Computer Studies/ ICT

ACCESS A SEQUENTIAL FILE Data stored in a sequential file can read in order and assigned to variables with the following steps: 1.       Choose a number from 1 through 255 to be the reference number of the file. This number is not necessary to be the same number that was used when the file was recorded. 2.       Execute the statement OPEN filename FOR INPUT AS #n Where n is the reference number. This procedure is referred to as opening a file for input. It establishes a communication line between the computer and the disk drive for reading data from the diskette. 3.       Read data from the file with the INPUT* statement. INPUT* statement assigns data from file to variable. INPUT #n. var1, var2, …… 4.       After the desired items have been found or all the data has been read from the file, close the file with the statement CLOSE #n. 5.       Basic function EOF; it tells us if we have reached the end of a file. For example the condition EOF (n) will be true if the en

APPLICATION SOFTWARE Application software is any tool that functions and is operated by the means of a computer with the purpose of supporting or improving the software user’s work. It is used for the implementation of the computer user’s work.  TYPES OF APPLICATION SOFTWARE It is divided into two which are (i) User application software: User – written software tailors system users to meet the user’s specific needs. This includes spread sheet templates, word processor macros, scientific stimulations, graphics, and animation scripts. Users create this software themselves and often overlook how important it is. (ii) Application packages: This is when multiple applications are bundled together as a package. It is also known as application suite. Examples are Microsoft office, Open office.org, and iwork which bundle together a word processor, a spread sheet, and several other discrete applications. The separate applications in a suite usually have some capability to interact wi

HANDLING COMPUTER FILES FILE CONTENTS All information in a file is always in binary form or a series of ones and zeros. A document includes any file you have created. It can be a true text document, sound file, graphics, images, or any other type of information the computer can create, store, or size from the internet. PROGRAM FILES They contain instructions for the computer’s microprocessor and tell the computer what to do. DATA FILES: These include all other files on disk that are not exactly programs or documents. These include support files for programs, temporary files, and other random stuff that must be saved inside the computer. SEMANTICS Although the way programs manipulate files varies according to the operating system and file system involved, the following operations are typical: (i) Creating a file with a given name. (ii) Setting attributes that control operations on the file. (iii) Opening a file to use its content. (iv) Reading or updating the con

COMPUTER SYSTEM SOFTWARE Computer software or simply software is a program that enables a computer to perform a specific task as oppose to the physical components of the system (i.e. hardware). TYPES OF COMPUTER SOFTWARE It can be classified majorly into three: system software, programming, and application software. SYSTEM SOFTWARE System software helps run the computer hardware and computer system. It enables other software to run properly by interfacing with hardware and with other software. It includes operating systems, device drivers, diagnostic tools, server, windows utilities etc. PROGRAMMING SOFTWARE Programming software usually provide tools to assist a programmer in writing computer programs and software using different programming languages in a more convenient way. The tools include text editors, compilers, interpreters, linkers, debuggers and so on. APPLICATION SOFTWARE Application software enables the computer users to perform a task. It allows human t