Unit 12 - Assignment 4 

Word count guidance: 

Pass 700-800 words not including the testing table 
 

 
 
For 2D.P6: learners should review their program in light of the results of their testing 
and should explain how their program is fit for purpose and meets the original 
requirements.  
 
For level 1, as a minimum, learners should identify how their software meets the 
original requirements and the purpose.  
 
For 2D.M5: learners should consider the outcomes of their testing and should review 
the extent to which the program solves the given problem. Learners should gather 
feedback from others and consider changes they would like to make in the light of 
this feedback.  
 
For 2D.D4: learners should evaluate their initial designs and the completed program. 
They should identify any changes made from the design stage and justify these 
changes in terms of the requirements and the features of the language used, and 
any other constraints. Learners should make at least three specific suggestions for 
improving the completed program to ensure it is fully functional, well coded and fit 
for purpose. Learners do not need to implement the enhancements.  
 

Task 1 
● Testing table included as a separate document 
 
Introduction 
In this assignment, I am going to explain how I feel I have met the 
brief that the client gave to me regarding the currency converter. 
I will achieve this by first breaking it down into various sections and 
then within those sections explaining how I have met the brief and 
then provide evidence in the form of screenshots of how I have 
fulfilled the client's needs. I will also show be providing a testing 
table to show what I have done is working and fit for purpose. 
 
Ease of use 
The software had to be easy to use by users of different IT levels, I 
achieved this by using clear labels that guide the user to 
understand what different parts of the converter did.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As you can see from the above images I have used large clear 
labels to show what everything does I also included a help screen 
which clearly shows the users what to do by using a GIF, it also 
shows users who are more comfortable using a computer that 
there are keyboard shortcuts to help them quickly switch between 
conversions. These can be seen working on tests 22 - 27. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As you can see from the above image the help screen loads, this 
is also shown to work on test 1 and 2. 
 
I believe that I have been consistent throughout my program with 
regards to layout and colour scheme, this will help the user feel 
familiar with the program once they have used it. All the labels are 
clear and concise to help the user understand what they need to 
do and what each box does and the labels being big enough to 
read for people with poor eyesight 
 
I have used a visual hierarchy with the conversion rates in a 
separate coloured box at the side of the converter that clearly 
separates it from the rest of the converter. The actual converter 
has a clear method running from top to bottom with the user 
entering the amount first, then entering the currencies they are 
converting and finally coming down to the convert button to see 
their conversion. With the Go To Export button being right by the 
convert button. 
 
Being forgiving of user error 
I also made the currency converter to be forgiving of user error, I 
put in as much validation that I could think of, this is to help the 
user understand either what they have done wrong or to explain 
what they need to do to complete the process.  
 
The first example I have of my validation is the message box that 
appears if the user enters a conversion amount into a conversion 
box that does not match the currencies they have chosen to 
convert to.  
 
Example: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In the above image, you can see that the user has entered the 
conversion rate into the American Dollar to British Pound 
conversion box but they have selected the opposite conversion 
with the currencies selected. The message box clearly tells them to 
check that they have chosen the correct conversion and 
currencies. This works with all other wrong conversions as well as 
you can see on tests 16 - 21. I feel this gives the client an extra 
layer of security against mistakes because if there was only one 
conversion rate box for all the currencies, mistakes like this would 
not be detected and could cost the company time and money 
which is what they wanted to avoid and the reason they asked for 
this application in the first place. 
 
The validation also covers conversions that you are not allowed to 
do, this is because the client only wanted the user to be able to 
convert certain currencies so all others are blocked from being 
used together.  
 
This is one of the 
conversions you are not 
allowed to do, as you 
can see there is a 
message box that clearly 
states that this a 
conversion they are not 
allowed to do. This saves any mistakes being made using wrong 
conversions and stops the user doing something the client does 
not want them to do.This message appears for all conversions that 
are not allowed which can be seen working on tests 28 - 35.  
 
There is an option that comes up when clicking the X close button 
on the converter if there is text in the display box, which is to ask if 
you want to save the text before they close the application. The 
reason I did this is to stop conversions accidentally being lost 
before being saved. If the display box is empty then the 
application will close without any warnings.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As you can see from the above image it asks if you want to save 
before exit. This will save the company from losing conversions that 
have not been saved. You can this working on test 41. 
 
