New Jersey Institute of Technology College of Computing Sciences CIS365: File Structures and Management Richard Egan
A Public Research University

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Syllabus

- CIS 113; or CIS 213; or 100-level GUR course in CIS

Course Description

CIS365 covers an important topic for companies with large amounts of information which must be accessed effectively; the organization and management of data and files. We shall discuss file operations and organizations such as sequential access, relative access, indexed sequential access, VSAM and multi-key access methods. These methods underlie many of the concepts and techniques used in database systems. Thus, in addition to its practical applications, the material in this course provides a solid foundation for future studies in database.

We use the COBOL language to illustrate the course's concepts and to implement systems that incorporate them. COBOL is (still) the primary computer language of business systems today. While the core of the class is the file organization concepts, we also will learn COBOL throughout the semester so we can actually use these file access techniques without having to write the underlying access code.

Textbooks

• Nancy Stern, Robert Stern and James Ley, "COBOL for the 21st Century," 2003. Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., ISBN: 0-471-07321-0
  We shall be using this text to learn COBOL.
  
  The latest version in the bookstore is packaged with Microfocus' Net Express Cobol Compiler University Edition v4.0. This is the compiler we will be using
  
• Optional, copy in Library: Yuksel Uckan, "Application Programming and File Processing in COBOL"
  This text covers in depth file organization concepts.
  
  This is a special version with chapters selected from the full text, which currently is out of print. You may have access to some of the out-of-print versions:
  • Uckan, "Application Programming and File Processing in COBOL," Publisher: D.C. Heath and Company, ISBN: 0-669-16570-0
  • Uckan, "File Processing in COBOL" (Volume 2), Publisher: D.C. Heath and Company, ISBN: 0-669-28201-1

Course Goals

• to understand the different strategies for representing information logically, and storing information physically so it is accessible in an efficient manner for data processing
• to understand the different approaches to managing computer files in today's business application computer programs
• to study advanced file manipulation features in COBOL, the major third generation language used in businesses today

Grading

• Midterm: 15%
• Final: 15%
• Homework Programs and Exercises: 20%
• Programming assignments 20%
• Semester Project: 20%
• Group CD: 10%

(These weights are approximate. We reserve the right to alter them if we believe necessary.)

Homework Policy

• Homework assignments are due at the start of class on the day indicated. Late assignments will not be accepted. No excuses will be accepted. This course has a heavy homework load, and people cannot afford to fall behind.
• Please do not miss class to complete a homework assignment - it won't be accepted if you are late to class.
• Programs must execute and produce output for any credit. We will not award partial credit to programs that do not execute or produce output.
• For homework programs with checklists, you must complete the checklist to receive proper credit for the assignment.
• If you are having trouble keeping up with the schedule, please contact me to help you work out a strategy for success in this course!

Academic Integrity

Both NJIT and Rutgers students are expected to follow published guidelines on academic honesty and integrity.  You must acquaint yourself with these policies before submitting any assignments.  All written work must be original. Violations of NJIT/Rutgers policies will be reported to the Dean of Students at both institutions and may result in failure on a particular assignment, failure in the course, failure in the course and probation, or failure in the course and expulsion.  Honor Code violations will be pursued immediately and aggressively .

The goal of this class is to learn the concepts presented and be able to implement them. Homework is an important tool in understanding the concepts better and developing the necessary skills to use these concepts. We expect that for those of you who work in teams, that you will be equal partners in that team, and you will understand all the work that is done and submitted.

You should feel free to ask others in the class when you have questions or problems with a homework assignment. However, each person (or team) must do each homework assignment himself or herself, and code and run it himself or herself. For programs, this means you must do the majority of the design on your own. You must type it in the computer entirely on your own, and turn the output from your own program. For exercises, essay-style and other question-oriented homework, your answers must be substantially your own.

We realize that this presents a "fine line" of what would constitute cheating, and what is proper. It's up to you to uphold this distinction, so we do not have to. We follow and enforce the integrity guidelines established by the College of Computing Sciences and NJIT.

In Closing

CIS365 is a great course. The students make it even better. We value your participation highly. Welcome!

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