Introduction

Speedy and efficient information processing is crucial to our socially and highly
developed technology. Computer can help the intolerable burden of handling the
ever increasing amount or information with government department, public
services and business concerns expected to contain because of their ability to
analyze information as well as to retain, update and reproduce it because of their
versality to present it in a variety of forms. This may also to some extent lead to
problems occurring due to information explosion.

About Project

OFFICE MANAGEMENT works in every walk of our life. Through the

automation of this system one can easily generate the information about the
customer available and also about the old records.

For this efficient software the first and the foremost thing is that all the
requirements should be known before hand and the developer should devote its
effort for the completion of that requirement which are demanded by the
customer should be fulfilled. This system can be used in various education
departments and can distribute the copies of the system among the management
and staff members for the required information of their customer.

This very handy project for any user and includes following features:-

● Having customer information and total amount payable.

● for the help of user it displays each and every detail about required topics

● Maintains all the old record for later reference

● Have provision for automatic update as per the status

● System must handle user enquiry

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Software Development Life Cycle

The Software Development Life Cycle, as outlined by Edward Yourdon in his

book modern structure analysis (1989) has been followed in this project with
minor modifications. The modified life cycle is shown overleaf.

The life cycle consists of the following activities:

1) SURVEY- This activity is also known as feasibility study. It begins with a

request from the user for a new system. It involves the following:

● Identify the responsible user for a new system.

● Clarify the user request

● Identify deficiencies in the current system

● Establish goals and objectives of new system

● Determine the feasibility for new system

● Prepare the project charter which will guide about the remainder of the
project

2) SYSTEM ANALYSIS – The objective of the system analysis activity is to

develop structured system specification for the proposed system. The
structured system specification should describe what the proposed system
would do; independent of the technology which will be used to implement
these requirements. The structured system specification will be used to
implement these requirements. The structured system specification will be
called the essential model (also known as logical model).
The essential model may itself consist of multiple models, modeling
different aspect of the system. Generally three models used for such
purpose are:-

● DATA FLOW DIAGRAM (DFD) – It models the functioning of the

system. DFD may consist of following
● Context diagram
● Leveled Data Flow Diagram
● Process specification for Elementary Bubble
● Data dictionary for the flows and stores on the DFD

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 ● ENTITY RELATIONSHIP DIAGRAM – It models the functioning of
the data and their relationship.

● STATE TRANSITION DIAGRAM – It models the time dependent

behavior of the system.

3) PRLIMINARY DESIGN – This activity deals with certain design issues,

which are to be finalized in consultation with user. The two most common
design issues of relevance to the user are the automation boundary
and the human machine interface. The output of the activity is the user
implementation model. The major part of the user implementation model
is the specification for the user interface of the proposed system. The user
implementation model is also referred to as the physical model of the
proposed system. The model, in addition to the essential model , defines
the following for the proposed system:

● Automation boundary
● Report layouts
● Layouts of the source documents
● Screen Layouts for the data entry form
● Menu

4) SYSTEM DESIGN – System design involves transformation of the user

implementation model into software design. The design specifications of
the proposed system consist of mainly database schema.
5) IMPLEMENTATION – This activity includes programming, testing and
integration of modules into a progressively more complete system.
6) ACCEPTANCE TEST GENERATION – This activity generates a set of
data that can be used to test the new system before accepting it.
7) QUALITY ASSURANCE – Assurance is also known as final testing. This
activity requires, as its input acceptance test data generated in acceptance
test generation and an integrated system produced by implementation.

About the current system

Advantages of the current system

The project Post office management system is created in 4GL GUI based
system so that it is easy to handle. It also increases the efficiency of the end user,
because it will reduce the reluctant jobs, which are tedious to complete. The Post

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office management system also has automated capability to complete job, it
automatically generates the reports, so it reduces the work manually.

Advantages of POST OFFICE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM:-

1. This system will improve the performance of the company.

2. It reduces the tedious jobs like reluctant work, long procedures, automated
report generation, up to date information.

