May 25

This week the work we did continued on our knowledge of arrays and also expanded into animation. The work we did on arrays was to finish up our lottery array. The work I did on my project was to re program it so the functions weren't conducted when you input the number of lottery tickets, but instead it was conducted when you wanted information on that specific function. I ran into a small amount of problems doing that, but they were all resolved and I got a perfect mark. For animation we made programs that allowed you to move a picture left, right and up and down and well as shrink and enlarge the image.

I have no work left remaining for this week but I would like to do some work on my own and combine the two programs so that I could have a program that can move the pictures left, right, up and down as well as being able to shrink and enlarge them if they are clicked.

The problems that I encountered this week were centered around making the lottery array program run functions only when they were clicked and not when the number of tickets was input. I had difficulty with this because the program would include "-1" which all the array was initialized to in some of its calculations. I fixed this problem by making the program end the loop after all the "used" days have been taken into account for calculations.

This week the work I accomplished was centered around arrays. We used arrays to make programs easier to make variables for, by using an array to number variables in correspondance with our for...next loops. We made programs that functioned based on using 9 number created by our arrays and used functiosn to modify them. We also changed our SIN number programs so it worked using an array.

The work I have remaining for next week is the programs that takes 20 numbers from the user and orders them in ascending or descending order. This program will pose only some difficulty to determine the most effective way of arranging the number in order.

I only ecnountered minor problems this week with my programs, mainly involing clearing the Initial and Reult arrays to wipe clean when chaning the contents so it doen't stack after one another so you can't see your current Initial and current Reult arrays. I fixed this problem by making the fields reset when the button is clicked.

On a sadder note, all of us at Lorne Park mourn the passing of Manny Castillo.

Weekly Status Report #7

This week the work I accomplished still involves loops, in particular exit for, which allows the user of a program to end that program early if the enter a particular string, which will exit a loop and then continue with the rest of the program after the loop has ended. We wrote 2 programs which used exit for, one simply for calculating the average of 10 marks, which could be ended early by typing "-1" and one program which randomized a number and gave you 8 tries to guess it, and it would exit for if you guessed it correctly, otherwise you continue until you guess expired. We also did a report on different possible jobs that one could get if they pursued this type of work for their future.

The work I have remaining is still the unfinished loops programs from 2 weeks ago, because this week the student hard drives couldn't load saved programs from Visual Basic, thus I was unable to access and finish them. My goals for next week thus still include finishing those 2 programs and doing some work on my new loop programs to try and ad extra features to it to expand my knowledge of exit for statements.

I didn't encounter many problems this week, in fact the only real problem I encountered shouldn't have been a problem in the first place. When we started working on our second exit for program I didn't know how to generate random numbers. So I used the help feature and Google to try and figure out how to do so, when in fact the code for it was written on the problem sheet. So I was told that this was the case and my problem was solved.

Weekly Status Report #6

This week, the work I accomplished was writing many loop programs which taught us how to program loops, how to track the variables as the loop progressed and how to understand the function of loops as they work. I wrote 7 programs that involved loops to solve simple problems such as adding all the numbers from 1 to 10 and outputting the sum, to displaying the factorial value of all numbers up to a given number, and determining whether a number was prime or not. The next set of work we did was learning how to track variables through some debug functions. I had already learned how to use the functions to debug, and learning that they had an alternate use was helpful.

I have a few programs to finish up next week, the factorial and prime numbers ones are the programs that stumped me. Other than those 2 programs, I finished all of this weeks work. My goals for next week are to finish those 2 programs and then learn another type of loo[p function as described on the outline sheet. I also want to try and learn some more loop functions independent of the outline classes for loops.

The problems I encountered this week were few, mainly surrounding the two programs that I didn't finish. I am having trouble coming up with the code to find the factorial of a number as well as finding the code by using loops to determine wether or not a number is prime. These are problems I will have to solve next week as determined by my goals remaining.

Weekly Status Report #5

This week was very clear and defined in the sense of what I wanted to accomplish, and what I did accomplish. At the beginning of the week, after our lesson, we were given an assignment on developing a payroll for a sales person at a coffee shop. My goal was to finish this program early, because I expected some bonus portion to be added as usual. This program had some inherent difficulty as we need to use CASE and IF...THEN statements to complete it. Despite the difficulty, I accomplished my goal of completing it early. This was also the only work we had for the week, which was obviously accomplished as well.

I have no work remaining from the week, as by completing the normal assignment combined with the bonus, I have finished all of this week's work. The bonus assignment which I also completed added some difficulty, but that was overcome in ways I shall explain in the challenges portion of this report. The bonus assignment was basically to add a menu, in which the user could input the hourly rates and tax rates, however, this was to be done using a Dialog Box. After the lesson and some help from friends, I managed to complete the bonus.

The difficulties I encountered this week were figuring out how to effectivley code the first part of the assignment and then successfully add in the bonus material. The bonus material was difficult because when trying to transfer information from the dialog box to the main form, everything transfered as "0". However, this was due to a typo, so overcoming this obstacle wasn't overtly difficult.


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Weekly Status Report #4

This week, I accomplished some significant work in both the realm of programming and preparation for the literacy test. Programming wise, I learned how input and read information from a Track Bar, and use it to complete a program all based around that input. That program also helped me accomplish come outside learning, by doing the extra portion. I learned how to change the colour of the program WHILE it was running, based on a variety of conditions. Preparing for the literacy test was all about Wednesday, when the teacher was absent. We were given an assignment to write an essay on web awareness, and I believe I did it quite well. I covered a variety of dangers and how to avoid them and also covered the advantages of the Internet.

My future goals include learning how to use other features (such as the Track Bar) to accomplish the same function my text boxes have been. Basically, I want to be able to utilize more aspects of the programs to gain input from the user. The work remaining from this week is limited, I need to modify my current program, the string program, so that all of the functions work correctly, and so that less errors occur is improper input is given.

The major challenge I faced this week was learning how to use a List Box. I knew how to create, move and add objects to the list box but I didn't know how to select the options to use them in my code. The way I went around solving this was to first try and define every option in the List Box. However, I couldn't figure out how to do this after a lot of time, so I asked a friend for help. Unfortunately, he was having the same problem. So, I resulted in asking the teacher for assistance, and after I was told what to do, it did seem really obvious.


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Weekly Status Report #3

The skills that I learned this week were all centered around Visual Basic. We got our first real taste at programming with it, and so far I have to say I've enjoyed it immensely. I learned how to do a few basic functions such as creating buttons, taking input from the user, and then using that input to preform a variety of mathematical functions, such as figuring out sums, products, averages and similar functions. The work I completed involved creating buttons, text boxes and applying the problem solving method, and flow charts and coverting it into code that Visual Basic could use. I completed 4 problems that used simple mathematical functions. We then learned about decision makingm and I completed 4 problems that involved decision making.

I have no work remaining from this week but I plan to try and work ahead, experimenting with the program to try and learn some of the functions of certain aspects of the Visual Basic program. I would like to be able to eventually create a program that I myself could actually use everyday at home, or once in a while. I know this will require a vast amount of work on my part to succesfully learn all I can and more from this class, but I am more than up to the challenge. My objectives for next will include downloading this program at home for potential personal programming, or school related use, and to learn how to do some programming on my own.

The problems that I encountered this week were all programming related, and I solved them by using the program, seeing what caused the error, and trying to rearrange the code, define more variables that were missing, or correct typos. Using this and the online "Help" feature I was able to overcome any issues I encountered, sometimes by consulting friends that were working around me. Overall, this was a very imformative and productive week.


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