Introduction
Before we begin our project, it is essential to understand some concepts and definitions, which are widely used, and which will serve as the basis for the commencement of work involving telecommunications, IT and Programming. From this point, we apply the methodology of teaching telecomHall, removing any doubts and are preparing to proceed.
What is a Tool?
One of the first concepts that we must get used to the tool.
You know what a tool? When does a painter, for example, that the object that you would expect automatically associated with it? Correct: a brush.
In the case of professional telecom and IT tools are programs, applications, or any system that helps you perform your job. The more tools you master, the greater its ability to do their tasks of day-to-day. For example, if the painter, and the brush, you know to program the machine that creates the colors just like the taste of its customers, it will certainly have more success in their work than the other painters who were only using a brush.
The following is a figure with the main - not all - tools used by Telecom and IT professionals.
Later, we talk a lot about each of them, and others that were not shown here.
What is a System?
A set of tools is a system. Moreover, every system must have a name. It is much easier and organized to refer to it by name. The name of the system we create will be Hunter. From now on, we will refer to the Hunter instead of our system.
Hunter is short for Home User Network Tool for Enhanced Results in English Tool Network Local User Results for Advanced. Hunter in English means hunter, and our tool also has this function: hunting network problems. Its significance also gave rise to its logo, because soon after.
The idea of a system such as the Hunter comes the need for constant checking and efficient network, as quickly and accurately as possible, and without requiring excessive time professionals.
The task of constant and detailed verification of all elements of a network is very complex, especially when it has many elements as central BTS platforms and different vendors.
Adding to the complexity of the analysis, there is also the problem of frequency, because the output data should be checked as quickly as possible, identifying the problems more accurately and quickly.
The only way to meet the above goals is to develop a system that integrates all the components and suppliers, analyze the data automatically in a pre-defined assumptions and a quick way to inform the responsible for each area, for example with an e-mail or sms, on the problems encountered, and still presents summaries of the simplified system, among others.
Because of new needs, other modules can also be developed in the tool, each according to his purpose. The details of the tool and each of its modules will be made in due course.
Modules - Organization that results in productivity
Our whole system is modular, ie, is developed in parts that may work separately or together with others, generating a specific outcome. The concept of modules is very important, and also represents the organization. In our case, directly connected to the system that we develop.
The idea of the modules will be better understood through the development, but basically it is already developed reuse parts whenever possible.
a practical example, suppose we have a table with the addresses of our stations, and some fields such as height and type of antenna that is used for an application, say, for example, for a weekly management report. If we create a new application that uses some of this information, simply bind the data from that source. So when, for example, an address is changed in origin, will also change in the new application.
Do not worry if it was not clear. You understand that in practice, when we begin to create applications.
Structure
The structure of our system will be developed in the local directory (Drive C).
Hunter (1): root directory, where you will find all the other subdirectories corresponding to each of the other modules and sub-modules.
Network (2): is a directory of a module - in this case are a little ahead of it as we will see later. That is, the first module of our tool, as we shall see, is the Network!
Database (3): is a sub-directory of the module Network. For each module can have several other sub-standard directories to Scripts and Data. We will see this structure in more detail when working with modules.
addition to the default directory shown, we have other types of directories such as Help and Log for instance. This kind of structure brings a number of benefits, which we explore in detail later.
Programming: is not rocket science!
Yes, programming. Okay, here is one programmer (at least most). But the program - even the most simple as a macro written in Excel - and helps us a lot of tasks.
Besides helping ourselves, we also have another advantage - for the company where we work. Many people believe it is necessary to spend a fortune on databases and programs for integration and automation of cellular networks, and also to perform analysis and generate reports.
But that’s not true! There is a powerful way, and relatively inexpensive to develop information systems.
most companies use for example Microsoft Office, but know that it is programmable (and simply, you will see), but still spending large sums of money programs and tools custom, almost always to replicate what they already have.
Many do not discuss the benefits of automation due to the lack of this option for cheap, or simply do not believe it can be so “cheap” to do the job efficiently.
An indication of this capability can be found in SAP. If the SAP, one of the largest data systems in the world can use Excel as your "front-end tax reporting and analysis, then it must be good enough, do not you think?
cheap argument is substantial. It is worth investing to achieve something that potentially we have, since we already have the most sophisticated software available and well tested, all we have to do is to use them properly.
Office, widely used throughout the world, is a common programming language, VBA, allowing all your programs - Word, Excel, Outlook, Access, PowerPoint etc … - Communicate with, and use the facilities and features of each other.