3. It will improve the Post Office Management, since all the information is
available whenever required.

4. It provides quick processing thus helps in transaction and updating in

master records can be performed in few records.

5. It allows easy generation of all types of reports.

6. It provides accurate output.

7. It gives fast answer of queries.

8. The amount of paper is reduced.

9. Better security

10. Economical.

11. Better Control.

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Deficiencies of the manual system:

1. Lack of immediate retrieval of information - In manual system, lot of time is

wasted in retrieving information. Much searching is required before required
is found. This wastes a lot of time of the user as well as the person.

2. Lack of immediate information storage – In manual system, it is difficult to

store information at proper place at that very moment. This is because the
person is unable to quickly locate the place where the information is to be
stored.

3. Prompts updating not possible – Changes are quite natural in all walks of
life. Information and stored data also changes from time to time. These
changes should be incorporated in the working also to keep the information
up to date. However, bringing about changes through the manual system is a
slow and tedious process because of which inaccurate information storage
occurs.

4. Unplanned working – The manual system lacks the element of planned

working. Records are not properly maintained. This creates a lot of problems
at times like during information retrieval and storage
5. Insignificant generation of managerial and strategic reports. – In manual
system, reports for management are difficult to be generated and strategic
reports are impossible. This is because for these reports proper storage of
information, its retrieval and its filtering are very important and very tough
in manual system.
6. Accuracy – The manual system lacks accuracy in working and a number of
operations may be performed incorrectly, the computations that are done in
the organization may be incorrect and whatever are generated in the system
may be inaccurate.
7. Reliability – The reliability of the manual system is considered to be low
because of the above given reasons including the fact that ‘TO error is
human’. Any task that is performed by men, always contain the risk of errors.
8. Redundancy of information – In manual system, particular information may
be stored at a number of places, lending to redundancy. Redundancy of data
or information creates a number of problems storage space is wasted;
changes at one place are to be made at a number of places and so on.

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Goals of the proposed system

1. Immediate retrieval of information – The main objective of the new

system is to provide for quick and efficient retrieval of information, any type of
information would be available to the user whenever he requires. Facility would
be provided for online query to cut down on the response time greatly.
2. Immediate storage of information – In the proposed system, it will be easy
to store information at any given time at the correct places. The location of
storage would be easily available and user will face no difficulty.
3. Prompt updating of information – In the proposed system, the information
will always remain up to date as the updating will be prompt and without any
efforts. This factor will be of great importance in the proposed system as it
determines the integrity of the information stored.
4. Fast computation of information – The computation of information will be
quite fast in the proposed system. Not only mathematical calculations, but also
logical comparisons will be quick in the new system.
5. Planned approach toward working – The working is the service center
information system will be well planned and organized. The data will be stored
properly in the data store which will help in retrieval of information as well as in
its storage.
6. Generation of managerial and strategic reports – The new system would
provide for regular generation of reports which would help the management in
decisions making work and in controlling the over-all working of the
organization. The generation of these reports would be possible only if the
system is organized such that retrieval of information can be made on conditions.
7. Accuracy – The level of accuracy in the new proposed system would be
higher. All operations and computations would be done correctly and this will
ensure that whatever information is coming from the center, it is accurate.
8. Reliability – The reliability of the proposed system would be high due to
the above stated reasons. The reason for the increased reliability of the system is
that now there would be proper storage of information, its maintenance would be
well managed and retrieval would be possible in the desired manner.
9. Non Redundant Information – In the new system, utmost care be taken
that no information is repeated, any usage of storage or otherwise. This would
assure economic usage of storage or space and consistency in the data stored.
This will also help make those changes easily as the change would have to be
made only at that very place and no where else.

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HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

To make the application smoothly and can be used to its optimum level
following Hardware and Software requirements are required:

 128 MB of RAM

 PENTIUM III processor or equivalent or higher versions.

 At least 5GB of Hard disk.

