ABnormal END; job did not run correctly, and execution was not completed
access
process of being connected to the network or a worker machine; obtaining data from or placing data into storage
access time
the time a computer requires to locate data in its external storage
address
a name, label or number that is used to identify a location in memory; allows each device on a single communications line to respond to its own message
allocate
to assign storage locations to a program; to assign a specific amount of computer resources to an organization or individual
alphanumeric data
data containing alphabetic characters and digits; may contain special characters and the space character
APL
A Programming Language; a compact programming language that has an interactive interpreter
array
a group of related items; an orderly structure of items or values
ASCII
American Standard Code for Information Interchange; seven-bit-plus-parity code established by ANSI to achieve compatibility between data services
ASSEMBLY
a type of programming language a step above and more usable than machine code for the programmer; programs written in assembly language run faster than those written in high-level languages
B
backup
a copy of a file made to ensure that the information will not be lost if the original is destroyed; a backup copy of a file can be made by saving it under a different name; backup copies of files are made periodically on the systems
batch
a group of similar records or programs that are treated as a single unit for processing; the user must wait for the results, and data cannot be supplied during the execution of the program
batch processing
a systems approach to processing in which a number of jobs are executed by an operating system or monitor program with no user interaction
baud
a unit for expressing the speed at which data travels through a computer; the speed in baud is the number of discrete conditions or events per second
bin
the numbered box in the dispatch area in which the printout will be placed
binary
pertaining to a number system that uses only zero and one
bit
contraction of "binary digit"; the smallest unit of information in a binary system; a one or zero condition
bug
an error in a program (glitch)
bye
command that logs a user off the system and clears the screen (see log-off)
byte
a binary element string functioning as a unit, usually shorter than a computer "word"; eight-bit bytes are the most common; also called a "character"; an operator such as "A," "7," "TRUE," or "="
C
character
letter, number, punctuation, control figure or any other symbol contained in a message
code
the unit of instructions that can be executed on a computer; to represent data in a symbolic form acceptable to a computer; programming commands
column
a character position on a terminal screen; a vertical arrangement of characters or expressions (see row)
command
an electronic pulse or signal that starts, stops, or continues an operation; instruction telling the computer what the user wants done
compiler
a program that translates another program written in a high-level language into computer-readable code (machine code)
concatenate
to combine or link together as a unit; to chain
configuration
the way in which machines, equipment, or systems are linked to work as one
controller
a hardware device that links a group of terminals and monitors
copy
to reproduce in a new location; has no effect on the original information
CPU
Central Processing Unit; the unit of a computing system that controls and performs the execution of instructions
crash
a more or less catastrophic system failure that normally requires an unscheduled dead-start
CRT
Cathode Ray Tube; a type of screen used in terminals and monitors
cue
to call for
cylinder
a measurement of space on a magnetic disk pack, equal to 30 tracks
D
data
the elements used for communication or computer-related processes
database
large, frequently updated collection of information on a specific subject or subjects
data integrity
a performance measure based on the rate of undetected errors
data link
a physical connection between locations that permits the transmission and reception of data
dataset
a collection of information stored on the computer; dataset is the same as "file."
deadstart
the process by which a computer is placed into operation
debug
to find and correct any errors in a computer program
dedicated
a term used to indicate that a computing resource is reserved to a specific purpose
dial-up lines
telephone lines used to access the computer with a modem, and a microcomputer or remote terminal
domain
defines a region of jurisdiction for name assignment and of responsibility for name-to-address translation; any computer within the host
downloading
the process of sending configuration parameters, opening software or related data from a central source to remote stations
dump
to transfer some or all of the contents of a computer's memory to another storage device or to a line printer
E
editor (text)
a program that permits interactive users to create or modify text (e.g., WYLBUR. XEDIT, and REXX on the IBM)
e-mail
(electronic mail) a program and associated files that allow a user to exchange messages with other users
emulation
the imitation of a computer system performed by a combination of hardware and software that allows programs to run between incompatible systems
enter
pressing the ENTER or RETURN key after typing a command or information on the screen
erase
to remove data or files from memory without replacing them; to delete
exec files
programs designed to make using the computer easier (For example, WYLBUR exec files usually build the JCL to run jobs that would otherwise have to be written manually.)
execute
to perform the operations specified by one or more computer instructions
exit
the point at which transfer occurs from a program unit
F
fetch
to obtain the specified data from storage
field
an area in a record that is used to hold certain types of information
file
a group of data; synonymous with "dataset" and "datafile"
filename
a user-defined word that names a file described in a file description entry
firmware
software that is a permanent part of hardware and cannot be changed, such as programs burned into read-only memory
font
a complete set of related characters of a given size and style
format
the arrangement of information in a particular way
FTP
(File Transfer Protocol) user interface to the network; program that allows one to transfer files to and from a remote network site
full-screen
an environment in which entire areas of the screen can be accessed for editing (e.g., the user can type over the entire editing portion of the screen, rather than editing one line at a time--line-mode)
G
glitches
mistakes, usually referring to software
graphics
drawings, diagrams, or charts
H
hardcopy
a printed copy of machine output in readable form
hardware
all of the equipment and physical parts of a computer system
hardwired
wired directly to a computer or controller, as opposed to being connected over the telephone lines through a modem
HELP
an interactive aid for computer users that accepts questions on the usage of the software and that is framed in the language of the user
host
information processor that provides supporting services to users and/or other processors; server with which the FTP is to communicate in a network
I
index
a table of addresses of the records in storage; an ordered reference list
initialize
to set devices or storage locations to starting values at the beginning of, or at prescribed points in, a process
input
information that is entered into a computer system
instruction
a coded program step that specifies one computer operation
interactive
a computing environment where the user is prompted to supply data for the program from the keyboard, rather than submitting the program and data to the computer at the same time as in a batch environment
interface
something that links or joins two pieces of hardware, systems, devices, etc.; a shared boundary defined by common physical interconnection characteristics, signal characteristics, and meanings of interchanged signals
interrupt
to stop a process temporarily with the capability of resuming the process at that point
IPL
Initial Program Loading
J
JCL
Job Control Language; instructions to the computer telling it how to run a job
job
one or more duties or programs that are treated as a unit of work by the computer
K
k
an abbreviation for the prefix kilo, meaning one thousand; in computer storage it means 1024
keyboard
the typewriter-like device used to enter data into the computer
kill
to stop a job immediately by operator intervention
L
language
a specific set of characters that is used to form the words or symbols that allow the computer programmer to manage computer operations
library
a special kind of file that can hold other files
line-mode
a computing environment where the user can only edit files one line at a time
line printer
a printer that composes an entire line of characters and prints the line as a unit, rather than a page printer which prints a page at a time
link
physical equipment used to connect one location to another for sending and receiving information
load
to enter information into internal storage from an input device
logical file
usually refers to the data preceding an end of file in a physical file
log-in/log-on
to identify the user to the computer and start a computing session
log-off/log-out
to end a session on the computer or sign off the terminal server (see bye)
M
magnetic disk
a storage device used to store data; especially useful for transporting large amounts of data from one computer system to the other or storing large amounts of data or programs not often used
mainframe
a large-scale computer system that can house comprehensive software and several peripherals
maintenance
fixing bugs in software systems; keeping system software up-to-date
memory
data storage in the computer itself; used while running or editing programs
menu
a displayed list of program choices from which selections can be made
merge
to combine two or more ordered sets into a single set having the same order
monitor
the display or CRT for a micro-computer
N
network
two or more computers linked to act as one
node
a point of interconnection to a network; normally, a point at which a number of terminals attach to the network
O
off-line
usually refers to data storage not permanently accessible by the computer, such as magnetic tapes
on-line
usually refers to data storage permanently accessible to the computer, such as magnetic disk packs
OpenVMS
an interactive operating system running on the Digital VMScluster system (in the ATLC)
operating system
the program that runs the computer and controls the execution of all other programs
operation
one processing step on a computer
output
the final results of a program
P
parameter
a variable that is assigned a specific value for a particular purpose or process (or command)
partitioned dataset
a type of file that can hold other files; synonymous to library
password
the secret word or sequence of characters used to control access to an account; only those who know the password on a specific account can access that account or its files (also called keyword)
peripheral devices
hardware used with the computer for purposes other than processing the data itself, such as printers, tape and disk drives, and terminals
process
a sequence of events occurring to produce an intended effect; the sequence of actions produced by an executing program
profile
the set of statements that describe to the computer the type of security desired on an account and its files (also referred to as protection)
program
a set of instructions sent to the computer all at once; a sequence of computer instructions designed to produce a specified result; to design, write, or test computer code
prompt
a message from the computer requesting action
protection
the level of security desired on an account, such as that defined in a profile
protocol
a formal set of conventions governing the formatting and relative timing of message exchange between two communicating systems
protocol emulator
a program that lets the hardware think it is another kind of hardware; usually used when dialing up another computer where one computer is not compatible with another
Q
query
a request for information
queue
a group of items awaiting processing; a waiting line or area
R
RAM
Random Access Memory; read-write volatile memory where data stored is lost if power is turned off
read
to take information from a storage device
record
a group of items that are related and treated as one unit
response time
the elapsed time between the generation of the last character of a message at a terminal and the receipt of the first character of the reply (including terminal delay and network delay)
restoration
the recovery of a lost or archived file
ROM
Read Only Memory; nonvolatile memory manufactured with predefined data content, permanently stored
row
a character position on a terminal screen; a horizontal arrangement of characters or expressions (see column)
run
the process of executing a computer program
S
save
to store a file
screen
a set screen pattern, such as the TECHNET, SETPASS, or SETMAS screens
SECURE
the program used under WYLBUR to set a security level for an account
security
controlling access to accounts or files on the computer; usually means restricting access to everyone but the account owner
serial
events, activities, or items that are related and occur in a particular order
session
period during which a participant maintains dialogue
shareware
software distribution concept in which authors distribute their software via FTP, and users are permitted to download a program without paying for it ahead of time (try now; pay later)
software
a general term for any kind of computer program or programs held in some kind of storage medium and loaded into read/write memory (RAM) for execution
sort
to order data according to a specified set of rules
statement
an expression in a programming language that specifies a process
string
a connected sequence of characters
supercomputer
a computer so large and fast that several mainframes or minicomputers are needed as "front ends" to keep it busy; usually used for number crunching
superminicomputer
larger than a microcomputer or a minicomputer, but not quite the size of a mainframe; also called a supermini
suspension
"locking up" an account for disciplinary or security reasons; a suspended account cannot be accessed by the user, but it still exists, and all its files are still on the system
T
tape driver
a device on which magnetic tapes are mounted so that they may be accessed by the computer
terminal
the device used to communicate with and enter data into the computer; usually consists of a monitor and a keyboard
terminal server
a node that connects a specific number of terminals with the network
track
a measurement of space on a magnetic disk
U
update
to change data in a file
username
the identifying code for a computing account. It is in the form GGUUU, where "GG" is the account group and "UUU" is the unique user identification code; also called user ID or userid
V
variable
a symbol whose numeric value can change
virtual storage
external storage of large programs; contents are lost when the power is lost
W
word
a group of characters such as bits and bytes that are held in one storage location
