Location: [CPSC 333] [Ongoing Examples] [Student Information Systems] Version Six
This page was most recently modified on March 27, 1997
This version of the student information is an extension of Version Four.
Changes are introduced to provide system security. The system is to be used one or more ``registrars'' in a school's administrative office. Each registrar has a (unique) login name, as well as a password and an access level. The value of an ``access level'' will always be a small positive integer.
When someone tries to access this system, she or he is required to supply a login name and the corresponding password. If no authorized user of the system has the given login name, or if the login name is recognized but the password is incorrect, then access to the system is denied. Otherwise, the user will be allowed to view (some) system information and make (some) changes.
Each kind of system operation that the user can request - display of information, addition, deletion, or modification of information, and so on - has an access level required for it. If the user's access level is greater than or equal to the access level required for the operation requested, then the operation will be performed. Otherwise, the system will refuse to perform the operation that has been requested and will return a short error message (saying something like, ``Access Denied.'') instead.
While the system ``knows about'' more than one register, it can only be used by one registrar at a time. That is, if it's being used by one registrar, and a second registrar wishes to use it, then the first registrar must ``log out'' first.
This version of the system also has a more modern, graphical human-computer interface. On system startup, a window is opened so that the user can enter his or her login name and password. If these are accepted the a set of pull down menus appears. The menus have the following titles,
and these can be used to select operations involving registrars' accounts, courses, course sections, registrations of students in courses (including grade information), and students, respectively. As well, the interface is designed in order to avoid requiring a user to type in information when the system can otherwise provide it, to inform the user of errors or problems in a polite and constructive way, and to give the user the opportunity to ``cancel'' operations whenever this is appropriate.
This ``interface'' is incompletely described, but it's sufficient for use in this course. See CPSC 481 for additional information about human computer interface design!
Finally, this version of the system will interact with a data base that provides long term storage of information about students, courses and course sections, and grade information.
Location: [CPSC 333] [Ongoing Examples] [Student Information Systems] [Version Six]