Computer Concepts and Applications Spring 2018 A Textbook for CSCI 130 & 150 College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University Noreen Herzfeld and John Miller with contributions from Becca Simon, Josh Trutwin, Andrew Whitford Holey & Lynn Ziegler Table of Contents Page Introduction ..........................................................................................................................v Preface to the Student: Read This To See What You’re Getting Into! Chapter 1: What Computers Do .................................................................................1[1] 1.1 General vs. Special Purpose Computers 1.2 What Computers Do 1.3 Programs and Algorithms 1.4 The History of Computing 1.5 Conclusion Chapter 2: Applications Programming ................................................................... 2[1] 2.1 Higher Level Programming Languages 2.2 Translation Programs 2.3 Algorithms and Program Design 2.4 Steps in Writing a Program 2.5 Object-Oriented Programming 2.6 Conclusion Chapter 3: An Introduction to Visual Basic 2013.................................................3[1] 3.1 Forms and Projects 3.2 Starting Visual Basic and Creating Objects 3.3 Declarations, Assignment Statements, and Order of Precedence 3.4 Writing Code for a Simple VB Project and Saving a VB Project 3.5 Input and Output 3.6 Numeric and String Functions 3.7 Conditional Statements 3.8 Loops 3.9 Using Data Files 3.10 Arrays 3.11 Searching 3.12 Sorting 3.13 Using Multiple Forms 3.14 Writing and Using Your Own VB Functions 3.15 Conclusion Table of Contents Page Chapter 4: Databases: An Introduction to Access 2016 ....................................4[1] 4.1 Basic Database Principles and Features 4.2 Designing a Database 4.3 Creating Tables in Access 2016 4.4 Select Queries 4.5 Advanced Queries 4.6 Forms and Reports 4.7 Relationships between Tables and Relational Queries 4.8 Macros in Access 4.9 Connecting to an Access Database with a VB program 4.10 Conclusion Chapter 5: Spreadsheets: An Introduction to Excel 2016 .................................5[1] 5.1 Introduction to and Uses of spreadsheets 5.2 Entering and Formatting Data 5.3 Cell References, Functions, and Formulas 5.4 Sorting and Conditional Functions 5.5 Graphs and Templates 5.6 Macros 5.7 Example VBA Macros 5.8 Conclusion Chapter 6: How Computers Work: Data Representation ..................................6[1] 6.1 Analog and Digital Signals 6.2 Overview of Computer Design 6.3 Binary Representation of Positive Integers 6.4 Rules of Binary Addition 6.5 Two’s Complement Representation of Positive and Negative Integers 6.6 Floating Point Representation for Real Numbers 6.7 Representing Text and Symbols 6.8 Representing Pictures 6.9 Representing Sound 6.10 Conclusion Chapter 7: The CPU and Machine Language .......................................................7[1] 7.1 The CPU 7.2 The Fetch-Execute Cycle 7.3 Machine Language 7.4 A Simple 8-bit Computer 7.5 Assembly language 7.6 Conclusion Chapter 8: Computer Hardware, Operating Systems and Networks...............8[1] 8.1 Overview of Computer Hardware 8.2 Input and Output 8.3 Auxiliary Storage 8.4 Systems Software 8.5 Operating Systems 8.6 Networks 8.7 Conclusion Chapter 9: Data Manipulation ...........................................................9[1] 9.1 Data Manipulation: Boolean Operations and Circuit Components 9.2 Boolean Expressions, Circuit Diagrams, and Truth Tables 9.3 Simplifying Boolean Expressions 9.4 Designing Circuits 9.5 Conclusion Chapter 10: Social and Legal Issues .....................................................................10[1] 10.1 Privacy 10.2 Security 10.3 Ownership and Copyright Laws 10.4 The Computerization of Society Appendices .........................................................................................................................A[1] A: Visual Basic Reference Guide B: Excel VBA Macro Reference Guide C: Access VBA Macro Reference Guide Introduction: Preface to the Student: Read This to See What You're Getting into! This book is designed for students taking an introductory course in computing at St. John's University and the College of St. Benedict. This course has a dual function. It provides an introduction to computer programming as well as to the major application tools, spreadsheets and databases, while also satisfying the requirements for a natural science course in computer science. It is aimed at students who may take only one computer science course while in college, yet also serves as a first course in computing that can lead to a major or minor in computer science. No previous knowledge of or experience in using computers is assumed, other than the ability to use a word processor to type up lab reports. The goal of this course is to help you become a comfortable and competent user of standard applications, with enough knowledge to further your computer skills on your own while also providing a foundation for further study in computer science. The material covered in this book