Structured English

1
Structured English

• Control devices run through a sequence of steps.
  These steps are programmed into the device by a
  programmer.
• Programs use a special type of language called
  Structured English. Structured English is like
  a reduced version of the English language, e.g.

1. Get bread2. Put in toaster
Get the bread from the cupboard and put it in
the toaster.
Standard English
Structured English
Notice that all the unnecessary words have been
removed and only words that give the sentence
meaning are left in.
2
Structured English
Can you translate the Standard English statements
below into Structured English?
Switch on TV.
Get Milk.
1. Turn Amber OFF.2. Turn Green ON.
3
Your turn!

• Open a blank page in Microsoft Word
• Type your name and class group at the top of
  page.
• Add the title Making Toast.
• Watch the video and write down the individual
  steps involved in making toast.
• The video will be repeated several times so dont
  worry if you didnt get it all down the first
  time.

4
Decisions
The steps we have identified so far for making
toast have been straightforward, e.g. each step
has followed on from the last.
However, not all control situations require us to
follow each step in sequence. Sometimes we need
to make a decision and jump a step that we
dont want to do.
Start
Addsugar?
Add sugarto cup
Drinkcoffee
Stop
No sugar wanted
5

• When making toast, what topping would you like?

Add Butter?
Add Marmite? (yuk!) ?
Add Jam?
Not all people like each of the toppings (and you
wouldnt want them all on the same piece of
toast!) so we need to make a decision and jump to
the next step in sequence.
6

• New Steps in our Sequence

Add butter?Spread ButterAdd Marmite?Spread
MarmiteAdd Jam?Spread Jam
StartPut bread in toasterSet timerSwitch on
toasterDelayToaster switches offEat toastStop
?
Where do the new steps need to be inserted?
7
The new sequence (with decisions)
Notice that the step that is carried out when the
answer to the decision is YES is indented.
If the answer to any of the questions is NO then
we jump to the next question (and ignore the
indented step).
8
Some rules about decisions

• There must always be two possible outcomes from
  each decision.
• The answer to the question must be YES or NO.

9
Your turn
Write a Structured English sequencefor one of
the following

• Getting up in the morning
• An automatic entry/exit barrier in a car park
• Making a cup of coffee

Include DECISIONS in your sequences. Remember a
decision has a YES or NO outcome.