Informatics Engineering Journal 2015

SCHOOL BELL AUTOMATION PROJECT

USING MICROSOFT VISUAL BASIC 6.0
Ardan Nizma Asady1)
STMIK Surya Intan Kotabumi, Informatics Engineering, Kotabumi, Indonesia
Ibrahim Syarief St. No. 107 Phone (0724) 327731 FAX (0724) 327885
Abstract: Nowaday, the school schedule is getting more busier than ever because new
curriculum is being applied by the goverment through the nation. All school must apply
this new curriculum. It demands school to serve education in more academic way. To
support teaching and learning activity in school, the bell becomes a part of fundamental
key, it helps both teachers and students to remind about their schedule. In this paper the
author himself whose occuppation is a school staff points that the old fashioned method
of manual human triggered school bell tends to be less accurate as human error factor
might still present and demands more fund for the staff payrollment itself. Besides, such
task sometimes deliver boredom to whom assigned to responsible for the bell alert. To
solve this problem the school needs to apply automatic bell controlled by electronic
instrument. To build the instrument, author will use a PC and Microsoft Visual Basic
6.o to design and build required program. In larger field usage, this program can help
school especially those with much parallel class to ensure the lesson schedule to be
carried out correctly on time to achieve outstanding performance according to new
curriculum.
Keywords: Automatic, School Bell, Microsoft Visual Basic 6, Flowchart, DFD,
Database, Educational Instrument Support Improvement.

1.

INTRODUCTION
The development of hardware and
software today influenced usage of
computer in all fields. Computers which
were initially only used by the academic
and military have now been widely used
in various field. For examples in the
offices, telecommunications, publishing
houses, goverment and health as well as in
the field of education. Those fields are
now rely on computer as the most
important devices to support working on
daily task.
* Corresponding author: Ardan Nizma Asady
ardan.adv@gmail.com
This paper is a translate form of PEMBUATAN
SOFTWARE BEL OTOMATIS SEKOLAH
by Ragil Triyono

Bell is an instrument that produces

sound used to warn something or as a
communication means. Human race was
using bell for ages, from the beginning of
chime bell until in the late age of electric
bell. Those were manual bell.
After the invention of electronics
in the middle 19th ceturies automatic bell
also invented thus started to be used on
large array of needs. Intentions of this
automatic bell is to replace human as the
controller.
Research in the field shown that
many of school in our nation still use
manual bell alert system. It is so
inefficient to employ human on such task
that could be done by electronics means.
Human has inadequacy to remember or
doing repetitive task that leads to delayed

Informatics Engineering Journal 2015

alert and cause disorganized lesson in the

class.
A computerized bell system could
be carried out to operate the bell alert.
School bells are important to support
course of lesson in the class. This system
is expected to manipulate automatic bell
alert where lessons are changing.
By adopting automatic school bell
system maintenance cost could be reduced
and the output is far more reliable than
using the old manual system.
2.
LITERATURE REVIEW
System
A system is a set of interacting or
interdependent component parts forming a
complex/intricate whole. Every system is
delineated by its spatial and temporal
boundaries, surrounded and influenced by
its environment, described by its structure
and purpose and expressed in its
functioning. [1]
Information
Information (shortened as info) is
that which informs. In other words, it is
the answer to a question of some kind. It
is
also
that
from
whichknowledge and data can be derived
as data represents values attributed to
parameters, and knowledge signifies
understanding of real things or abstract
concepts. As it regards data, the
information's existence is not necessarily
coupled to an observer (it exists beyond
an event horizon, for example), while in
the case of knowledge, the information
requires a cognitive observer. [2]
Database
A database is
an
organized
collection of data. It is the collection of
schemas, tables, queries,
reports, views and other objects. The data
is typically organized to model aspects of
reality
in
a
way
that
supports processes requiring information,

such as modelling the availability of

rooms in hotels in a way that supports
finding a hotel with vacancies. [3]
Visual Basic
Visual
Basic is
a thirdgeneration event-driven
programming
language and integrated
development
environment (IDE)
fromMicrosoft for
its COM programming
model
first
released in 1991 and declared legacy in
2008. Microsoft intended Visual Basic to
be relatively easy to learn and use. Visual
Basic was derived from BASIC and
enables the rapid application development
(RAD) of graphical
user
interface
(GUI) applications,
access
to databases using Data
Access
Objects, Remote Data Objects, or ActiveX
Data
Objects,
and
creation
of ActiveX controls and objects. [4]
Data Flow Diagram (DFD)
A data flow diagram (DFD) is a
graphical representation of the "flow" of
data through an information system,
modelling its process aspects. A DFD is
often used as a preliminary step to create
an overview of the system, which can later
be elaborated. DFDs can also be used for
the visualization of data
processing (structured design). [5]
3.