 Java Run Time Environment(JRE) – jdk1.5 (As Front End Tool)

 SQL server (As Back End Tool

Tools and Platforms

Stay with us on academic presentation on “POST OFFICE MANAGEMENT

SYSTEM”. This project is developed on Java Platform using the database
technology at its core. As the images and graphics give more appealing effect to
the eyes of the user then the other conventional format, so as to make project
more effective and to make the project to able to store the information about
various entities involved. The project incorporates the use of software tools like:-

JAVA Language – Front End

SQL Server – Back End

The Front end is the software which manages the logical representation of data
which Back end manages to manipulate and store data.

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Introduction

What is java?
Java is a general purpose object oriented programming language . It is the first
programming language that is not tied to any particular hardware or operating
system .The language is based on the concept of an object. Java is highly derived
from C++ . Most striking feature of the language is that it is platform neutral
language.

There were five primary goals in the creation of the Java language:

• It should use the object-oriented programming methodology.

• It should allow the same program to be executed on multiple operating
systems.
• It should contain built-in support for using computer networks.
• It should be designed to execute code from remote sources securely.
• It should be easy to use and borrow the good parts of older object-oriented
languages like C++.

Java tools
In order to write java application or applets ,one need more than a language . The
tools that lets one to write , test , debug programs.

Java features
● Compiler and Interpreted
● Platform independent
● Simple
● Secure
● Familiar
● Portable
● Object-Oriented
● Robust
● Multithreaded
● High performance
● Distributed
● Dynamic

Compiler and Interpreted - There is a java compiler , named javac . The java
compiler takes input source code files (these files typically have the ext.java) and
converts them into compiled bytecode files.The java Interpreter known as javac
can be used to execute java application .The interpreter translates bytecode
directly into program actions.

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Platform independent - Java programs can be easily moved from one computer
to another, anywhere and anytime.Changes and upgrades made in operating
systems, processors and system resources will not force any changes in java
programs.

Simple - Java is designed to be easy for programmer to learn and use efficiently.

Secure- When we use a java compatible web browser, we can safely download
java applets without fear of virus infection. Java achieves this protection by
confining a java program to java execution environment and not allowing it
access to other parts of the computer.

Familiar- It is modeled on C, C++ languages. Java code looks like C++.

Portable- Java compiler generates bytecode instructions that can be implemented

on any machine and also the size of the primitive data types are machine
independent.

Object-Oriented - Java is a true object-oriented language. All program code and

data reside within objects and classes.

Robust -It provides many safeguards to ensure reliable code. It has strict compile
time and run time checking for data types. Designed as a garbage-collected
language relieving the programmers and also incorpates the concept of exception
handling which captures series errors.

Multithreaded - Java supports handling multiple tasks simultaneously which

greatly improves the interactive performance of graphical applications.

High performance - Java performance is impressive for an interpreted language ,

mainly due to use of immediate bytecode . Use of multithreaded and further its
architecture is also designed to reduce overheads during runtime.

Distributed - It has ability to share both data and programs. Java applications can
open and access remote objects on internet which enables multiple programmers
at multiple remote locations to collaborate and work together on single project.

Dynamic - Java is capable of dynamically in new class libraries , methods and

objects .It supports functions written in other languages like C,C++ called as
native methods.

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Automatic garbage collection - One idea behind Java's automatic memory
management model is that programmers should be spared the burden of having
to perform manual memory management. In some languages the programmer
allocates memory to create any object stored on the heap and is responsible for
later manually deallocating that memory to delete any such objects. If a
programmer forgets to de-allocate memory or writes code that fails to do so in a
timely fashion, a memory leak can occur: the program will consume a potentially
arbitrarily large amount of memory. In addition, if a region of memory is de-
allocated twice, the program can become unstable and may crash.

In Java, this potential problem is avoided by automatic garbage collection. The

programmer determines when objects are created and the Java runtime is
responsible for managing the objects' lifecycle. The program or other objects can
reference an object by holding a reference to it (which, from a low-level point of
view, is its address on the heap). When no references to an object remain, the
Java garbage collector automatically deletes the unreachable object, freeing
memory and preventing a memory leak. Memory leaks may still occur if a
programmer's code holds a reference to an object that is no longer needed—in
other words, they can still occur but at higher conceptual levels.

