB to reserve a space in
memory for the variable
• Also tells VB what variable type to
expect when the program is executed.
Example
1. Dim name as string
2. Dim phone as long
3. Dim age asFSCinteger
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 OPERATORS IN VB
• There are 3 types of operators in VB
– Arithmetic operators such as addition (+),
subtraction (-), division (/), multiplication (*),
bracket, mod

Example: 2 * 8 + 10

– Relational Operators
These operators result in either True or
False. These can also be classified as
Boolean operation
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• Relational Operators include
greater than (>), less than (<), not equals
to (<>), less than or equals to (<=) etc.

Example of Relational Operators

a = 10, b = 50
If (a < b) then ….
else if (b < a) then…

• Logical Operators
– These include AND, NOT, XOR, OR, EQV

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OPERATOR ORDER OF PRECEDENCE
OPERATO OPERATION ORDER OF
R PRECEDENC
E
() Bracket / Parentheses 1

^ Exponential 2
NOT Negation 3
* and / Multiplication & Division 4

\ Integer Division 5

Mod Modulus 6
+ and - Addition or Subtraction 7

<, <=, >, Relational 8

<>
= and <> Equality 9
AND Logical AND
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 VB CONTROL STRUCTURE
• Instructions are executed in 3 ways
– Sequentially: one after the other.
– Selection: Choosing an instruction to execute
out a number of alternatives.

• Example
1. If logical expression is true then execute this
Else execute something else
End If

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 Example of Selection Control
Structure
If (Score > 70) then GP = 5
Else if (Score > 60 AND Score< 70) then GP = 4
Else if (Score > 50 AND Score< 60) then GP = 3
Else if (Score > 40 AND Score< 50) then GP = 2
Else if (Score > 30 AND Score< 40) then GP = 1
Else GP = 0
End If

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 VB Control Structure
LOOPS
• Looping: Allows repeating an instruction
or set of instructions until a preset
condition is met.
• Looping statements usually have an index
or counter, which is incremented /
decremented during the loop structure.
• After or before each loop the index is
tested to determine if to proceed with the
loop or terminate.
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 FOR…NEXT LOOP
• For… Next Loop
– For index = 1 to 10 step 1
Print index
Next index

• The For…Next loop is used when the number

of loops to be done is known before hand

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 DO..LOOP
This is used when the number of loops to be done is not known in advance.

Do Until Do While
Example Example
a = 100, b = 10 a = 100, b = 10
Do Until ( a < b) Do While ( a > b)
b= a–b b= a–b

loop loop

These two loop statement accomplish the same thing and are example
of PRE-TEST loop statements.

hat is the test condition is tested first before executing the body of the l
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 DO..LOOP CONT’D

Do Until Do While
Example Example
a = 100, b = 10 a = 100, b = 10
Do Do
b= a–b b= a–b
Loop Until ( a < b) Loop While ( a >
b)

These two loop are examples of POST-TEST loop statements,

whereby the body of the loop is executed before test condition is carried

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 WHILE…WEND LOOP
• While… Wend Loop
– While (a > b)
Print a
b=a*b
Wend

• The While…Wend loop and the Do…loop do

not use index, hence variables MUST be
assigned values before commencing the loop.

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 LAUNCHING VISUAL BASIC 6
INTEGRATED DEVELOPED INTERFACE

• Click START button

• CLICK PROGRAMS
• CLICK on MS VISUAL
STUDIO 6
• On the NEW PROJECT
dialog, click on
STANDARD EXE.
• Click OPEN

*The above is for

Windows XP / Vista.
Windows 8 varies slightly
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 THE VB I.D.E Menu Bar
Title Bar

Tool Bar

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• Title Bar
– The top most line of the IDE window. It contains the project
name and icon.
– On the LEFT side it contains 3 icons that minimize, maximize
and close the IDE window

• Menu Bar
– Provides access to most of the commands that control the
programming environment (IDE), such as File, View, Tools etc.

• Tool Bar
– Collection of buttons that serve as shortcuts for executing
commands and controlling the VB IDE. It includes icons such as
OPEN File, SAVE, New Project etc

• Tool Box
– This gives easy access to common VB controls or tools such as
textbox, command button, list box, etc.

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• Form Designer Window
– The form designer sits right at the center of the VB IDE. It is the heart
and soul of the Visual Basic GUI development process. This is where
you can drag and drop dialog boxes, pictures, and other graphical
elements to complete your project. Familiarize yourself with the form
designer; you will be using it extensively in your programs.

• Properties Explorer
– The properties window allows you to view and edit properties
associated with any particular form or control element.

• Form Layout Window

– This little window helps position the designed form where you want it
in relation to the whole screen

• Project Window
– The project window shows all the files and folders included within the
project.

• Code Editor
– The code editor window is used to manually write codes / program
instructions for a control. There is a separate code editor window
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form and control element.
COMMON WINDOWS FORM CONTROLS
VB
• Textbox: is used to accept information entered
by the user during execution or display an
information to the user.

• Label: Primarily used to display text that a

user cannot edit directly by the user during
execution.

• Button: Trigger event(s) or action(s) when

clicked by the user.
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 Class Example 1

Program to Calculate Area & Circumference of a Circle

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• Problem Definition
• Problem Analysis NB: Reporting
– Input & Output should be based
– Procedure on the
– Variables & their data types steps of the
– Buttons & functions Software
• Algorithm & Flowchart Development
Life Cycle (SDLC)
• Implementation
• Documentation

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• Problem Definition: A program in MS
Visual Basic to calculate the area &
circumference of a circle.

• Problem Analysis:
– Input = radius of the circle
– Output = area & circumference
– Procedure:
• Area = Pi * radius * radius
• Circumference = 2 * Pi * radius

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Modeling & Design

– Variables:
Start
• Dim rad as Integer
• Dim area as Double
Enter • Dim cirm as Double
RADIUS
– Sketch what the
application would
Area = Pi * RADIUS2 Output
Cirmf = 2* Pi * Area & look like
RADIUS Cirmf

Stop

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Flowchart
 Implementation &
Documentation
• Implementation & programming to be
done in the lab and submitted in your
lab workbooks.
IT WILL BE GRADED AS YOUR TERM
ASSIGNMENT

• Documentation

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 Class Example 2

Program to Add first 10 Natural Numbers in VB

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Program to Add first 10 Numbers
Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e
As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click

Dim firstNumber = Val(TextBox1.Text)

Dim lastNumber = Val(TextBox2.Text)
Dim index = firstNumber

Dim result = 0

For index = firstNumber To lastNumber

Step 1
result = result + index
TextBox4.Text = Str(index)
Next index

TextBox3.Text = result

End Sub

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 End of Class

THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING

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