The client did not want the user to be able to convert anything 
above £1,000,000. If anything above that number is entered a 
message box appears to say that they cannot do that. 
 
This can be seen working on test 43. 
 
The professional appearance of the form 
I believe I have made a professional looking application that fits 
well with the company's aesthetics, their company logo is yellow 
and blue which I have tried to match as closely as I can and have 
used it throughout the application. You can clearly see this in the 
above pictures.  
 
 
Up to date currencies- making sure the conversions are correct 
The user gets up to date currency conversion rates from the XE 
website which is linked directly from the currency converter. As I 
have stated in some of the above material I have tried to mitigate 
any mistakes the user can make regarding conversions and 
making sure they are correct, first the conversion rate box that is 
filled out needs to match the currencies selected in the to and 
from combo boxes in the same way in order for the conversion to 
take place.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This is the website the link takes the user to, here they can get the 
latest conversion rates. 
 
What currencies are involved 
There are four currencies in the currency converter, this is because 
the client only wanted these specific currencies. As I have 
explained above the client not only just wanted these four 
currencies but they also only wanted to convert either to or from 
Pound Sterling, this means that any other combination is not 
needed so I have put validation in to tell the user exactly that it is 
not a conversion that is allowed.  
 
Rounding up Answers 
When doing currency conversions there is a need to round up the 
amounts in both the total boxes and also the commision, this is 
because money is displayed up to two decimal places. The only 
part that is not rounded is the conversion boxes, these need to be 
as precise as possible because it can cost not only the company 
but a customer a lot of money if these are slightly off.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As you can see from the image, the final amounts and commision 
are rounded to two decimal places, with the conversion box 
allowing as many decimals as needed. You can see this working 
on tests 4 - 9. 
 
Labels changing based on currencies selected 
To make it clear to the user exactly what currency is being 
displayed in each box I have put the currency symbol next to the 
amounts, this changes based on what currency is being 
displayed. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

As you can see from the above image there is a currency symbol 
in each of the boxes, these can be seen working on tests 10 - 15. 
The only currency symbol that does not change is the commision 
one because we are always charging commision on the Pound 
Sterling amount. 
 
Pounds being in the convert from, or convert to transactions 
As I mentioned in my validation section the client only wanted to 
be able to convert either from pounds or to them, I have fulfilled 
this as you will see on tests 16 - 21 
 
Saving a transaction to a text file 
The client wanted to have the option to save the conversion as a 
text file, this is because at the moment the client's company is 
using copy and paste to get the conversions into a file to save 
them, this is causing users to make mistakes which are causing the 
company to lose money and time. I have not only added the 
ability to save the file I have given the user the ability to add their 
own comments to the file before saving, I did this because it gives 
the user more options, there may be a time when they want to 
make a note or amendment on the file.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As you can see from the image once the save button is pressed a 
new save form opens up which allows the user to name the file 
what they want and then save it wherever they want. You can 
see the text file working on test 42. 
 
Adding a commision calculation 
As this converter is being used by a business there needed to be a 
0.5% commision made on every conversion. The commission is 
always on the Pound Sterling amount, to do this I had to do two 
calculations in the code, if the conversion was from Pound Sterling 
then the calculation needed to be the amount box multiplied by 
0.005 and if the conversion was to Pound Sterling then the 
calculation would change to the total multiplied by 0.005.  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As you can see from the image the commission has been taken 
from the amount because it is being converted from Pound 
Sterling, there is also a box that displays the total after the 
commission has been deducted.  

Things I would like to do 

I would like to get the conversion rates automatically because 
getting the conversion rates automatically will not only save the 
user time it will also make sure the conversion rate is always up to 
date, doing it this way may save the company money. It would 
also be nice if we could change the language for Welsh speakers 
and I would like to offer the user a chance to add more currencies 
if they want to in the future. 
 
 
Testing table review 
Tests 1-2 shows that the help button in my program works with the 
help form loading when it is pressed and that the buttons inside 
the help form work. 
 
Test 3 shows that the XE button works and that the XE website 
loads when it is pressed. 
 
Tests 4-9 shows that my program can carry out the calculations set 
out in the code correctly, with the exception of Yen conversions 
which was fixed when I realised the symbols were not matching. 
 