Comparing Java and C++, it is possible in C++ to implement similar

functionality (for example, a memory management model for specific classes
can be designed in C++ to improve speed and lower memory fragmentation
considerably), with the possibly cost of extra development time and some
application complexity. In Java, garbage collection is built in and virtually
invisible to the developer. That is, developers may have no notion of when
garbage collection will take place as it may not necessarily correlate with any
actions being explicitly performed by the code they write. Depending on
intended application, this can be beneficial or disadvantageous: the programmer
is freed from performing low-level tasks but at the same time lose the option of
writing lower level code.

Java Magic: The Bytecode

Bytecode is a highly optimized set of instruction designed to be executed by the

java runtime system, which is called Java Virtual Machine and it exists only
inside the computer memory.
Java Program Java Compiler Virtual Machine

Source code Bytecode

Process of Compilation

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 Bytecode Java Interpreter Machine code
Virtual Machine Real Machine

Process of converting Bytecode into Machine code

Object Oriented Programming

Object Oriented Programming is an approach that provides a way of
modularizing programs by creating partitioned memory area for both data and
functions that can be used as templates for creating copies of such modules on
demand.

Objects and Classes - An object is a software bundle of variables and related

methods. Objects are key to understanding object-oriented technology. Real-
world objects share two characteristics: They all have state and behavior.
Software objects are modeled after real-world objects in that they too have state
and behavior. A software object maintains its state in one or more variables. A
variable is an item of data named by an identifier. A software object implements
its behavior with methods. A method is a function (subroutine) associated with
an object. In the Java programming language, an object can specify one of four
access levels for each of its variables and methods.
A class is a blueprint that defines the variables and the methods common to all
objects of a certain kind. After you've created the class, you can create any
number of objects from that class. When you create an instance of a class, the
system allocates enough memory for the object and all its instance variables.
Each instance gets its own copy of all the instance variables defined in the class.
Classes can also define class variables. A class variable contains information that
is shared by all instances of the class .A class can also declare class methods.
You can invoke a class method directly from the class, whereas you must invoke
instance methods on a particular instance.

Encapsulation - Wrapping of data and methods into a single unit is known as

encapsulation. It is the most striking feature of class. The data is not accessible to
outside world and only those methods which are wrapped in the class can access
it. The insulation of the data from direct access by the program is called data
hiding.

Inheritance - Inheritance is the process by which objects of one class acquire the
property of objects of another class. Each subclass inherits state .However,
subclasses are not limited to the states and behaviors provided to them by their
superclass. Subclasses can add variables and methods to the ones they inherit

11
from the superclass. It supports the concept of hierarchical classification it also
provides the use of reusability. .

Polymorphism - This means the ability to take more than one form. An
operation may exhibit different behaviour in different instances. The behaviour
depends upon the types of data used in the operation. It plays an important role
in allowing objects having different internal structures to share external interface.

12
VERSION HISTORY

JDK 1.0(January 23, 1996) — Initial release.

JDK 1.1(February 19, 1997) - Inner classes added to the language

J2SE 1.2(December 8, 1998) — Codename Playground. J2SE 5.0 were

rebranded Java2 and the version name "J2SE" (Java 2 Platform,
Standard Edition) replaced JDK to distinguish the base platform from
J2EE (Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition) and J2ME (Java 2 Platform,
Micro Edition).

J2SE 1.3(May 8, 2000) — Codename Kestrel.

J2SE 1.4(February 6, 2002) — Codename Merlin.

J2SE 5.0(September 30, 2004) — Codename Tiger.(Originally

numbered 1.5, which is still used as the internal version number.[1])

Java SE 6 — Codename Mustang. As of 2006 this is currently in

development under JSR 270. A beta version was released on February
15, 2006.Beta 2 was released on June 15, 2006 and is available at
http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/ea.jsp.
The final release is expected autumn 2006.

