(Return)

MIS 370 Sample Syllabus

INSTRUCTOR: Wayne Olhoft, 215 Memorial E-MAIL: olhoft@augsburg.edu

OFFICE HOURS: By appointment - usually T,Th after class adjourns at 9:30 a.m.

PHONE: 330-1574 (Aug. off), Fax: 330-1607 481-0033 (home: 8 a.m.-9:30 p.m. please.)

TEXTS:         1. Creating Web Pages from Course Technology, Inc. Photocopied

SUPPLIES: Three 3.5" floppy disks (high density) and an active email account (home or work OK)

OBJECTIVES: The student who successfully completes this course:

1. Understands basic procedures used in event driven programming for application development
2. Demonstrates intermediate skills in using microcomputer hardware and software
3. Solves business-related problems by using application software (Word, Excel and Access) or programming software(Visual Basic) to create macros, event driven code, command buttons, switch boards, text boxes, etc.
4. Understands and can create a WWW home page
5. Can create a multi-table database with a friendly user interface, joins and custom reports

APPROACH: Heavy hands-on use of software while solving typical business problems

AUDIENCE: MIS majors and minors and students interested in advanced features of current business software products. Students should have taken MIS 175 or have equivalent experience.

EVALUATION:

• Projects 65 %
• Final Exam35 %
• Subjective 5 %

Final grades will be determined based on overall percentages as follows:

Projects

WWW Home Page (10%)

Create a personal home page in HTML format using MS Word 97. The lab has a scanner if you want to convert personal photos into digital format. Post your pages on the Web. The site should be debugged and all links working. To learn how to get access and permission to use the Augsburg Web Server go to: http://aug3.augsburg.edu/policies/webpol.html (note the 3 requirements in Personal section). Apply immediately for your space on the server. Fill out and deliver the agreement to the IT desk in the library. Find it at http://aug3.augsburg.edu/policies/personal_form.html. (the address has an underscore in it.)

Your site will be graded on the following criteria while viewing it in a browser and the source HTML.

1. Background image or background color is used on your home page
2. Email address appears on the home page and is a mailto link which launches an email client
3. Snailmail address, phone and fax are on the home page and are assigned the address style
4. Relative links to every page in your site exist and work properly - consider a navigation bar
5. Bookmark links to specific locations on a page exist
6. External links to external URL's are present
7. Title of each page is descriptive of the page’s origin and contents (appears in the title bar)
8. Table is included in your site
9. Image with text wrapping beside it is present
10. Alternative text is provided for all images - if images don't display, this text will
11. Horizontal rule using value attribute pairs is present, e.g., size=15 width=50%
12. Graphical horizontal rule is present
13. Graphical bullets for a list are present
14. SUBJECTIVE by instructor

1. A frames, sound, animation, fill-in form that works, other ?

Access (20%)

Complete all the steps specified for the Finstat Case at the end of the text, pg. AC 1.1. Rename the file with your first name. You will be graded on each instruction step. I will hand out a Tip Sheet. Focus on chapters 5,6,9 and 10. The Tip Sheet refers to specific pages which explain how to create features similar to what is required in the Finstat case.

Submit the project on floppy disk or email it to me as an attachment.

Excel invoice (10%)

Create an automated invoice. I will illustrate how to assemble it and provide a template (copy it from G:\apps\mis\olhoft\excel\370Proj.xls filename spelling may vary!) It will use: functions— sum, vlookup, nested if statements, iserror, and isblank; and names for ranges. Classroom instruction and on-line help will be sufficient for most students. If preferred, buy a text.

1. Date of invoice (using a built-in function that reports today’s date)
2. Use Isblank in Unit Price column to hide errors induced by empty cells (IF function page 7.12)
3. Use Iserror in Extended Price column to hide errors induced by empty cells
4. Data validation: use either criteria, input message or error alert. Shade the cells with a red tint. 7.5
5. Discount your final price based on at least 3 increasing levels of volume.
6. Add Comments to the Discount cell. Display the red marker - Tools| Options| View| Comment Indicator
7. Sales tax rate should appear in only one cell and be named SalesTaxRate (assures 1 step updates)
8. All cells locked but Customer ID, PO #, Invoice #, Qty and Product # (Shade these cells)
9. Protection is turned on for the Invoice sheet (no changes are allowed in cells with formulas) 7.23
10. Header with your name and class name on the printed invoice 2.34
11. Footer with fields: file name, tab name and date 2.34
12. NAMES USED in formulas, not cell addresses: e.g., qty, salestax; tables (Product & Customer) 5.23, 7.10
13. WORKS - BILL TO — Enter Customer ID and the Bill To lines automatically fill (vlookup 8.38)
14. WORKS - PART # — Enter part # and Product Description and Unit Price fill automatically
15. WORKS - EMPTY CELLS — No error messages appear when rows are unused 7.12
16. WORKS - SALES TAX — Enter a mix of taxable (6.5%) and non-taxable products in Vlookup table
17. WORKS - TOTALS — Vertical totals of columns, subtotals and Grand Total all work correctly
18. WORKS - COMMAND BUTTON — runs macro (e.g. clear inputs, print or move to next sheet) 7.28-38
19. SUBJECTIVE — appearance and innovation

Bonus items are advanced features.

1. File on floppy disk
2. Print Invoice with normal values displayed
3. Print Invoice displaying formulas: use Tools| Options| View| Formulas (widen columns as necessary). Use Tools | Options | View | Formulas to display formulas on-screen first.

