Data Processing Fundamentals

Overview
This course is introduces the basic concepts of data processing from a programmer's point of view. The concepts of a computer system and programming are introduced. The different representations of data on an IBM Mainframe are covered.
This is a practical 2 day course, and includes exercises in dealing with the various numbering systems that are described.

Pre-requisites
A knowledge of basic mathematics is assumed.

Audience
Staff who are new to computers and need to understand the basic computing concepts from a programming viewpoint.

Student Numbers
The maximum recommended student to instructor ratio is 12:1

Objectives
By the end of the course, the delegates will, with the aid of course notes be able to:

· Identify and describe the basic hardware components of a computer.
· Describe the concepts of computer programs and programming languages.
· Describe the Physical Organisation of Main storage.
· Convert simple numbers from Decimal to Binary and Decimal to Hexadecimal.
· Describe the EBCDIC representation of characters.
· Translate binary numbers to EBCDIC and EBCDIC to binary.

Course Outline

Introduction

Review outline of course

Components

CPU
Registers
PSW
Main Storage Organisation
Bits and Bytes
Addressing of Main Storage
Programs

Numbering Systems

Decimal
Binary
+ve and -ve numbers
2's Complement
Binary Addition/Subtraction
Hexadecimal

Data Representation

EBCDIC
Zoned
Packed Decimal

S/390 Interrupt Handling

The current PSW
PSW's - Old and New
Steps taken during an I/O Interrupt