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System -
Introduction 2
Business Knowledge
AZMAT System covers three main areas: Programming; Spreadsheet Modelling;
and Business knowledge.
Some of the investment banking and risk management business terms
covered in AZMAT System are as follows: cash flows; discount factors; yield;
present value; internal rate of return; accrued interest; average life; equivalent life;
yield to maturity; redemption yield; duration; modified duration; convexity; simple
margin; discounted margin; bonds (with call, put, sinking funds, partly-paid, graduated
rate); zero coupon bonds; perpetual; asset swaps; floating rate notes; convertible bonds;
bond warrants; equity warrants; money market instruments such as treasury bills, fixed
rate certificates of deposit and floating rate certificates of deposit; volatilities;
correlations; cash flow maps; and principal maps.
Main Program File
AZMAT System has over 100 system files (about 9MB in total) and the main
one MB program file is written in Excel 4/5 macro language. The current
version of Excel does not let you create new Excel 4/5 macro program files but you can open, view,
run, edit and save existing Excel 4/5 macro program files either with the same
name or with a different name. You can create
new and
edit existing Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) files in the current version of Excel.
The main program file interacts with various spreadsheets and VBA program files
in such a way that the user is completely unaware whichever
version of Excel is being used from version 5 right up to version
Excel 14 (Microsoft Office 2010) - running under Windows
XP, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10,
and back to Windows 3.11.
For example, AZMAT System has program files to create menus in three different
ways and depending on the version of Excel, the appropriate menu system and
program code are used. By observing the unprotected macro and VBA program code and
more than two dozen financial models, and after attending
seminars by the author, hopefully you will also be able to design and develop
financial systems that run smoothly under various versions of Excel and Windows.
Who is most likely to benefit from
AZMAT System:
AZMAT System covers three
main areas: Programming; Spreadsheet Modelling; and Business
knowledge. In our view people who are
most likely to benefit in the shortest time (a few months) are:
Those who have some knowledge or experience in only one
of the above areas should also benefit, but they must be realistic regarding the
time it will take. They should treat AZMAT System as a medium term learning project,
lasting at least six months.
Those who have no knowledge or
experience in any of the above areas may benefit if they are very
enthusiastic, determined to learn and have patience. They should treat AZMAT System as a
long term learning project, lasting at least one year.
If you are good at mathematics but
perhaps not confident in programming, you can concentrate on the calculations
aspect of AZMAT System. You can learn financial modelling and become really very
good in the design and development of spreadsheet models. The techniques used
in AZMAT System should prepare you to tackle many future projects with confidence.
At the same time you would also perhaps learn some programming.
If you are good at programming but perhaps
not confident in mathematics,
you can concentrate on the programming aspect of AZMAT System. You can learn
spreadsheet programming and become really very good in the design and development of
financial systems. The techniques used in AZMAT System should prepare you to tackle
many future projects with confidence. At the same time you would also perhaps learn
some financial calculations.
You are most likely to benefit from AZMAT
System
if you fit any of the following criteria:
If you do not fit any of the above criteria, in our opinion,
it will take much longer for you to benefit from AZMAT System. However, if you are
enthusiastic and are prepared to spend time learning, you should be able to achieve a good
basic knowledge of at least two of the above areas. Your starting point should be
the extensive on-line Help file, followed by reading the (expected) several
thousands of 'Questions and Answers' about various topics of AZMAT System, as
described above. Then concentrate on either spreadsheet models
or programming code, whichever you find easy. Also, attend the educational seminars
via the internet and conference call with an opportunity to put questions directly to the author
of the system - if
you are really serious about learning.
If you are an experienced computer
programmer, AZMAT System can help you:
If you know most of the business terms
mentioned above but have little or no programming knowledge, AZMAT System can help you:
If you have considerable experience of
using spreadsheets but have little or no programming knowledge, AZMAT System can help you:
If you have some knowledge or
experience in any two of the above areas, AZMAT System can help you: