Course Project DeVry University College Of Engineering And I

Course ProjectdeVry Universitycollege Of Engineering And Information S

Develop an application that reads customer data from a file and writes data to a file, using a three-tier architecture. The presentation tier must handle only GUI interactions, with data processing in a separate business rules class, and file I/O managed by a dedicated DataIO class. Implement methods to add, retrieve, and delete customer records, ensuring data persistence even if the application closes. Include error handling to manage file access issues and ensure user communication occurs solely within the GUI layer.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

In contemporary software engineering, data persistence is fundamental for developing reliable and scalable applications. This paper explores the implementation of a file I/O system within a Java application structured under a three-tier architecture, as exemplified in the course project for DeVry University’s College of Engineering and Information Sciences. The main objective is to create a robust system that saves customer data to a file, retrieves it on demand, and allows modifications like deletion, all while maintaining clear separation of concerns among application tiers.

Introduction

The necessity for data persistence in software applications cannot be overstated. It ensures that user data persists beyond individual sessions, enabling continuity and reliability. In the context of a Java-based GUI application, implementing proper file input/output (I/O) mechanisms is crucial. The three-tier architecture divides responsibilities among presentation, business logic, and data access layers, promoting organization and scalability. This paper details the development of a DataIO class—central to managing file operations—within this architecture, aligning with industry standards.

Designing the DataIO Class

The DataIO class functions as the data access layer, handling all interactions with the data file 'Customers.txt'. Following the UML UML diagram, the class incorporates methods such as add(), getList(), and delete(). The add() method appends new customer records to the file, ensuring data persistence. It uses a BufferedWriter with append mode enabled, writes data with specific delimiters, and manages resources with proper exception handling.

Similarly, the getList() method reads all existing customer data, parses it into Customer objects, and returns an ArrayList. It opens the file with a BufferedReader, reads line-by-line, tokenizes the data, and constructs Customer instances accordingly. Error handling in both methods ensures that exceptions during file access are relayed to the GUI, maintaining separation of concerns.

Implementing Data Addition

When a user enters customer details and submits an order through the GUI, an event handler creates a Customer object and invokes the add() method of DataIO within a try-catch block. Successful writing of data results in updating the customer list displayed on the GUI, while failures prompt error messages, confirming that user interaction remains within the GUI layer. This ensures that the data layer remains decoupled from direct user communication.

Loading and Displaying Data

The loadCustomers() method in the GUI invokes DataIO's getList(), retrieves all customer objects, and refreshes the display list. Exception handling here ensures that the application gracefully manages file access errors, informing the user via dialog boxes. Automatic loading of customers at startup can be achieved by calling loadCustomers() in the main method or constructor of the GUI class.

Customer Deletion Handling

The delete operation involves fetching all customer records, removing the specified customer, and rewriting the data file. The delete() method in DataIO reads the entire list, deletes the old file, and rewrites only the remaining records. GUI code captures user selection, gets the customer’s name, and invokes delete() inside a try-catch block, followed by reloading the customer list. This approach maintains data integrity and user interface responsiveness.

Error Handling and Data Consistency

Throughout the implementation, error handling is vital. Exceptions such as IOException are caught in the GUI classes, which then communicate errors to users via dialog boxes. This approach restricts direct interaction with the user interface from data classes, upholding separation of concerns. Consistent updating of the GUI after each data operation ensures that displayed data always reflects the current state of the file.

Automating Data Loading at Startup

To automatically load customer data upon application startup, the loadCustomers() method should be invoked in the constructor of the GUI class. This setup ensures that the customer list is populated without necessitating user action each time the application runs, thus enhancing usability.

Conclusion

Implementing file I/O within a three-tier Java application involves careful design of data access classes, rigorous error handling, and strict adherence to separation of concerns. The DataIO class serves as the backbone for data persistence, providing methods to add, retrieve, and delete customer data reliably. When integrated correctly, this architecture ensures data integrity, improves maintainability, and provides a seamless user experience. As data becomes central in many applications, mastering such file I/O techniques is essential for software engineers aiming to develop robust, scalable, and user-friendly solutions.

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