Contents

Software, Hardware, and Readings

Resources for learning

Textbook

Required Software

We use several commercial-grade tools: Visual Studio, Azure Data Studio, MS SQL Server, Excel, and the MS SQL Server. You will be told in class when and how to access these resources. The AI tools policies are covered here.
All software required for COMM4230 is installed in the McIntire lab computers and is maintained by our HelpDesk. Please inform them of any malfunction, should any occur.
Using the labs is the easiest way to do the assignments.  If you are technologically savvy and want your own copy on your own machine, see these instructions.

How Tos

Answers to frequently asked questions.

MS Teams

To create a community of learners and keep in touch with each other we use Microsoft Teams. Early in the course you will receive an email with instructions on connecting to our community. Teams is the fastest way to ask me questions about the course, assignments, and technologies. Answer a colleague's question first and you will receive extra participation credit. We call these rewards for helping others "Bug Bounties".

Textbook is optional

There is no mandatory textbook or software to purchase in advance. Many students like to have a textbook to rely on and integrate the classroom learning;  others prefer to do their own research online or using an AI assistant. All approaches are valid.

Here I list a few resource that I find useful

  • VB: If you are a programming beginner, then Sams Teach Yourself Visual Basic in 24 Hours by J. Foxall, is a good free option to get you started quickly or to fill some gaps in your knowledge. If you do not find UVA in the scroll down list, go to the top of the list and sign in with your UVA email.
  • VB The Visual Basic official reference by Microsoft is not intended as something that you read from top to bottom. It is best used as a reference dictionary for the language and its keywords. Use it that way.
  • SQL: An excellent interactive resource to deepen your knowledge of SQL is the SQL Tutorial by the W3 School
  • SQL: The Microsoft reference for Transact SQL (T-SQL), their version of SQL, is WAY more technical and the authoritative reference.
  • SQL: If you prefer a more traditional SQL book, look into Getting Started with SQL by T. Nield. If you do not find UVA in the scroll down list, go to the top of the list and sign in with your UVA email.
  • FINANCE: To deepen your knowledge of options and derivatives, I recommend Options, Futures, and Other Derivatives by John Hull. It is a very well-regarded reference book, albeit pricey. If you want to save some money, do not buy the latest edition. Any recent edition will do fine for our purposes.

Readings

  • #1 - Read Chapter2 of Excel 2019 Power Programming with VBA by M. Alexander and D. Kusleika.  Read the chapter before doing the homework on Excel macros. The Chapter introduces the Macro recorder.  Read up to "Comparing absolute and relative macro recording," then skip all except "Other macro recording concepts," "Macro security in Excel," and "Trusted locations."
    Connecting to the O'Reilly library may require a VPN connection. Connect to the VPN, go to this page and enter 'University of Virginia' or use your UVA email as needed.
  • #2 - Skim the VB keyword dictionary by Microsoft. Use it as a reference that lists and explains all the keywords used by Visual Basic.
  • #3 - If you would like to skim a VBA handbook as a reference resource, see the learning resources section.
    Optional resource with examples, especially suited for beginners: Excel-Pratique: look at the concept covered in class: e.g., loops, procedures and functions, and more.
  • #4 - Three optional SQL resources: A really nice SQL tutorial, the official resource for T-SQL which is the version of SQL adopted by Microsoft, and my own short & sweet brief on writing SQL queries.  Start from the last, and use the first two as references.  As always, feel free to interact with GenAI for extra help.
  • #5 - This O'Reilly book on pivot tables is a good resource understand what they are and how to use them.  Beginners: read  Pivot tables fundamentals - Chapter 1-2.   Intermediate and expert pivot tables users may skim the table of contents and use it as a reference book. If you do not see your institution from the drop-down menu, choose: Not listed? Click here, then enter your UVA email address to access content.
  • #6 - Delta and the Black-Scholes model are a standard topic in Finance. If you have covered it in a previous Finance class, please review your notes from that class.  Else, read these introductions on Options, the Black-Scholes model and delta.