Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
which would account for the new transaction possibility. I would then check the pointer
and if it was 2, I would increase it by 2 and then proceed. In this way I would still have
available all the possible values I had originally as well as the
010.
Thus I added logic but didn't have to increase the size of the variable, which I couldn't do
anyway.
I talked about adding a read to the zip code file but also mentioned that the added
read of the new file could result in a slightly longer run time. This could be remedied by
storing the city and state on the account file even though it could also be found on the zip
code file. If this still caused a problem because of the lack of space, I suggested putting
the zip code data into a more easily available table, which would mean less time needed
for file access since you wouldn't have to read the zip code file, and less space required
on the account file since you wouldn't have to store city and state on it. In making any of
these decisions, you need a good knowledge of the capabilities of your system as well as
what your options are.
You will run into challenges of all sorts despite the improvements of computers in
what they can do and how fast they can do it. No matter what you do, you may not be able
to speed up some process, especially if it depends on reading a file. You will have to
make some decisions such as getting rid of old records by moving them to a history file
and that could save you some time. This would mean less file access and it might save the
day for you. Another consideration may be to change the way the file is accessed. This
may not work so you will have to come upon another solution. Despite the speed of
today's computers, it still will take some time if you have to read through 10,000,000
records.
Some time ago I added logic to a program to do some type of string manipulation
using some keyword. I forgot what it was or involved but I do remember that it took a
great deal more time than I wanted it to despite the fact that it worked. I spent some time
thinking about it and tried another method to get the same results. It also worked and
fortunately only took a fraction of the time of the initial approach. You will run into
situations just like these and your brain will be challenged.
As you know, there are many different ways in the world of PCs to accomplish a
given task. That is true in programming, as I have already pointed out. The question
might be what is the best way to accomplish a specific task? Obviously if you can do it by
a simple process and keep the user happy as well as provide a program that is easily
maintained, you have found the best way to get the job done. As you might guess, all
three of these may not always be done together. So if you have a chance to provide
someone who requested a program more than she wanted and at the same time the
program can be easily maintained as well as not that much of a headache in producing, all
the better. Intelligence and consideration are necessary.
Recall not too long ago I mentioned that the update program would not allow for
changing an account number as that would be done by a deletion and an add. Since
people close accounts out every so often, we will still need to be able to delete an
account. Once we have added that functionality along with that of adding an account,
which we shall get to shortly, we will have all we need to maintain the account file.