You can also communicate with, or use the object models of all other products from the same manufacturer (ie Project, SQL Server, etc…), as well as many third-party applications (DDE). VBA is the same language as Visual Basic, used by millions of programmers around the world.
Numerous other programs come with their own programming language, such as Mapinfo that has Mapbasic. The big advantage is that programming languages are generally very similar. This means that if you know how to create programs in VBA certainly easily create their programs Mapbasic.
You will be surprised with this new world of programming that we explore. But do not worry if you do not even know how to write a macro in Excel - just follow the step by step and you will get there!
Programming makes us lazy?
This is an interesting question. We do not believe that anyone who seeks to optimize the work with the help of the programming can be considered lazy. What happens is that after you practice and master a few programming techniques - which almost always give you the result of faster and more efficient - you always think to use it in their work.
Often, the time you spend to perform some repetitive task manually, you can write a few lines of code that will work for you. And even if you spent even a little more time to do via code, you now have a code that you can reuse in other projects - or even on the same task, if for some reason you have to redo all the work. The benefits and time savings will be seen in the long term.
Data, and data
Another important definition is the source of the data that we use. It is important that our system is independent of any input. In other words, no matter whether the data is in text files, Excel tables, or any other commercial format. We know what we need to extract as input to our system.
The data from our system are all fictional - not real data network or any particular vendor. All will be created in due course, once they are required to provide an example, as the addresses of our stations, KPI’s, parameters, etc… Everything will be set to zero, even where our wireless network will be located.
Methodology and Tutorials
The methodology for learning will follow the style of tutorials, usually starting with a simple introduction and ending with the module developed. The tutorial files and codes will be available for download directly on the page Blog. The sequence of development of the tutorials (roadmap) will be according to the pace and need according to feedback received from members themselves (in the comments of a blog, or contact Support).
The goal of our tutorials is to teach, or better, present a wide range of information that a telecommunications consultant or IT should have. This is great for beginners, but even experienced users will find useful and interesting topics.
Even if you have never worked with some of the programs used, or have never planned anything, you can take advantage of the lessons presented.
What this methodology is, and what it isn’t?
Definitely, this is not a series of lessons to teach you to program. We will learn by doing. If you already have some knowledge of Visual Basic or any other programming language: excellent! If you have never even heard about, do not worry, we will try to be as simple and straightforward as possible whenever there is something to be understood. Our goal is not to create a complete set of all lessons that cover all possibilities and possible examples. We give you the basics, and show you how to build based on these grounds to go ahead and develop the necessary solutions for whatever your needs. In other words, you will be able to act as a consultant
The prospect of these lessons are not those of a computer programmer, then there is a chance to be the most efficient ways of writing some of the codes developed. Usually we use the way of brute force, and the code sometimes may seem inelegant. We are consultants Telecommunication and IT, and this is our perspective. We assume that the programs or codes that you will write are intended to facilitate, or add functionality to certain tasks and analysis, and make it for sure. But there are professional programs to be, for example redistributed. If this is the case, and you want to build complete applications, you really should deepen the studies in a special course in advanced programming.
Programs and Licenses
All programs used for our work are free and then used during the trail. The content of the site, as a matter of ethics, as well as fairness to the other subscribers, you should not reprint or distribute any of the lessons - and the codes - for others. If this happens, you will be automatically deleted as a member/subscribers of the site. We do not want that to happen, or that the other subscribers are wronged - pay for what others are trying to get free of charge. Therefore, the price of subscriptions has a symbolic value.
And if I do not understand something?
The tutorials are written in very simple language, such as day-to-day, as well as the language of the entire site. The examples are complete with files and source code (fully commented) available for download. If you still do not understand any part, or some doubt persists as we speak you can leave her a comment on the tutorial (Blog), or contact us via chat or e-mail through the support page.
If you are still confused with some of the programming languages used, even with the complete samples, we search Google tutorial that language, and certainly you will find good references.
All tutorials, codes and programs are a continuous process of editing. This means that if you find a mistake, for example, grammar or spelling, try to fix it as soon as possible. We also have your feedback, informing us of errors or passages that were confusing and deserve to be rewritten.
Conclusion
After this introduction to the concepts and definitions that we use - and the long way - we are ready to begin, and go to practice the ideas presented. We will take our next tutorial.
We hope you’ve enjoyed. If you have any doubts, find the answers posting your comments in the blog or via our support via chat or email.
Till our next meeting, and remember: Your success is our success!
Download
Download Source Code: Blog_001_Concepts_and_Definitons.zip (965.3 KB)