Appendix 5: Content Overview of the Book

"Programming in QBasic for Engineering Technology"


by Kenneth A. Craven
ISBN 0136227481



INTENDED AUDIENCE

Suitable for introductory undergraduate courses in programming for engineering technology students.


BASIC APPROACH

Challenging but not overwhelmingly so, this focused text uses BASIC to teach the fundamentals of computer programming. It clearly explains fundamental data types, data structures, control structures, and programming techniques. It requires no prior experience with computers. It is written from an engineering point of view, but it requires no knowledge of engineering principles.


FEATURES

Offers an accessible learning experience for the beginner, with a concise and conversational writing style. Explanations of programming concepts are easy to understand. Examples illustrate every concept.

Takes a contemporary approach. It avoids outdated features (such as line numbers and GOSUB) of older versions of BASIC, and emphasizes contemporary features (such as structured programming and subroutines with parameter passing) that are available with QBASIC, and QBASIC is free.

Uses examples and exercises that will interest engineering technology students. Engineering ideas are explained clearly as they come up.

Is self-contained. In addition to covering programming concepts and techniques, the book presents a concise explanation of all DOS concepts that the student will need, and reviews all required mathematics.

Uses example and exercise "threads" to introduce new programming concepts by applying them to familiar applications.

Contains numerous case studies to highlight important applications of programming concepts and techniques.


CONTENTS

  • BEFORE YOU BEGIN: Where to get QBASIC without charge; Mathematics used in this text
  • COMPUTER SYSTEMS: Central components; Peripheral devices; Examples of computer systems; Exercises
  • DISK OPERATING SYSTEM: Disk storage: drives and files; Directories and subdirectories; File specifications; DOS commands; Default drive and directory; DOS prompt; DOS help command; Some important operations using DOS; Exercise
  • COMPUTER PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES: Low-level instructions; High-level instructions; Computer programming languages; Syntax and semantics; Syntax specifications - an example from QBASIC; Semantics - an example from QBASIC; Examining a QBASIC statement; Language translators; Exercises
  • THE QBASIC SYSTEM: Starting QBASIC and the QBASIC screen; Pull-down menus; The file menu; Saving programs to disk or diskette; Creating a new program; Retrieving an existing program; Running a program; Typing a program; Listing a program; Exercises
  • PROGRAMMING FUNDAMENTALS: Sequential processing; Data: constant and variable; Variables; Entering numbers; Mathematical expressions; Operator hierarchy; Changing the hierarchy of operations; Assignment statements; Input from the keyboard; Clearing the screen; Output to the monitor; Output to the printer; Example program; Exercises
  • MORE PROGRAMMING FUNDAMENTALS: Remark statements; Program headers; Choosing good variable names; Data types; Built-in functions; Improving the appearance of output; Exercises
  • TESTING AND DEBUGGING: Testing; Debugging; Exercises
  • CONDITIONS AND BRANCHING: Conditions; Logical variables; assignment of logical values; Branching Statements; Examples; Exercises
  • COUNTED LOOPS USING FOR-NEXT: What a loop is; Where to decide whether or not to loop again; An example of looping; Structure of a counted loop; The FOR-NEXT statement; Example program; FOR-NEXT considerations; Exercises
  • FLOWCHARTS: Flowchart shapes; Flowcharts for decisions; Flowcharts for loops; Exercises
  • COMPOUND STATEMENTS: IF-THEN compound statements; Nested IF-THEN statements; Nested IF-THEN or IF-THEN-ELSEIF?; Indenting nested statements; Nested FOR-NEXT statements; Exercises
  • TOP-DOWN PROGRAM DESIGN: Flowcharts in top-down design; Top-down design by example; Exercises
  • CASE STUDY: QUALITY ASSURANCE: Case study: quality assurance; Exercises
  • ANALYZING LARGE AMOUNTS OF DATA: Large amounts of stored data; String Variables; Data and READ statements; RESTORE statements; Application: finding the maximum value; Application: speeding up the calculation of combinations; Exercises
  • CASE STUDIES: ANALYZING LARGE AMOUNTS OF DATA: Mean and standard deviation; Linear Regression; Exercises
  • NON-COUNTED LOOPS: Limitation of counted loops; The DO-LOOP statement; DO loops: setting and changing conditions; Flowchart symbols for DO statements; Examples with DO statements; Exercises
  • CASE STUDIES: NON-COUNTED LOOPS: Audio speaker resonance; Summing a series; Searching for information; Exercises
  • SEQUENTIAL PROCESSING OF FILES: Files and records; Building a data file; Reading data from a file; Exercises
  • RANDOM ACCESS WITH ARRAYS: Arrays; Dimensioning arrays; Application: calculating an average; Application: speeding up calculation of combinations; Application: data in parallel arrays; Exercises
  • CASE STUDY: SORTING: Insertion sort: numerical values; Insertion sort: alphanumeric values; Selection sort; Exercises
  • USER-DEFINED FUNCTIONS: Built-in functions; User-defined functions; Exercises
  • SUBROUTINES AND MODULAR PROGRAMS: Subroutines; Examples; Editing a subroutine; Incorporating subroutines into the main program; Modular programs; Exercises
  • GRAPHICS: LINES AND LINE GRAPHS: Types of monitors; Setting the graphics mode; Setting up a coordinate system; Setting default colors; Drawing lines; Adding text to a graphics screen; Exercises
  • GRAPHICS: SHAPES AND CURVED GRAPHS: Rectangles; Circles, ellipses and arcs; Irregular shapes; Duplicating figures; Exercises
  • ANIMATION AND SIMULATION: Animation; Simulation; Exercises
  • MATHEMATICS REVIEW: Variables; Powers; Roots; Exponents; Scientific notation; Logarithms; Functions and graphs; The number Pi; Measurement of angles; Right triangle trigonometry


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