1.0 INTRODUCTION
Computer data processing is of great importance in the modern world and increasingly computers are being applied to the solution of industrial, commercial mathematical and scientific problems.
In recent times, there have been need growing need to computerize the operations of big establishments both public and private to increase their overall efficiency. This is achieved by using computer to store, process, and retrieve information as well as generates report. These computers make use of application packages that is a computer program and manuals designed to cover all aspects of particular task in realizing the objective. It is now widely accepted that the coordination of all complex functions of an organization is greatly assisted by en efficient data processing system.
In lieu of the size and volume of work of the Imo State Motor Licensing Authority, there is need to computerize their operations. Apart from other advantages, this will now replace the manual process of registering vehicles, issue driving licenses, renew expired licenses as well as change ownership of vehicles. Since the computerized mode of operation is flexible and accurate, record keeping ensured, it will give the management of the Motor Licensing Authority enough time for planning and decision- making rather than being immersed in the detail of routine functions. This is necessary since the control of any establishment ultimately lies in the hands of management. Also the computerized operations of the licensing will ensure a very fast retrieval of the necessary information about a vehicle to the police timer of urgent need like during car theft or road accident.
in presenting the report of this project, the researchers have arranged the report in five different chapters. Chapter one covers on the introduction, Imo state Motor Licensing Authority in brief, problems that led to the study, the objective of the project. Chapter two deals on the Literature Review, general overview, computer application software and the system software. Chapter three takes a look on the method of data collection. data preparation and analysis, manual operations, report generation for manual operations, file organization and processing database management system, the database administrator, history of the database management and its advantages in processing.
Chapter four highlights the database file created, list/ description of developed programs in the project, how to execute the software packages, the password routine, the hardware requirement and system flow chart.
Chapter five is on problems encountered in the course of carrying out the project, conclusion and recommendation.
The Imo State Licensing Authority is an arm of the Imo Board of Internal Revenue, charged with the responsibility of ascertaining the genuine of vehicles either bought locally or imported into the country and registering the vehicles after inspection for easy identification, issuing of driving licenses to qualified citizens after conducting a test, renewal of expired driving license and the change of ownership of vehicle. Through these operations, the licensing authority raises money for the state government in the form of fees for their services to the customers for the maintenance of the roads on which these vehicles ply.
The origin of the Imo State Motor Licensing Authority dates back to the creation of the State in 1976. AS stated earlier, it is an arm of the board of internal revenue under the state Ministry of Finance.
The research project, which is a computerized operation of the Imo state Motor Licensing Authority, is being designed to meet the following objectives.
The scope of this project covers the entire operation of the Imo state Motor Licensing Authority Owerri, which includes registering of vehicles either imported into the country or bought locally after proper inspection, issuing driving license of qualified customers after conducting a driving test and renewing expired driving license as well changing the ownership of vehicle from the previous owner to the present owner after the condition for the changes are met.
While digging a software package for the computerized operations of the Imo state Motor Licensing Authority, certain technical terms are used from time to time. I wish therefore to give the interpretation/ definition of terms.
DATA
Data is information in coded form, acceptable for input and processing by a computer system. In other words, data is a representation of information.
SYSTEM
A computer is an electronic machine, which under the control of a stored program, automatically accepts and processes data and supplies the results of that processing.
FILE
A file is an organized collection of data; files are generally large, contain related items of information and strictly arranged according to some structure.
RECORD
A Record is a unit of data, which makes up files. It contains a number of data items and each record in a file is determined by the way, in which the records are arranged within the file.
PRG
This is a file name extension for a program file
FIELD
This is the smallest addressable element in a database file.
MENU
This gives the user a list of program choices
DATABASE
A data base is a structure that can house information about multiple types of entities as well as relationships among the entities.
DBMS
Database management system and it is a software product through which users interact with a database. The actual manipulation of the underlying database is handled by the DBMS
DATABASE FILES
A collection of related records pertaining to a particular subject