31 August 2008
Check here for a Revision test for the upcoming exam. It covers elements of the software development cycle (expect to need to know more in the exam), plus arrays and records, variable scope, and algorithm desk-checking. Possible solution is here.
19 August 2008
Turn this board game into a Delphi game. Why? No reason, just looks like a fun exercise. Go through the entire software development cycle on this one - from problem definition (boundaries/limits, users etc) to evaluation (process and program), and of course, documentation. Seriously, if I'd found this earlier, we'd be doing this in class. Converting any kind of board game would be an excellent way to develop your Delphi (or any other OOP language) skills. Think Monopoly. The entire game board - 40 squares - a one-dimensional array. Each board location is an element of the array. However, they are not all similar. Some are streets, some are utilities, some are transport, some are tax… how could you take this into account when you set up your array? Would you use records? How would you present your game on screen? How would a game made for beginners differ to a game intended for a serious player? Would a hardcore Monopoly player care about seeing the board at all? Anyway, I digress. Have a look at the safety first game and jot down the inputs, processing and outputs it requires.
18 August 2008
Here is an example of a program that combines arrays and records to simulate a 3x4 grid map (398Kb - right click and save as). The same concept and design can be used for a much larger grid, eg 100x100. You simply need to set the properties for each location within a map setup procedure.
16 August 2008
Just came across these links for a language reference for Delphi and a Teach Yourself Delphi in 21 days tutorial type book.
5 August 2008
Need to practice implementing timers for your program? Try to duplicate or improve upon this example (virtual pet) program (right-click and save as - 376Kb) which uses 4 timers, which run simultaneously.
23 July 2008
The textbook features exercises on both arrays and records, however does not offer any exercises on multidimensional arrays. So, write a Delphi program allowing a user to enter 4 names and 3 scores for each name then output the names to a memo after all data has been entered. Use a multidimensional array to store the data and use the InputBox function to read the data from the user. You should make use of nested loops (loops within loops) in your program as demonstrated in the following section of algorithm:
FOR x = 1 TO 4 DO
READ name [x]
FOR y = 1 TO 3 DO
READ score[x,y]
END DO
END DO
As you can see, the above algorithm utilises both a single-dimension array (name) and a multidimension array (score). Remember, think of the multidimensional array as being structured like a grid.
7 July 2008
The site http://www.festra.com/ has some Delphi tutorials as well as discussion forum and more, this one claims that jumping into the deep end is a good thing and starts you knee deep in procedures and more complicated stuff… doesn't work for me, but see how you go : )
8 June 2008
- A good exercise in combining randomisation, FOR loops and IF statements is this coin flip simulation program (380Kb - right-click and Save As). See if you can duplicate its actions. Hint: the two output boxes are Memos. You need to add a line to the first with each iteration of the loop, and refer to the line by its line number, starting with zero. You may also need to make space for added text using the Lines property.
5 June 2008
- Referring again to Nassi-Schneiderman Diagrams, a question was raised the other day how to represent a CASE OF sequence. Check out this example, a rough conceptualisation. NSD editor has a CASE OF function, however it's always disabled for some reason.
4 June 2008
- Check out this link for an NSD (Nassi Schniederman Diagram) editor. Works just like the flowchart editor you used for that flowchart homework…. if you did it (and used an editor). As an added bonus, if you can read german, you can understand the documentation that comes with it. Seriously, it is worth looking at as NSDs are quite simple to read and write once you overcome your fear of boxes.
19 May 2008
- Reports are that the following link has a solution to running Delphi on Vista: http://www.drbob42.com/examines/examin84.htm
- In a spare 20 mins, I've created this dice rolling program (337Kb - right-click and Save As), which I'll be using in another class. See if you can duplicate its actions. Hint: There are many events you need to work with.
- Spare hour? Try this revision test, which covers some algorithm and Delphi content that we've worked on over the last month. Don't peek at it's solution until you have attempted all that you can.