Java SE 7 — Codename Dolphin. This is in the early planning stages.

The Dolphin Project will start up in late July, with release estimated in
2008.[3]

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Java SE - Java Database Connectivity (JDBC)

The Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) API is the industry standard for
database-independent connectivity between the Java programming language and
a wide range of databases – SQL databases and other tabular data sources, such
as spreadsheets or flat files. The JDBC API provides a call-level API for SQL-
based database access.

JDBC technology allows you to use the Java programming language to exploit
"Write Once, Run Anywhere" capabilities for applications that require access to
enterprise data. With a JDBC technology-enabled driver, you can connect all
corporate data even in a heterogeneous environment.

The JDBC API is the industry standard for database-independent connectivity

between the Java programming language and a wide range of databases. The
JDBC API provides a call-level API for SQL-based database access. JDBC
technology allows you to use the Java programming language to exploit "Write
Once, Run Anywhere" capabilities for applications that require access to
enterprise data.

JDBC API Overview

The JDBC API makes it possible to do three things:

← Establish a connection with a database or access any tabular data source
← Send SQL statements
← Process the results

JDBC Architecture

The JDBC API contains two major sets of interfaces: the first is the JDBC API
for application writers, and the second is the lower-level JDBC driver API
for driver writers. JDBC technology drivers fit into one of four categories.
Applications and applets can access databases via the JDBC API using
pure Java JDBC technology-based drivers, as shown in this figure:

14
Left side, Type 4: Direct-to-Database Pure Java Driver
This style of driver converts JDBC calls into the network protocol used
directly by DBMSs, allowing a direct call from the client machine to the
DBMS server and providing a practical solution for intranet access.

Right side, Type 3: Pure Java Driver for Database Middleware

This style of driver translates JDBC calls into the middleware vendor's
protocol, which is then translated to a DBMS protocol by a middleware
server. The middleware provides connectivity to many different databases.

The graphic below illustrates JDBC connectivity using ODBC drivers and
existing database client libraries.

Left side, Type 1: JDBC-ODBC Bridge plus ODBC Driver

This combination provides JDBC access via ODBC drivers. ODBC binary
code -- and in many cases, database client code -- must be loaded on each

15
 client machine that uses a JDBC-ODBC Bridge. Sun provides a JDBC-
ODBC Bridge driver, which is appropriate for experimental use and for
situations in which no other driver is available.

Right side, Type 2: A native API partly Java technology-enabled driver

This type of driver converts JDBC calls into calls on the client API for
Oracle, Sybase, Informix, DB2, or other DBMS. Note that, like the bridge
driver, this style of driver requires that some binary code be loaded on
each client machine.

For comparison of driver types, please see the article published in

Computerworld.

Partnering for Progress

Sun worked with an array of companies in the industry to create and rapidly
establish the JDBC API as the industry-standard, open interface for Java
applications to access databases.

Industry Momentum

Leading database, middleware and tool vendors have been building support for
JDBC technology into many new products. This ensures that customers can build
portable Java applications while choosing from a wide range of competitive
products for the solution best suited to their needs. See the Industry Support page
for a list of companies that are shipping products with support for JDBC
technology.

Advantages of JDBC Technology

Leverage Existing Enterprise Data

With JDBC technology, businesses are not locked in any proprietary architecture,
and can continue to use their installed databases and access information easily --
even if it is stored on different database management systems.

Simplified Enterprise Development

The combination of the Java API and the JDBC API makes application
development easy and economical. JDBC hides the complexity of many data
access tasks, doing most of the "heavy lifting"for the programmer behind the
scenes. The JDBC API is simple to learn, easy to deploy, and inexpensive to

16
maintain.

Zero Configuration for Network Computers

With the JDBC API, no configuration is required on the client side. With a driver
written in the Java programming language, all the information needed to make a
connection is completely defined by the JDBC URL or by a DataSource object
registered with a Java Naming and Directory Interface (JNDI) naming service.
Zero configuration for clients supports the network computing paradigm and
centralizes software maintenance.

Relating JDBC to ODBC -

There is a very close relationship between API and JDBC architecture and (open
database connectivity) ODBC counterparts. The JDBC –ODBC bridge enables
you to access databases using ODBC drivers from JDBC . JDBC –ODBC bridge
effectively translate the JDBC API calls into the corresponding ODBC calls .
ODBC drivers are available for almost all types of databases. JDBC can access
almost all databases . Because of their common ancestry they share some
important components:-

Driver manager Loads database drivers and manages the connections

between the application and the driver
Driver Translates API calls into operations for a specific data
source
Connection A session between an application and a database
Statement A SQL statement to perform a query or update
operation
Metadata Information about returned data , database and driver
Resultset Logical set of columns and rows of data returned by
executing a statement

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 Driver Manager Connection Statement ResultSet

Driver

Database
Database

The JDBC architecture is based on a collection of java interfaces and classes that
together enable you to connect to data sources , to create and execute SQL statements
and to retrieve and modify data in a database.

JDBC-ODBC Bridge Driver

The JDBC-ODBC Bridge –“sun.jdbc.odbc.jdbcodbcDriver”-is included with JDK and it
enables Java applications to access data through drivers written to the ODBC standard.
The driver bridge is useful for accessing data in data sources for which no pure JDBC
drivers exist. The bridge works by translating the JDBC methods into ODBC function
calls.

Key Features

← Full Access to Metadata

←
The JDBC API provides metadata access that enables the development of
sophisticated applications that need to understand the underlying facilities
and capabilities of a specific database connection.

No Installation
←
A pure JDBC technology-based driver does not require special installation; it
is automatically downloaded as part of the applet that makes the JDBC calls.

Database Connection Identified by URL

←
JDBC technology exploits the advantages of Internet-standard URLs to
identify database connections. The JDBC API includes an even better way to

18
 identify and connect to a data source, using a DataSource object, that makes
code even more portable and easier to maintain.

In addition to this important advantage, DataSource objects can provide

connection pooling and distributed transactions, essential for enterprise
database computing. This functionality is provided transparently to the
programmer.

Included in the Java Platform

←
As a core part of the Java 2 Platform, the JDBC API is available anywhere
that the platform is. This means that your applications can truly write
database applications once and access data anywhere. The JDBC API is
included in both the Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition (J2SE) and the Java 2
Platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EE), providing server-side functionality for
industrial strength scalability.

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 SQL-STRUCTURED QUERY LANGUAGE

SQL is not a procedural language. It is not used to define complex processes;

we can use SQL to use commands that define and manipulate data. SQL is
different from other languages.

• SQL is very readable.

• In SQL we always issue commands.

SQL statements fall into two groups:-

● Data Defination Language (DDL) – DDL statements are used to describe the
tables and the data they contain. The subset of SQL statements used for modeling
the structure (rather than the contents) of a database or cube. The DDL gives you
the ability to create, modify, and remove databases and database objects.

● Data Manipulation Language (DML) – DML statements that are used to

operate on data in the database. These are statements that allow you to create or
alter objects (such as tables, indexes, views, and so on) in the database. The
subset of SQL statements used to retrieve and manipulate data. DML can be
further divided into 2 groups:-

● Select Statements – Statements that return a set of results.

● Everything else – Statements that don’t return a set of results.

Here are some of the quries defined:-

SELECT - SQL statement used to request a selection, projection, join, query,

and so on, from a SQL Server database.

Primary key – Primary key constraints identify the column or set of columns
whose values uniquely identify a row in a table. No two rows in a table can have
the same primary key value. You cannot enter a NULL value for any column in a
primary key.

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Insert - The Insert logical operator inserts each row from its input into the object
specified in the Argument column. To insert the data into a relation we
either specify a tuple to be inserted or write a query.

Delete - The Delete logical operator deletes from an object rows that satisfy the
optional predicate in the Argument column. We can delete only whole
tuples; we cannot delete values on only particular attributes.

Update - The Update logical operator updates each row from its input in the
object specified in the Argument column. It provides a way of modifying
existing data in a table update statement do not return a result set, they
merely modify data in the database.

If a WHERE :() predicates is present, only those rows that satisfy this predicate
are updated.

If a SET :() predicate is present, it indicates the value to which each updated
column is set.

If a DEFINE :() predicate is present, this lists the values that this operator
defines.

Alter - Adds or removes files, file groups, table. Modifies a table definition by
altering, adding or dropping columns and constraints, or by disabling or
enabling constraints and triggers. Can also be used to modify the attributes of
files and file groups, such as changing the name or size of a file.

21
APPLETS

What is an Applet?
Applets are small applications that are accessed on an internet server, transported
over the internet, automatically installed and as a part of web document. It can
perform arithmetic operations, display graphics, play sounds, accept user input,
and create animation and interactive games.

Capabilities
Java applets can be used to build full featured graphical user interface. Applets
can communicate over the internet to a host server and even communicate with
other applets on a form.

Limitation
For java to be truly successful. However, the client security has to be completely
assured because of this security measures place some limitations on java applets.
By default, applets cannot communicate with any server other than the
originating server. Applets also cannot read or write files to the local file system.

Applet life cycle

Each applet has 4 major events in its life time:-

• Born or initialization state

• Running state
• Idle or stopped state
• Dead or destroyed state

Born or initialization state: - Applet enters the initialization state when it is first
loaded. This is achieved by calling the init () method of applet class. The applet
is born. If we want then we can override the initialization more than once in the
applet program.

Running state - Applet enters the running state when the system calls the start ()
method of applet class. This occurs automatically after the applet is initialized.
We can override the start () method to create a thread to control the applet.

Idle or stopped state - An applet becomes idle when it is stopped from running.
Stopping occurs automatically when we leave the page containing running

22
applet. We can also do so by calling the stop () method explicitly. Stop () method
can be overridden.

Dead or destroyed state - An applet is said to be dead when it is removed from

memory. This occurs automatically by invoking the destroy () method when we
quit the browser.

Display state - Applet moves to the display state whenever it has to perform
some output operations on the screen. This happens immediately after the applet
enters into running state. The paint () method is called to accomplish this task.
Almost every applet will have a paint method. We can override this method.

23
Abstract Windowing Toolkit

The windowing package

The AWT is a very portable windowing library. It is a standard part of java
environment and provides all the basic functionality
one would expect to use in a modern windowing system .The AWT defines
windows according to a class hierarchy that adds functionality and specificity
with each level.

The AWT package allows you to develop window-like applications. It allows

your applications to run on different windowing systems. The classes in AWT
package will allow you to:-

• Generate Colors.
• Draw graphics.
• Add GUI components like push buttons, scrollbars etc to your applications.
• Handle user input from mouse and keyboard.
• Create Containers.
• Classes like Layout Managers helps in automatically positioning a GUI
object when we add it to the container.

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SWING

SWING is a set of classes that provides powerful and flexible functionality. In

addition with several components provided by AWT, swing supplies several
exciting additions, including tabbed panes, scroll panes, trees and tables. It also
changes the images as the state of any component changes. Swing is built upon
the foundation of the AWT. Swing components are written entirely in Java and
therefore are Platform-independent .Swing is also termed also light-weight and
provide pluggable look and feel.
There are 2 Swing classes that are quite important:

Jframe and Component – Jframe extends the AWT class Frame. It contains
additional features that enable it to support Swing components. JComponent
extends the AWT component and Container classes. It is the top level class for
all Swing components and provides Swing pluggable look and feel.
Here are some of the Swing component classes:

CLASS DESCRIPTION
Abstract Button Abstract super class for Swing buttons.
Button Group Encapsulates a mutually exclusive set of buttons.
Image Icon Encapsulates an icon.
JApplet The SWING version of APPLET.
JButton The SWING push button class.
JCheckBox The SWING check box class.
JComboBox Encapsulates a combo box .
JLabels The SWING version of a label.
JRadioButton The SWING version of a radio button.
JScrollPane Encapsulates a scrollable window.
JTabbedPane Encapsulates a tabbed window.
JTextField The SWING version of Text field.
JTree Encapsulates a tree based-control.

