Computeach (cobol stage3)

[uplater]

Hi, i am currently doing a Cobol course with Computeach.
I am at present stuck on stage 3, Ex-5, question B.

The problem is not so much with the programming it is flowchart and structure chart i cannot get to grips with.

I have sent my attempt in to them three times already and it has came back marked not up to the required standard.

The thing is it takes them around 3 weeks to reply which means i have already lost over two months on this one question and now find myself running out of time to complete the course, before i have to start paying expensive additional payments on a monthly basis.

So here's the thing, i am almost certainly going to scrap the whole thing and put the course down to a VERY expensive lesson (painfully) learned, unless.....maybe, you are one of the thousands of Computeach graduates that have already graduated and taken up your - £50,000 - £80,000 per year job.

If this is the case, then you may be in a position to help, if you still have your 'stage3, ex5, question B', stuff lying around and would be prepared to E or mail it to me i would be very much obliged.

this would also help me to feel better knowing that i, at least, got to the last stage of the course and saw the full extent of the course work they provide.

****PLEASE BE AWARE*****
I am not looking for an easy way to do the course, and would of course very much appreciate any help you could provide, its just that, if you have went through Computeach yourself then you will understand that sending me the same rubbish they provide in the first place will not help me at all, this is why i am looking for a previously completed solution.

 

[pipk]

Why don't you type it in here, give everyone else a chance to have a go. Or at least scan it in with a URL where people can read it.

 

[uplater]

Hi, pipk, thankyou for replying so quickly.

As requested here is the problem.

A stock movements transaction file is to be sequentially processed.
The transaction records are in part number order.
Each part number is to be checked against a stock master file.
Any transactions for parts not on the master file are to be printed out on an error report.
The stock balance is to be adjusted according to the transaction quantity, depending on whether the adjustment is an issue or receipt of stock.
Once the updating of the master record is complete, the stock balance is to be checked and, if reduced below minimum or increased above maximum stock holding levels, a copy of the stock record is to be written to a seprate disk file for later processing.

This is to be a sequential update. None of the files are indexed or relative.

The requirement is a complete easy to read, COBOL program to the problem described.

Also, a detailed graphical description of the logic of the program in the form of a program structure chart AND a detailed flowchart.

Let me know what you think,
Uplater.

 

[RonaldB]

Uplater,

this is a typical so-called balance line process. Both input files (stock transaction and stock master) are processed as if it were one file (also, check the FAQ from Slade on this subject).
For matching part numbers, the stock master record is changed and either updated in the initial stock master file (in-/ouput processing) or written to a new updated stock master file.
Part numbers from the stock transaction file missing in de stock master file lead to error processing.
Part numbers from the stock master file without a matching transaction record are left unchanged.
On updating master records, if mentioned tresholds are crossed, a signal stock record is created.

I don't know what charting technique you are supposted to use, so any advise there is difficult, but an approach you can use is the following:

Try to chart a structure of each file, try overlaying these into a general i/o structure and try to reflect the conditions mentioned above for creating each of the output records.

If you need more specifics, let us know.

Good luck,
Ronald.

 

[uplater]

Thanks for replying Ronald i appreciate it.
you said if i need more specifics to let you know....How about 'you' writing a program to solve the problem above that works correctly?

Again, let me try to explain my situation a bit better.

the biggest problem i have beleive it or not, is that Computeach do not provide a compiler to work and learn with, so all the programing i am doing at present is on paper,(MS word actually, but you know what i mean)which means if i make a simple mistake i can miss it, or even worse i could be writing complete rubbish without any way of knowing.

And before you ask, Computeach's reply's to questions are criptic enough to qualify as some weird language all of their own and are of little use to anyone without decipher key so they are of very little help.

As it goes i do have a program in progress and also a flowchart, but for obvious reasons i cannot post them here even though i know it would be much more helpful.

 

[jimlee]

hi uplater,

firstly, DO NOT GIVE UP!!! this course costs a fortune!
I am also doing a computeach course in cobol, and am just about to do the city & guilds exam. Although i found the majority of the course work excellent,I can sympathise with you about the structure charts, i found them a nightmare until excercise 5 where i had no choice but to learn them properly. Unfortunately, i did ex5a not 5b so i cannot give you my finished documentation for reference!

My advice to you (you're not going to like it!) is to do what i did, which is, look back over all your course notes including stage 2(most flowchart explanations are here) and find everything in your notes to do with flow and structure charts. Then spend some time looking at them and reading everything they have to say about them.

This might sound obvious and you will already have done this during your course, but if you're anything like me you will have brushed over it, kidding yourself that it will all fall into place in the end. Well it will, but it takes quite a lot of effort and remember, if you can code the program, then the structure is already there and you have proved that you have the logical mind to do it!