SYSTEM
ANALYSIS
AND
DESIGN
3.1. SYSTEM ANALYSIS
Definition
Refering to Prof. Dr. Jogiyanto
HM., MBA, Akt in his book entitled
Analisis dan Desain definition of System
Analysis is a disentangling process of
whole Information System apart into its
component intended to identify
and
evaluate problems, opportunities, and
obstruction that happen and requirments
which expected could be proposed its
ameliorations.

Informatics Engineering Journal 2015

Analysis phase is a critical stage

thus very important because a single fault
in this step could cause errors to the rest
of the process. The following points is
Analysis phase basic steps that must be
done :

Identification : to identify the

problem

Understand : comprehend how

the system work

Analyze
: to analyze the
system

Report
: write an analysis
result report
1.2. REQUIRMENTS ANALYSIS
a.
Information Requirment Analysis
Information System Requirments
is very important to support Information
System improvement plan, because we
will need to pay attention to the details on
each systems. That can refer us to pick
right decision on the next system
development.
Based on the research and result of
information system weakness analysis on
most of schools today, the foremost
problem is inefficiency on expense and
time wasting on usage of manual system
that bring delayed and inaccurate report.
Whereas information is an important
factor that supports decision making.
Application of the new system is expected
to overcome weakness from the old
system.
b.

Technology Requirment Analysis

Development of automatic school
bell information system and lesson
schedule processing needs several
technical instrument to support the system
as listed below :
1.
Hardware
In order to develop a system used
to organize automatic school bell and
schedule is required a PC consist of these
items: processor, mainboard, memory,

harddsisk, display monitor, casing,

keyboard, mouse, and printer.
2.
Software
Software itself is a program that
used in data processing and program
engineering. Required software are
Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 and Microsoft
Office Access 2007.
3.

Human Resource (Brainware)

Requirments of brainware are
listed below:
a.
System Analyst whose duty is to
study, analyze, and engineering a certain
problem that could be done processed by
computer.
b.
Programmer whose duty is to
arrange program based on result of system
analyzation.
c.
Operator whose duty is to operate
the computer.

1.3. SYSTEM DESIGN

System designing is intended for
giving a clear image to the user about the
proposed system. This design identifies
used system components in details.
Intention of system design is to:
a.
Fulfilling user needs
b.
Giving clear image and complete
system structure to the programmer
and other programming contributor.
c.
System design must be useful, easy
to understand and later easy to
implement.
To achieve those objective system
analysis must support user main goal
appropriate
with system
planning
followed by system analysis.

Informatics Engineering Journal 2015

System Design
Picture 1.1 Bell Flowchart

Data Processing Flowchart

Manual bell
setting

Schedule Data
User

Automatic
bell setting

Input
Schedule Data

0
Bell alert
output

Bell
Syste
m

Picture 1.2 Bell DFD level 0

Schedule Data
Processing

DFD Picture describes that user could

input schedule data and set desired sound
for bell alert. Then student and teacher
receive bell alert from the system as
report.

Database
Schedule Data
Processing

Report

Lesson Schedule Flowchart

Teacher
Data

Time Data

Class Data

Time Data input

Class Data input

Time Data
Processsing

Class Data
Processsing

Teacher Data
Processsing

Time

Class

Teacher

Lesson
Data

Teacher
Data Input

Lesson
Data input

Lesson Data
Processsing

Lesson

Schedule Report
Processing

Schedule
Report

Picture 1.3 Lesson Schedule Flowchart

Schedule
Data

Schedule
Data input

Schedule Data
Processsing

Schedule

School

Informatics Engineering Journal 2015

Flowchart Legend:
Used shapes and its corresponding description:

: Document (entry source or report file/document is in paper

form)

: Data entry via keyboard

: Computerized process (data processing by computer)

: Data storage media in computer. e.g. storing databases

: Process flow direction

Then schedule data processing design proposed using Data Flow Diagram as shown
below :
Time Data
Class Data
Lesson Data
Teacher Data
Schedule Data

Schedule
Report

0
Schedule
Processing
System

User

Schedule Processing Information

Schedule
Report

Schedule
Report

Teacher

Staff

Student

Picture 1.4 Data Flow Diagram Level 1

As seen on the picture above, Schedule Processing System interacts with four entity
which are user, teacher, school, student. User enters time, class, lesson, teacher, and
schedule data which later processed in the system. The result is a lesson schedule report
which used by teachers, students, and staff.

Informatics Engineering Journal 2015

User

Time Data

Class Data

Lesson Data

Teacher Data

1
Time Datta
Processing

2
Class Data
Processing

3
Lesson Data
Processing

4
Teacher Data
Processing

Time Data

Class Data

Lesson Data

Time

Class

Lesson

Schedule Data

5
Schedule
Data
Processing

Schedule Data

Teacher Data

Teacher

Schedule

Schedule Processing Information

Lesson Database

Class Database
Time Database

6
Schedule
Report
Printing

Teacher Database

Schedule Report

Schedule
Database

Schedule Report
Schedule Report
Teacher

Staff

Student

Picture 1.5 Bell Data Flow Diagram level 2

2.

STUDY AND RESEARCH

RESULT
4.1. Implementation
System implementation is about
applying newly developed system so
that the system is ready to be operated
as expected. Objective of this stage is to
prepare all system implementation in
the same manner with the system
design.

4.2. Implelemnation Result

1.
Main Menu View

Picture 1.6 Main Menu View

Informatics Engineering Journal 2015

This is the view of main menu

form which used to show working
status of the program in details also
available desired options to enter
subordinate menus.
2.

4.

Teacher Menu View

Setting menu View

Picture 1.7 Bell Alert Setting form

Picture 1.9 Teacher Data Form

This form is used to set the

system configuration and choose
corresponding sound to the bell alert.
3.

This form is used to edit or enter

information to the teacher data.

Schedule menu View

5.

Schedule Menu View

Picture 1.8 Schedule Setting Form

This form shows options which

used to choose program settings of its
subordinate menus.

Picture 2.0 Schedule Data Form

This form is used to make edit or enter

new lesson into the database.

Informatics Engineering Journal 2015

6.

Class Data Form

8.

Schedule Data Form

Picture 2.3 Schedule Data Form

Picture 2.1 Class Data Form

This form is used to set and print lesson

schedule

This form is used for class or laboratory

data related entry.

7.

Time Data View

9.

Schedule Report Print Preview

Picture 2.4 Schedule Print Preview Form

This form is used to display schedule

report before it is printed on a paper
Picture 2.2 Time Data Form

This form is used to subtitute lesson

time allocation with the clock time.

Informatics Engineering Journal 2015

4.3. Program Simulation

This test is done to ensure that
program buildging result yields as
planned before. Besides, this test is also
intended for searching error possibility
that may rise and solve it immediately.

6.

REFERENCE

[1]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/syst
em
[2]

Data Entry Simulation

a.
Testing Method
Data entry simulation test covers
ability of a table to receive data entry
toward data type. Tested program
component is including bell alert.
Achieved Result
From all data entry there is no
error or any trouble found related to
data type issue.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Info
rmation
[3]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dat
abase
[4]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vis
ual_Basic

b.

5. Conclusion
1.
This Automatic School Bell
System Program is designed through
Flowchart and Data Flow Diagram
analysis.
2.
Software used to design and build
this program is Microsoft Visual Basic
6.0
3.
Application of this program in the
school could provide better education
service by organizing bell alert
automatically based on the given
schedule
4.
This Program is expected to
replace the manual bell system and
reducing both cost and inefficiency
from the old system.
5.
This Program provide schedule in
printed form prior to provide
information to whole school member.
For future development of this
program, comprehensive data and
experienced human resource for the
operator position is a necessity.

[5]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Da
ta_flow_diagram