Higher Computing Science

Modular –Summary Notes

Modular Code
Modular code is code that uses procedures and functions.
Sub Program Function
A section of code that performs a specific task. A section of code that returns a value.
Example Example

CALL display_results(average) grade = decide_grade(percentage)

Sub display_results(byval average as single) Function decide_grade(byval percentage as integer)

If percentage >= 75 then
Lstresults.items.add(“The average mark is “& average) grade=”A”
elseif percentage >= 60 then
End Sub grade = “B”
elseif percentage >= 50 then
grage = “C”
elseif percentage >= 40 then
grade = “D”
else
grade = “Fail”
end if
Return grade
End function
NOTE NOTE
Sub programs are called using the CALL command Functions are called using assignment e.g. grade =
decide_grade(percentage)
This is because a function always returns a value.

Benefits of Modular Code

 Projects can be split up between different teams of programmers. Each team can be working on code simultaneously
 Sub-programs make code easier to read
 If code is readable it is easier to maintain
 If code is readable it is easier to spot errors

Parameters
Parameters are variables that are passed in and out of sub programs and functions. We pass parameters using two different methods

Pass by Reference Pass by Value

 The memory address of the variable is passed to the sub-  A copy of the value of the variable is passed to the
program subprogram
 Any changes made to the variable are passed back out to  Any changes made to the data do not affect the value of
be used further on in the code the original variable
 Pass by reference is used when a sub-program is required  Pass by value is used when the sub-program needs access
to alter/update a variable to a variable but will not make changes to it

Arrays are always passed by reference. This is because if we passed arrays by value the program would create a second copy. Arrays are often
large data structures so this is
 Inefficient use of processor time to make the second copy
 Inefficient use of RAM to store the second copy

Actual & Formal Parameters

 Formal parameters are used when the subroutine is declared
 Actual parameters are used when the subroutine is called
Functions
There are two types of functions.
 User defined functions
o These are written by the programmer to perform a specific task
 Pre-defined functions
o These have been pre-written and are built into the programming language for programmers to use as required
 Advantages of pre-defined functions
o Saves the programmer lots of time, this is because
 the code has already been written, therefore programmers have less code to create
  the code has already been tested, therefore less time spent debugging

Pre-Defined Functions for N5

Function Purpose Example Description

ROUND Round a numeric value to Math.round(average, 0) Rounds average to 0 decimal places
a specified number of
decimal places Math.round(weight, 2) Rounds weight to 2 decimal places
RANDOM Generates a random Randomize Generates a random number between
number RandomNumber = Int ( RND * 10) 0 and 9

Randomize Generates a random number between

RandomNumber = Int ( RND * 9) + 1 1 and 10

Randomize Generates a random number between

RandomNumber = Int(Rnd * 50) 0 and 50

LENGTH Returns the length of a LEN(“Jessica”) returns 7 Returns the number of characters the
string string
Checks if the number of characters in
If LEN(ID) <> 5 ID IS NOT equal to 5

Pre-Defined Functions for Higher

Function Purpose Example Description Notes
MID$ Substring Mid$(string, start, number of Extracts a substring from a string
characters)

Mid$(“Word”, 2, 3) returns ord

Mid$(“computer, 4, 3) returns
put

ASC ASCII Asc(“A”) returns 65 Returns the ASCII value of a A-Z (upper case)
character ASCII values
CHARACTER CHR Chr(97) returns a Takes an ASCII value and returns between 65 and 90
the corresponding character
a – z(lower case)
ASCII values
between 97 and
122
INTEGER INT INT(3.7556) returns 3 Returns the whole number part
of a real number
CONVERSION CINT CINT(3.7556) returns 4 Rounds a real number to the
INTEGER nearest integer
MODULUS MOD First MOD second Returns the remainder of first
divided by second
7 MOD 3 returns 1

Other Useful Functions

Function Purpose Example Description
LCASE Converts a string to Name = LCASE(JENNIFER) Name would now store jennifer
lower case
UCASE Converts a string to Name = UCASE(Jennifer) Name would now store
upper case JENNIFER
SQRT Returns the square Number = SQRT(49) Number would store the value 7
root of a numeric
value