I didn't know about any additional charges if you over run you course deadlines, are you sure this is right, if it is then it's a bit bloody cheeky seeing as the course costs so much in the first place. Anyway i'm pretty sure that you can put the course on hold for a certain period of time if you ask them , so if you're really worried about it then why don't you ask. After all, it's better than giving it up.

flowcharts are explained in better detail than i could manage in stage two of your course, however i will attempt to shed some light on structure charts for you.

struc charts.....

The easiest way to visualise struc charts as computeach wants to see them is thus...

the top square represents the whole program, (or level 1), all subsequent levels representprogressively smaller parts of the program each increasing in detail.

for example if the top(level 1) square represents a print program, then the next level down will contain boxes representing the modules in the program , for example, INITIALIZATION MAIN PROCESS and TERMINATION . these boxes are linked to the box above and appear left to right across the page. Obviously these need elaborating on , so extra detail is added on level 3. In the case of INITIALIZATION then this might be to open the files then initialize any counters in working storage(which may itself be a seperate module,this is ok).
the MAIN PROCESS coding might then contain commands such as PERFORM EDIT-DATA and PERFORM PRINT-ROTINE, on the structure chart these would be on the next level down (level 3 in this example), on branches from the MAIN-PROCESS and appearing from left to right in the order that they are performed in your program, any extra detail in these modules would then be coded shown in the same way, but now linked to the relevant modules and this would form level 4 of the struc chart.You now carry on in this way until you have followed your program until the end.

An important thing to remember is that the structure chart must contain the procedures of your program in THE SAME ORDER as they are performed in the program. this takes the form of left to right across the page, only going down a level when you need to add more detail to the information written in the box.

I'm sorry i can't be more help, but it's not going to be much use for me to try and explain what i know about flow/struc charts here it wsouldn't make much sense , especially without diagrams as aid.

If you are still puzzled, then just write again and try to be a bit more specific about certain areas of the charts even if it takes few more postings it might be easier this way.

by the way if you happen to live in the bournemouth area of the uk by any miraculous chance then let me know and ill pop round and explain it to you in an afternoon!!!

Hope i've been of some small help and have'nt just confused matters more.....don't give up!!!

good luck
jimlee

 

[uplater]

Hi, Jimlee thanks for the reply.
You are very kind to offer personal help, but alas i live too far away to take you up on your offer (Although a house move to your area might be the cheaper option).

Your right about me going over the earlier stages, thats exactly what i've been doing at the moment.

As for Computeach, you will find that when/if you suspend your studies, that in actual fact it is only your end that is suspended, ie, they will stop sending you any correspondance concerning your studies, but the clock ticks on - and your course runs out on the deadline set regardless of your progress.

When this happens you are liable for an additional fee of £150.00 per month until you complete your course!.....Does my panic make more sense now?
regards Uplater.

 

[jimlee]

hi uplater,
bloody hell!!
anything i can do to help, just ask.

regards,
jimlee

 

[uplater]

Hi Jimlee, my e-mail is 'uplater@hotmail.com', if you can e-mail me, - a contact e-mail address for you, i will send you a copy of my work so far, when you have a moment you can glance over it and see if you pick out the errors or perhaps offer some improvements.

Incidentally do you know anyone else doing a Computeach Cobol course whom is succeeding?, because i feel i am getting nowhere, and when i visited Comp on the '2 day in center training course' i was helping other students who were even more behind than me!

Let me know either way.
uplater.

 

[Thane]

I have had several readers of my book contact me who are doing or have done the computeach course. (Book is Sams Teach Yourself COBOL in 24 hours). Back to your original problem -- what did they not like, specifically, about your structure diagram and flow chart?

 

[jimlee]

uplater,
i've sent you my e-mail adress, i'll do my best!

Thane,
what do the readers of your book think of the computeach course? jimlee

 

[uplater]

Hi Thane, the Computeach people did not think I had enough detail in my charts, (and they should know as they are absolute experts at providing study material, with nowhere near enough detail) also my charts did not mirror my program exactly, but as I have mentioned previously there are errors in my program so to me this is academic until the errors are resolved and the program is proven to do what it is suppose to!

 

[jimlee]

uplater,
if you want a free compiler see the thread entitled

free cobol 74 or 85 compiler

posted on 05/17/01. You'll be amazed how much a compiler helps...you need one! jimlee

 

[reklawcj]

I believe your money may be better spent taking a Cobol course where a COMPILER is available. I have programmed in Cobol (a variety) since the 1970's and have also instructed courses in it. I find it difficult to understand how a company would offer the course (curse) you describe without compiler access. Anything for the almighty buck, I guess. If I can help, email me at idnonada@home.com.