Category Archives: Computing Higher

1. Computer Systems, 2. Software Development, Computing Higher, Homework, Revision

Week 2

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Week Beginning Computer Systems Software Development
1 – 3/12/12 Data Representation The Need for the Software Development Process
2 – 10/12/12 Computer Structure Features of Software Development Process
3 – 17/12/12 Computer Performance Tools and techniques
4 – 24/12/12 Peripherals Personnel
5 – 31/12/12 Networking Languages and Environments
6 – 7/1/13 Using Networks High Level Language Constructs 1
7 – 14/1/13 Computer Software High Level Language Constructs 2
8 – 21/1/13 Dealing with Viruses Procedures, Functions and Standard Algorithms
9 – 28/1/13 End of Unit Test End of Unit Test
1. Computer Systems, 2. Software Development, Computing Higher, Homework, Revision

Week 1

Week Beginning Computer Systems Software Development
1 – 3/12/12 Data Representation The Need for the Software Development Process
2 – 10/12/12 Computer Structure Features of Software Development Process
3 – 17/12/12 Computer Performance Tools and techniques
4 – 24/12/12 Peripherals Personnel
5 – 31/12/12 Networking Languages and Environments
6 – 7/1/13 Using Networks High Level Language Constructs 1
7 – 14/1/13 Computer Software High Level Language Constructs 2
8 – 21/1/13 Dealing with Viruses Procedures, Functions and Standard Algorithms
9 – 28/1/13 End of Unit Test End of Unit Test
2. Software Development, Computing Higher

Parameter Passing

We started of with SQA 2008 Q 1,3,&4 for a bit of revision.

Working with the program from last week we explored the concept and implementation of procedures (subprograms).

A procedure is a sub program with it own variables and routines, it is called from the main program with a procedural call and created by a procedural

A local variable is used within subprograms and is not passed back to the main program, this makes its domain the sub program.

A global variable is used when a piece of data needs to be seen in all sub programs, its domain is then the whole program. This is very bad programming form and should not be used.

Parameter passing allows the programmer to pass variables both in to and out of a sub program.

  • By value (ByVal) is used for input when the programmer does not want the subprogram to change the contents of the variable. The name comes from VB passing only the value of the variable.
  • By reference (ByRef)  is used for output when the programmer wants to get data from the subprogram.  The name comes from VB passing the memory reference of the variable and therefor allows the subprogram to directly edit it.

The picture above is the final program we created you can find the code Here