Timetable Project

[hiyamwah]

Hi,This is my problem which my work want me to solve:

This system is intended to provide the school timetabler with information to support his/her timetabling activities. Please note it is not expected to schedule classes. The information required are the programmes, the core and option modules for each programme, the activities (lecture, seminar, lab etc) connected with each module, the available rooms and their type and the module leaders. Some level 3 and masters modules are run together. The system should tell the user when this is the case. Module and module leaders in the system may have some constraints attached. For example “Staff member X does not teach on Tuesdays” or “Module Y must have 6th floor labs”. Information required includes the number of credits for each module, whether it is one semester long or all year long, which semester it runs and which student sets take the module (either as core or option).Room information should include its size (how many students it takes), it’s type, its condition (i.e. walls falling down, freezing cold, noisy) and its resources (internet connection, overhead projector white/black board, amplification system). Programme information should include the level, name of the programme and the associated modules.
The output should be text based. No graphical interface is required. You may use any libray classes you feel necessary. It is recommended you create a text file for data input (rather than typing in each time you test the program). You do not need to test the system with complete data from the school. Just use one or two programmes. You can make these up. They do not have to be an accurate reflection of the schools programmes and modules.
Examples of use
1: Input: program name Output: list of core and option modules.
2: Input: module name Output: module leader, activities, credits, when run, constraints
3: Input: activity name Output: room(s)
4: Input room number Output size, condition, available resources
5: Input module leader Output constraints

This is what my work want me to do:

(i)Examine the Timetable Information System System problem and, using object-oriented principles, identify the main objects and classes within it.
(ii)Develop a UML class diagram showing classes, relationships, attributes and methods.
(iii)Develop a well-commented Java program to implement the design, using appropriate class structures and hierarchies.
(iv)Test your implementation with suitable test data.
(v)Write a short report (about 1 A4 side) critically appraising the methods used for design and implementation.

I have to also use a software called ArgoUML & Blue J

I need help with the first part as i am really stuck

Thanks

[JosAH]

I need help with the first part as i am really stuck

Even inserting a few empty lines here and there in that blob of text might help: i.e.
try to describe one requirement in one paragraph of text.

kind regards,

Jos

[hiyamwah]

Hi I need help with this part please:

(i)Examine the Timetable Information System System problem and, using object-oriented principles, identify the main objects and classes within it.

Thanks

[JosAH]

Hi I need help with this part please:

(i)Examine the Timetable Information System System problem and, using object-oriented principles, identify the main objects and classes within it.

Thanks

Read the text and try to understand it; next mark the nouns in those sentences;
they are most likely the classes in your Java program. Next mark the verbs; they
are most likely the methods in those classes. Try that first.

kind regards,

Jos

[hiyamwah]

Hi,

Could you give me an example or two then i can have a go and let you know if i am on the right track

Thanks

[hiyamwah]

Hi can someone help me becuase i have read the text and i am still stuck on the first question could someone give me a little help

Thanks

[hiyamwah]

Hi Jos could you help me because i have done what you said and still i dont get it. Could you possibly help me please

Thanks

[JosAH]

Hi Jos could you help me because i have done what you said and still i dont get it. Could you possibly help me please

Thanks

Have you written down the nouns from that little story and the verbs that come with them?
The nouns are the classes in your system and the verbs indicate what the methods
in those classes are supposed to be.

kind regards,

Jos

[hiyamwah]

Hi Jos,

Could you give me an example of each from my problem, so i know what i am looking for

Thanks

[hiyamwah]

Hi for my nouns i came up with:

Program
Module
Room
Resources
Activities
Program Leader

[JosAH]

Hi Jos,

Could you give me an example of each from my problem, so i know what i am looking for

Thanks

Ok, here's the first part of the text:

" The information required are the programmes, the core and option modules
for each programme, the activities (lecture, seminar, lab etc) connected with
each module"

I can find the following relevant nouns here: Programme, Module, Activity;
also the following verbs are important: connected.

So a Programme *has a* Module (zero or more); a Module *has a* Activity.
An Activity *is a* lectures, seminars, labs etc.

The nouns and verbs are first attempts for classes:

[code=java]
public class Programme {
private List<Module> modules= new ArrayList<Modul e>();
...
}
public class Module {
private List<Activity>a ctivities= new ArrayList<Activ ity>();
public void connect(Activit y activity) { ... }
...
}
public abstract class Activity { ... }
public class Lecture extends Activity { ... }
public class Seminar extends Activity { ... }
public class Lab extends Activity { ... }
[/code]

If you read that text closely enough you'll find more potential methods and classes.

kind regards,

Jos

[hiyamwah]

Are the other nouns i found correct or are there more? nouns than the ones i have listed?

[JosAH]

Are the other nouns i found correct or are there more? nouns than the ones i have listed?

As far as I can see those nouns are fine. Simply give it a try; that nouns/verbs
trick gives you a first class population almost for free (don't forget the verbs!).
When you start designing your classes, based on those nouns and verbs (those
are the methods) you find out soon enough which of the nouns and/or verbs are
redundant or need some change.

kind regards,

Jos

[hiyamwah]

OK Thanks Alot for your help Jos, i will proberly ask you at a later stage for some help if i get stuck. So are my nouns and verbs fine then? Can you find any more?

Thanks Again

[JosAH]

OK Thanks Alot for your help Jos, i will proberly ask you at a later stage for some help if i get stuck. So are my nouns and verbs fine then? Can you find any more?

Thanks Again

Don't be too worried about that; i.e. you'll find them later when a deficiency in your
class forest doesn't do the job. Look at those sentences as in:

"Actor acts_on Actee".

You're interested in the Actor and Actee (they're the potential classes) and the
verb "acts_on" is a method in the Actor class that acts on an Actee (if present).
Don't overcomplicate your design; there's no need to add every little noun or
verb in your design; you can add them later if needed.

kind regards,

Jos