15 April 2008
Research articles for year 11 writing task are as follows:
The effect of video games on children: what parents need to know
By Douglas A Gentile
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0816/is_/ai_n9772319
Cyber bullying: An old problem in a new guise?
By Marilyn A Campbell
http://eprints.qut.edu.au/archive/00001925/01/1925.pdf
When hacking is ethical
By Terry Thomas
http://www.grcoatley.mcc.education.nsw.gov.au/ipt_website/11_ethical_considerations/ethical_hacking.htm
Who are the pirates? The politics of piracy, poverty, and greed in a globalized music market
By Jack Bishop
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2822/is_1_27/ai_n6075277
Read My Mail, Please: The silly privacy fears about Google's e-mail service
By Paul Boutin
http://www.slate.com/id/2098946/
CyberInsecurity: The Cost of Monopoly. How the Dominance of Microsoft's Products Poses a Risk to Security
By Daniel Geer, et al
http://cryptome.org/cyberinsecurity.htm
26 March 2008
Here are 3 websites that have their own Delphi tutorials.
http://delphi.about.com/od/beginners/l/aa040902a.htm
http://www.festra.com/eng/index.html
http://www.delphibasics.co.uk/
The last one in particular contains some good info on the theory behind things like data types, memory, inheritance. Well worth a read from time to time.
12 March 2008
Hooray! I've finally tracked down a free version of Delphi. It is the same as the one we are using in class. Download from http://mirrors.jx90.com/ (opens in new window) the file called Delphi_7_Personal.zip (53 Mb). It is the installation CD of Delphi 7 Personal edition, it needs to be unzipped to a folder (be sure when you extract it that it creates subfolders) and installed from there. After installing you need to go through the registration process, which includes keying in the serial number and product key that is found in this file - right click and save as, in addition to this when you are asked to register and you have four options (the last one being 'register later' you must choose the third option (register using an activation file or something) and then locate reg119.txt to complete the installation process. The 'register later' option does not let you start Delphi so you must complete the process this way. Alternatively, you can set up your own user account (free of course) on http://cc.codegear.com/free/delphi and be emailed your own registration info. NOTE THAT THIS VERSION OF DELPHI WILL NOT WORK WITH WINDOWS VISTA. Surprise, surprise… yet another reason to stick with XP.
I would highly recommend you install Delphi on your PC at home as you will soon be given programming homework to complete. 3 1/2 hours per week is nowhere near enough programming experience - you learn best at your own pace, not when I am breathing down your neck saying 'finish this or you miss lunch'!
6 March 2008
This exercise is an introduction to Delphi's standard components. Components are a type of object, which you place on forms so that the user can interact with your program.
25 February 2008
This delphi program (zipped file) is the program that is referred to in Activity 1.1 in the textbook Algorithms, Programming and Delphi. It is available on www.edit.net.au which is the official site of the author/publisher. I make this copy here in case we cannot access that website at school.
17 February 2008
This website allows you to convert between binary and decimal - useful for checking your answers to revision questions or homework.
This website allows you to add binary numbers together and see your answer in either binary or decimal - also useful for checking your answers to revision questions or homework.
13 February 2008
This program called easysim (zip file - 334kb) allows you to design and even test logic circuits. There's a help file in there. Try one by simply placing a NOT, with the yellow circle (with a cross in it) as the output, then put a switch (the icon with the two triangles and a 1 and 0) on the input end and then click the power button. Then, click on your switch (changes from 0 to 1) and watch the output change. Then try a bigger circuit with ANDs, ORs and NOTs, and test out all the possible combinations, checking against your truth table.
12 February 2008
Check out the following Harvard link for additional resources (such as video clips, podcasts, pdfs) on a whole lot of computer-related content. Warning - the file sizes are not given, apparently some of the video content is up around 200Mb.
http://www.fas.harvard.edu/%7Ecscie1/?page=podcast&type=static