falls into three sections. The first section of the book provides an introduction to the programming process. Computers do not function without software, or programs. Although few of you will become computer programmers, knowing how programs are designed and written will help you better use programs or direct others who do so. In a business or personal setting you will be better equipped to decide when to purchase programs and when to ask for custom designed programs and you will know what sorts of things are possible and impossible for a program to do. To illustrate the basics of programming, this book uses Visual Basic 2013, a widely used programming language for both business and personal use. A second reason for introducing you to Visual Basic is that a version of Visual Basic, VBA, underlies the programs in Microsoft Office. Thus, knowledge of Visual Basic allows you to write your own macros to tailor spreadsheets and databases to your own particular needs. The second section presents the two applications of the computer most commonly used in a business setting, spreadsheets and databases. The material in this section will equip you not only to use both Excel 2016 and Access 2016 in standard applications, but also to write simple programs and macros in VBA, allowing you to go beyond the functions built into these packages and to tailor applications to specific needs. While we will not cover all of the options available in these application programs, by the end of this book, you should have sufficient command of the vocabulary and understanding of the workings of these applications to be able to further your knowledge on your own. What you don't learn in this course you should be able to look up in a reference book or in on-line help pages as you need it. v The third section explains how computers store and manipulate data. The purpose of this section is to describe the workings of the computer in sufficient detail to demystify what goes on inside the machine. Knowledge of how computers function will help you understand why you can and cannot do certain things when you work with computers. It will also help to know the basic components of a computer system when you purchase and work with computers in the future, or when you communicate with those who provide you with computer support. Finally, this book provides extensive reference sheets in the appendices, so that you can look up how to do things as you need them in laboratory exercises or in working on your own projects. Examples of programs, spreadsheets, and databases will be available on-line and your instructor will give you directions on how to access them. A basic understanding of how computers work and how to use standard business applications is virtually a necessity in today's world. Acquiring this basis will increase your flexibility and give you the skills to better organize and analyze data, as well as meeting future job requirements. I also hope that you will find the process of gaining new skills and designing computer applications can be both rewarding and fun. vi Chapter 1 What Computers Do 1.1 General vs. Special Purpose Computers You have all had experience using computers. You may have worked with computers in school or at work and even done some programming. You've probably surfed the Internet and played a computer game or two. You may have downloaded music or pictures. These are the applications we all immediately think of when we think of computers. The machines we use to accomplish these tasks range from a notebook or laptop computer to a desktop machine, to a much larger mainframe computer at a business or school. These machines generally have a variety of programs on them and can do different things depending on which program we choose to run. Thus, they are called general-purpose computers. What you may not realize is the number of other computers that you work with on a day to day basis. There are computers embedded in virtually every appliance these days, from your car to your microwave to your DVD player. These are special purpose computers, designed and programmed to do one specific task. There are also computers running the infrastructure of our society. Computers are integral to banking, merchandising, transportation, and the financial and inventory apparatuses of most businesses. They also control the phone network and the light, water, and sewage grids. Thus, each of us comes in contact, both directly and indirectly, with many computers in the course of most days. Advances in the technology of silicon chips, which have made computers both smaller and less expensive, together with the development of sophisticated computer software have allowed computers the flexibility and power to become an integral part of our lives. Thus, although we first think of general purpose machines when we think about or hear of computers, it is important to remember that the majority of computers that are manufactured and with which we come into contact are special purpose computers.