Contents - Index

Appendix F: Glossary

Common Terms 

Account Number: A unique number assigned to each record by the system. 
Access: For a user, obtaining data or programs from a storage device (the hard disk, for instance). For the computer, retrieving an instruction from memory and executing it. 
Background, running in: Running a program without input from the keyboard while using another program. 
Booting up: Getting the computer to run; having it load the operating system into its own memory. 
Browse: An option available that allows user to page through 18 records on the screen at a time. 
Character: A letter, number or symbol. Empty spaces ("blanks") are considered characters. 
Command line: The line on which the user types instructions to the computer at the operating system. 
Date expansion: Typing in a single character (/) and getting a full date. 
Default: A particular value used by the computer unless it receives other input from the keyboard. 
Default responses: A response in FastEMC that the computer uses automatically but user can change. 
Descending order: Highest to lowest order (Z to A, or 100 to 1, for example). The opposite of alphanumeric. 
Device: On multi-user systems, equipment such as hard disk drives, keyboard, video terminal, etc. In UNIX or XENIX, the directory where special files are usually located.
Directory: An operating system program that lists all files and formats in the system. 
Edit: A description of the kind of data the field contains. 
Extended selection: A form of selection that lets the user choose records by up to 72 separate criteria. 
Field: A `slot' for data input that has a number, length and other attributes. 
File: "File" has two meanings in FastEMC. The first is "electronic filing system." The second is more technical: "a self-contained set of only one type of information". Ex: an index 
Format: 1. Defining the structure of a report, letter, or invoice; or the structure itself. 2. Preparing diskettes to hold programs and data and includes verifying the disk. 
Multi-user system: A micro- or minicomputer system that supports multiple users and, therefore, multiple terminals (monitors plus keyboards). Usually implies multi-tasking (running more than one program at a time) but may also refer to networking systems.
Operating system: A program that keeps track of programs, locates files, drives, etc, and acts as a liaison between the computer and the user. It is the first program to load and the last to shut down. 
Output: Information that is extracted from the file and printed or spun off into other files. 
Popup Window: A group of data the system displays to assist in data selection or to provide help. 
Program: A list of instructions that directs the computer to carry out a sequence of operations. 
Record: A set of related data: the information on a single person, inventory item or transaction. 
Record number: The number of an individual record. Each record number is unique. 
Relationship codes: In selections, codes that tell the computer how to compare the value the user picked with what he or she actually wants -- "less than" the value, "equal to" the value, etc. 
Right-justify: A value that is flush against the right edge of its field. FastEMC right-justifies numbers. 
Scan: Having the computer search the file for a record containing particular information. 
Selection set: The entire extended selection screen, saved under a particular user-defined name. 
Sort: Putting selected records in a particular order. Spooler: On multi-user systems, a file in which generated output is kept prior to being printed. 
Spooling: "Spool" is sharing devices in an orderly fashion and without interference among users. In Fast EMC, spooling means putting output into a `queue' file for printing. 
System-maintained fields: Fields that maintain information ?remembered' by the computer system. 
Time expansion: Typing in a single character (:) and getting the full time. 
Toggle: One key that switches between two alphabets, modes, etc. 
Unlocking a file: Eliminating the instruction that restricts access to a file when more than one person is using it. If FastEMC's locking mechanism mistakenly prevents access to a file, the file can be opened again with the "unlock" command. 
Value: Data; a set of characters representing themselves rather than field numbers or letters. When selecting records, the desired piece of information -- i.e., "Smith" is the value. 
Wild-card character: A character that `stands in' for other characters. FastEMC's wild-card character is =. 
Windows: The primary operating system on most computers today. FastEMC is compatible with Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows Millennium Edition (Me), Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Vista and Windows 7.