Tests 10-15 shows that the currency symbol changes depending 
on the currency that is being converted in my program. 
 
Tests 16-21 attempts to see if the program allow you to enter an 
amount in the wrong conversion box relative to the currencies 
selected? It shows that the program will not let you try and 
convert an amount that does not match the conversion box and 
currencies selected.  
 
Tests 22-27 shows that the hotkeys I set up in the code to allow 
keyboard shortcuts in my program for experienced users. 
 
Tests 28-35 shows that the program will not allow the user to 
convert currencies that are not allowed. A message box appears 
to say I’m sorry you cannot do that conversion. 
 
Test 36-39 shows that all the buttons on the program work as they 
should, these include the clear button, the export button, display 
button, and the back button. 
 
Tests 40-42 shows that the program cannot only save the 
conversion as a text file but that the text file opens without any 
problems. It also shows that the program will not close if there is 
text in the display box, this is to stop the user accidentally closing 
the program without saving. 
 
Test 43 shows that I have written into the code to not allow a 
conversion of over a million Pound, the test shows that this is 
working and that the validation of a message box appearing to 
explain why they cannot do this works. It did not work at first but it 
was fixed as the test shows. 
 

Task 2 

Currency calculator peer voting form  

Person whose Windows form is being voted on Logan Sharpe 
 
Person who is voting 1 Nicholas Taylor 
 
Person who is voting 2 Dan D Roberts 
 
 
EFFICIENCY 
How quickly does it operate and do things such as calculations? 
Has the program been written with more lines of code than 
necessary? 
 
Vote from 1-5.  
(1 = very poor, 2 = quite poor, 3 = ok, 4 = quite good, 5 = very 
good) 
 
Person 1 highlight which one you believe is correct. 
 
1  2  3  4  5 
 
Person 2 highlight which one you believe is correct. 
 
1  2  3  4  5 
 
Please add comments about efficiency here (The more 
comments you are able to add, the more likely the person whose 
work you are reviewing will achieve a higher grade. 
 
Average Number Grade: 4 
 
Comment area 
 
1. The reason why I have given this person a 4 out of 5 is 
because he has a bit more code than he needs to have on 
his program such as the buttons for the person using the 
program to switch between the converter and the display for 
the save when he already has that at the top of the form 
itself. He has also put the variables all on different lines of 
code even though they all are classed as being decimals. 
2. I gave Logan a 4 out of 5 because it does a conversion fast . 
However, I don't like the fact that program sends me to a 
web page via google chrome not a WebBrowser form. 
However, it does it quick so I can't complain. When he wrote 
variables for currencies. He wrote a currency for each line 
like; 
'These are the variables for the currencies in the first box' 
Dim​ GBP1 ​As​ ​Boolean 
Dim​ EUR1 ​As​ ​Boolean 
Dim​ USD1 ​As​ B​ oolean 
Dim​ JPY1 ​As​ ​Boolean 
  
'These are the variables for the currencies in the second box' 
Dim​ GBP2 ​As​ ​Boolean 
Dim​ EUR2 ​As​ ​Boolean 
Dim​ USD2 ​As​ B ​ oolean 
Dim​ JPY2 ​As​ ​Boolean 
 
He could just said this; 
Dim​ GBP1, EUR1, USD1, JPY2 ​As​ ​Boolean 
 
MAINTAINABILITY 
 
Your measure for judging this will be in the code has good code 
comments which explain what is happening and whether it has 
meaningful variable names, names for controls or subroutines 
 
Vote from 1-5.  
(1 = very poor, 2 = quite poor, 3 = ok, 4 = quite good, 5 = very 
good) 
 
 
Person 1 highlight which one you believe is correct. 
 
1  2  3  4  5 
 
Person 2 highlight which one you believe is correct. 
 
1  2  3  4  5 
 
Please add comments here (The more comments you are able to 
add, the more likely the person whose work you are reviewing will 
achieve a higher grade. 
 
Average Number Grade: 4 
 
Comment area 
 
1. The reason why I have given this person a four out of 5 again 
is because he has not put code comments for every line that 
needed code comments and when it comes to some of the 
 subroutine names they have not been given names they 
have been left as either button4 or form1. 
2. Some tools havent got good names like Label 9 is for 
"Convert to" 
 
 
 
RELIABILITY 
To consider reliability you should ask, does the program offer 
accurate outputs? Can you confirm these calculations are 
accurate using a different method?  
 
Vote from 1-5.  
(1 = very poor, 2 = quite poor, 3 = ok, 4 = quite good, 5 = very 
good) 
 
 
Person 1 highlight which one you believe is correct. 
 
1  2  3  4  5 
 
Person 2 highlight which one you believe is correct. 
 
1  2  3  4  5 
 
Please add comments here (The more comments you are able to 
add, the more likely the person whose work you are reviewing will 
achieve a higher grade. 
 
Average Number Grade: 5 
 
Comment area 
 
 1. The reason I have given this person full marks is because all of 
the conversions are all accurate and I used multiple 
calculators to figure this out.  
2. help screen is pretty good 
 
 
 
 
ROBUSTNESS 
 
Software needs be able to able to cope with processing large 
amounts of data reliably. It must also be able to handle 
unexpected input values gracefully by preventing a crash, 
explaining to a user what they have done wrong and giving them 
an opportunity to correct their action. 
 
Vote from 1-5.  
(1 = very poor, 2 = quite poor, 3 = ok, 4 = quite good, 5 = very 
good) 
 
 
Person 1 highlight which one you believe is correct. 
 
1  2  3  4  5 
 
Person 2 highlight which one you believe is correct. 
 
1  2  3  4  5 
 
Please add comments here (The more comments you are able to 
add, the more likely the person whose work you are reviewing will 
achieve a higher grade. 
 
Average Number Grade: 5 
 
Comment area 
 
1. I tried multiple ways of crashing the program and I wasn’t 
able to crash the program unfortunately. The program 
handled unexpected input values very well as it did not 
crash. The program also processes large amount very well 
and even calculates it very quick. The program also allows 
the user to correct any of the errors that they have inputted 
into the program. 
2. Annoying error message, Answer boxes aren't read only.  
 
 
 
USABILITY 
 
Is the program easy to use for all people? Software should be 
designed carefully to guard against problems such as poor layout 
of the user interface, a lack of instruction to the user and error 
messages which do not explain how a problem can be fixed. 
 
Vote from 1-5.  
 
Person 1 highlight which one you believe is correct. 
 
1  2  3  4  5 
 
Person 2 highlight which one you believe is correct. 
 
1  2  3  4  5 
 
Please add comments here (The more comments you are able to 
add, the more likely the person whose work you are reviewing will 
achieve a higher grade. 
 
Average Number Grade: 5 
 
Comment area 
 
1. The reason I have given this person full marks as this is easy to 
use for any person as he has inputted code for the person to 
use shortcuts to enter the currencies that they are wanting. 
There is also no lack of instruction as the help form even 
shows the user a video on how to use the program itself and 
the error messages also clearly explain how to correct the 
error. 
2. How will people with bad eyesight use this? Where is tooltips 
for low ict skills people? 
 
 
MEETING THE BRIEF  
(This is simple really, has the person been paying attention to all 
the things asked of them and written down for them.) 
Vote from 1-5.  
(1 = very poor, 2 = quite poor, 3 = ok, 4 = quite good, 5 = very 
good) 
 
 
Person 1 highlight which one you believe is correct. 
 
1  2  3  4  5 
 
Person 2 highlight which one you believe is correct. 
 
1  2  3  4  5 
 
Please add comments here (The more comments you are able to 
add, the more likely the person whose work you are reviewing will 
achieve a higher grade. 
 
Average Number Grade: 5 
 
Comment area 
 
1. He kept to everything that was put in the brief 
 
2. Really well according to the brief. Well Done :) 
 
 
 
 
PROFESSIONALISM OF THE FORMS APPEARANCE 
Vote from 1-5.  
(1 = very poor, 2 = quite poor, 3 = ok, 4 = quite good, 5 = very 
good) 
 
 
Person 1 highlight which one you believe is correct. 
 
1  2  3  4  5 
 
Person 2 highlight which one you believe is correct. 
 
1  2  3  4  5 
 
Please add comments here (The more comments you are able to 
add, the more likely the person whose work you are reviewing will 
achieve a higher grade. 
 
Average Number Grade: 4 
 
Comment area 
 
1. The program itself is visually appealing and it also keeps to 
what the person wants. 
2. I don't like theres are no actually Exchange Rates labeled box  
 
 
 
There are two changes I would like to make based on the 
feedback and that is to write my code more efficiently and to 
make some of my boxes read-only so they cannot be deleted. 
 
I disagree with most other feedback regarding changes, Nick said 
that I don’t need the buttons on my converter that take you to 
and from the export page because the tabs at the top of the 
page do the same thing, however I feel like the buttons offer the 
user a quicker way to get to and from the export page because 
the button is right next to the convert button which is easier than 
going back to the top of the page to click the tab.  
 
Dan mentioned tooltips for people with low computer skills, I feel 
like the help button is enough to show people what to do. He also 
mentions people with bad eyesight, I feel like my writing is large 
enough on my converter, however, I do not have really bad 
eyesight so it might be a bit small for other people. Dan 
mentioned that he does not feel like the conversion rate box are 
clearly labelled to which I disagree because they are all on the 
left-hand side with the label “Conversion Rates” at the top and 
then under each of the boxes the label of the currency to and 
from. 

Task 3 
learners should evaluate their initial designs and the completed 
program.  
 
Stage 1:​ Learners should identify any changes made from the 
design stage and justify these changes in terms of the 
requirements and the features of the language used, and any 
other constraints.  
 
This is my original design: 

 
 
 
 
 
 
This is my final design: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As you can see there is little change between the two designs, the 
biggest change was to add a textbox for the commission and the 
total after the commission, these boxes show the amount of 
commission the company will be making on the transaction and 
the total will show how much the customer will receive after the 
company has taken off their commission.  
 
The other changes are from my peer reviewer in assignment three 
and the feedback from the client, the peer reviewer asked if I 
could change my convert to and convert from combo boxes so 
that the user cannot delete what was inside, I did this and now 
they are greyed out. My peer voters mentioned having me 
change my text boxes to read-only so that the information inside 
could not be deleted this is a change that I would make. The 
client wanted me to add a label next to the XE logo so that the 
user not only understood that the logo was a button but what the 
button actually did. Another change was to add validation to the 
display conversion button, if a conversion has not been made 
then a message will appear to say that there is nothing to display 
in the text file. Both of these are good changes because the label 
gives the user more instruction of what to do and the other lets the 
user know that they have made a mistake pressing the display 
button without making a conversion. 
 
Stage 2:​Learners should make at least ​three​ specific suggestions 
for improving the completed program to ensure it is fully 
functional, well coded and fit for purpose. 
Learners do not need to implement the enhancements.  
 
First change 
The first change I would make is to the code, I would completely 
rewrite it from scratch and make it more efficient because my 
code is really inefficient with multiple lines being written when one 
line would have done. This would make my program better 
because it is important to have a well-written code so if anyone 
else looks at the code they don’t feel like they would have to 
rewrite it themselves to get it right. 
 
Second change 
The second change I would make is one that would make the 
biggest change to the converter and this is to have the 
conversion rate be chosen automatically in the background 
without the user even thinking about it. This would greatly increase 
the converter's ability and give the user fewer steps than they 
currently have. This is important because the less time it takes the 
user to make a conversion the more they can fit into a certain 
amount of time, this increases the productivity of the company 
and makes them more money which is the company's main aim.  
 
Third change 
The third change I would make is to the way the conversions are 
saved, currently, they are saved as a text file either all in one or as 
separate files. The way to improve this would be for the 
conversions to be saved on an excel file with any new saves been 
added to the table each time, this way at the end of the day the 
company can easily use Excel's features to do a running total of 
the amount of money they have converted and the commission 
they have made. This excel file could be renewed each working 
day, week, month or even be used for a full business year. I think 
this would give the company more control overseeing exactly 
how much money they have made because it will already be in a 
total column if they continue using the text file way they will have 
to manually go through each of the transactions and add them 
up themselves. This would cause human mistakes which is one of 
the reasons they wanted this converter to be made in the first 
place.  
 
Constraints 
There are constraints to some of the changes I would like to do 
mainly my ability to carry them out, I would not know how to add 
the conversion rate automatically or have each conversion 
added to an Excel document as a new line each time. 
 
 
 

Appendix 
 
Attach scans of your completed forms here