Here are the some of the components used:

● JApplet – Applet that use SWING must be subclass of JApplet.

JApplet is rich with functionality that is not found in Applet.

● Icons – Icons are encapsulated by the Image Icon class, which paints an icon
from an image.

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● JLabel – Labels are the instances of the JLabel class which extends
JComponent. It can display text or icon. These are passive controls that do not
support any interaction with the user.

● JTextFields – Text field is encapsulated by the JTextComponent class which

extends JComponent. JTextField allows you to edit one line of text.

● JButton – JButton class provides the functionality of a push button. JButton

allows an icon of string to be associated with the push button.

● JCheckBox – It is supported by the JCheckBox class. It is a control that is

used to turn an option on or off.

● JTextArea - Text area is encapsulated by the JTextComponent class which

extends JComponent. JTextArea allows you to edit multiline of text.

● JRadioButton – it is supported by the JRadioButton class. It can be

configured into a group of check boxes in which only one check box can be
checked at any one time.

● JComboBox – It is provided through the JComboBox class. It normally

displays one entry and can also display a drop down list that allows a user to
select a different entry.

● JScrollPane – It is a component that presents a rectangular area in which a

component may be viewed. These are implemented in Swing by JScrollPane
class.

● JTree - It is a component that presents a hierarchical view of data. A user has

ability to expand individual subtrees. These are implemented in Swing by JTree
class.

ADVANTAGES OF (JAVAX) SWING:

1. It provides more powerful and more flexible components possible in

AWT package. For e.g. JButton can have both image as well as text field
associated with it which is not possible in awt package.

2. Unlike AWT components SWING components are not implemented by

platform-specific code. Instead they are written entirely in java and
therefore are platform independent. Thus term lightweight is used to
describe such elements.

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 3. Further the Swing components can provide pluggable look and feel,
which means that it is easy to substitute another appearance and behavior
for an element.

Data Flow Diagram

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FORMS LAYOUT

28
WELCOME WINDOW

29
USER-ID

30
OPTION WINDOW

31
PARCEL FORM

32
MONEY ORDER FORM

33
SPEED POST FORM

34
REGISTRY FORM

35
E-CARD FORM

36
FORAIGN MAIL

37
DATA BASE DIAGRAM

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LIMITATIONS

Although I have tried to do the best and try to do well all the things that are
possible in a Payroll System, but still the system contains some of the
limitations.

The reason of these limitations is the time constraints. Time is the major
problem. I have to deliver the project in a particular time period. That’s why I
have to leave some topics that actually I want to cover, I am still working on this
software and my next goal is to remove these limitations and develop a more
efficient and elegant system.

Limitations of the system:-

● this project does not support Multi-User System.

● the information of expenses is not included in this project.

After removing these and other minor limitations I hope this project will be very
efficient and effective.

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Conclusion

The computer program “POST OFFICE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM” has been

designed basically for the government departments, private companies and other
institutions.
By entering the required data one can easily generate the information about the
customer and all the old records as well as other services provided through the
system. As provided in the introduction we can do many required works on it but
it is not based on a particular post office management system as common idea is
taken into consideration while preparing this project so to implement it to any
post office it may require some modifications as per the requirements.
Still surely it will be provided as a great help to any post office system and will
automate his/her work completely motivating them to work more efficiently.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. J2SE Specification – www.sun.com

2. JAVA2 – Herbert Schildt

3. Beginning JAVA2(JDK1.5) – Ivor Horton

4. Java Programming BlackBoot – Holzner

5. Java developer Hand Book – BPB publication

6. Programming Java Swing – Shen Zokowaski

7. Java2 – CMC

8. Programming with Java -E-balaguruSwamy

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