• The customer should never see an error message. Hide these with the Iserror and Isblank functions.
• Lock cells so clerks don't accidentally erase formulas. After locking, Protection is applied last. 7.23
• Place the sales tax rate in only 1 cell, then it will be easy to update in the future.
• Sales Tax: Some items on your list should be taxable, others not. The rate should appear in only one cell, not in every cell beside each product.
• Naming Ranges: By naming ranges you enjoy the great benefit of not needing to use $ for absolute addresses in formulas and seeing formulas that are easy to understand. Column headers automatically are name ranges. See pages 5.23, 7.10

Visual Basic game or application (20%)

Sample projects are at G:\apps\mis\olhoft\Vb\. The files in the 6 folders should be copied to a local drive first to work correctly. Print the instruction documents (.txt , .doc extensions) for details on the projects.

1. Title in title bar
2. A label (one must contain your name, date and our class name)
3. Image
4. Shape
5. Clock
6. Custom icon appears when form is minimized
7. Multiple forms (the About ... is an easy solution)
8. Documentation - comments are added to code explaining what each code fragment does
9. It’s assumed all the code below works as well as being present!
10. NAMES of objects used in code use 3 character prefixes--see page 2.28
11. OPTION BUTTON CODE USES the status of the 2 of more option buttons
12. CHECK BOX CODE USES the status of the 2 or more check boxes
13. COMBO-BOX CODE USES the selected item of the list-box
14. MENU CODE EXECUTES procedures for every item on the 2 or more menus
15. ERRORS TRAPPED so incorrect data entry alerts the user, e.g., VAL function, Msg Box, Input Box
16. VARIABLES declared
17. DO...LOOP statement used
18. SELECT CASE statement used

Advanced Features List

At least 3 of the following must be present (3 pts each--additional ones earn 3 pts each extra credit):

1. Message Box or Input Box
2. Common Dialog control
3. Timer -- control which is started or stopped by a user-selection; or which triggers an action
4. Pop-up menu
5. Run-time change of menu
6. Changeable image in response to an event
7. String function (Chr, Len, Ucase, etc.)
8. Code which uses the random number generator
9. Other creative features: animation, database, etc.

Other factors influencing grade: ( 3 points each)

1. Code: All controls yield appropriate responses, everything works and user friendly interface!
2. Subjective: Project is fun, interesting or has practical value

1. Printed forms & code but not properties (if Print on menu, include a sample of what it prints)
2. Data disk with ALL files (i.e. .VBP, .FRM, images, etc.)
3. Label which files I am to examine (if needed place in a subdirectory with your first name)
4. Label which 3 items are from the Advanced Features List

* Readings and tutorials are to be done before class.

** Projects are due at the beginning of class unless time has been reserved to answer final questions before we start the next project. Late projects will be docked roughly 25% per class day late. Bonus points are awarded for printed tutorials submitted and can improve your final grade by 8%.

Quick Start Steps

DO BEFORE CLASS BEGINS

• Texts: Purchase the text books at the bookstore and acquire three high density disks. Bookstore phone: 330-1300
• Software: Acquire or get access to: Microsoft Office 97 Professional (Word 8.0, Excel 8.0, Access 8.0). Visual Basic 5.0 comes in several versions. You can download the free Control Creation Edition from Microsoft. See pages v and VB 1.16 in the text. These are the latest versions of each. Seek out educational pricing if you will be buying your own copies for use at home. Try the Augsburg bookstore or vendors on the Web.
• Note that MS Office Standard version does not include Access. To get Access, you must buy Microsoft Office Professional Suite. You may buy standalone copies too. Note that neither suite includes Visual Basic (a lite version of VB may be on a disk in our text - if so, it will be plenty adequate--the Control Creation or Learning Editions)
• Reading: Read the Creating Web Pages (photocopied pages) before you arrive at our first class.
• Type the body copy (text) that you will use in your home pages. Bring it to the first class.
• Surf the Internet to see samples of Web pages (ask the assistant in the Computing Lab (Ground Floor of Foss Center) to show you how to open Netscape if you have never done this before)
• Collect images from the Web that you would like to use on your site. Merely right click with your mouse on the image to bring up the short cut menu and save the image to your floppy disk.
• If you don’t have an email address (at work, home or school), apply for one at the Academic Computing Center in Foss
• Sign and return the Personal Web Page Agreement Form to the library soon. It should be attached. A copy of it is on Augsburg's Web at http://aug3.augsburg.edu/policies/personal_form.html
• This course assumes you have worked with MS Access. If not, at least scan (preferably do) tutorials 1-6 in the Microsoft Access book BEFORE CLASS STARTS. Acquire student files from an Augsburg computer by opening the MIS Files icon on the desktop. Some chapters tend to use files from the Introductory or Brief folders rather than the Comprehensive folder.
• All our work is on Windows 95. If you aren’t familiar with it, spend time using the interface because I assume you already know it.
• This class will be heavily project based. To be successful, it will be easiest if you have completed all required reading before class and are ready to start working on projects during class while I’m around to answer questions.

WEB PAGE PROJECT

When this project is done, you will have personal pages that will be posted on the Web. Many tutorials exist on the Web in addition to the assigned text. Generally, the project flows like this. Draft your resume and any other text you want on your site in a word processor BEFORE CLASS. When you arrive at our first class, we will convert this to HTML format and display it in a Web browser in about 2 minutes (it’s simple!). Next, you will add graphics and links to other sites. Finally, you will compare your work to my checklist in the syllabus and make any final revisions.

Tutorials on Web Page Creation (supplement to the book)

Image Sources

http://www.ender-design.com/rg
http://www.cli.di.unipi.it/iconbrowser/icons.html
http://www.iconbazaar.com/
http://xoom.com/xoom/web_clip_empire

* Every link confirmed 3/19/98. Sometimes links don’t work,  but work fine if copied and pasted directly into the address box of the browser (then press Enter).