Cream of the Crop 1/Cream of the Crop 1.iso/EDUCATE/PCLEARN.ARJ/PCL.LZH/GLOSSRY.TUT

Text File | 1991-04-02 | 16KB | 324 lines

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                           A GLOSSARY FOR BEGINNERS
                                THE CHEAT SHEET

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       Address. Location of a specific piece of computer information in
       computer RAM memory. Also a specific cell location in a spreadsheet
       (e.g., address A22 in a spreadsheet: meaning the cell at
       intersection of column A, row 22.)

       [Alt] key.  The key labeled Alt at the left of your keyboard.
       This key is often used by holding down Alt and hitting another
       key.

       Autoexec.bat. The batch file runs automatically when you start
       your computer it is a text file containing a list of DOS
       commands.

       Batch file (bat file). A text file containing a list of DOS
       commands to be carried out or executed.

       Bit. A single binary digit. Represented electronically as a
       digit one or zero inside a computer. In reality a bit is held
       by a transistor switch inside an integrated circuit chip. If the
       transistor switch is "on" the bit represented is one. If the
       transistor switch is "off" the bit represented is zero. Bits
       make up larger bytes. Something like alphabet letters which make
       up words in the English language.

       Byte. For the IBM PC family of computers, a byte is an 8-bit
       unit of memory that can in turn represent up to 256 different
       values.

       Cell. A single box in a spreadsheet used for data entry.

       Clock/calendar. An optional circuit which keeps the correct time
       and date. Many computers contain this circuit as standard
       equipment.

       Clock speed. The timing frequency that a computer uses to
       regulate and synchronize the timing of its operations. Usually
       this timing speed is measured in megahertz or millions of cycles
       per second.

       Command line. The DOS command line where you type in a DOS
       command to cause work to be done. Example:   c>Diskcopy a: b:
       is a command line.

       [Ctrl] key.  The key labeled Ctrl at the left of your keyboard.
       This key is often used by holding down Ctrl and hitting another
       key. Also called control key.

       Cursor. The flashing bright square your screen which shows where
       information will appear when you press a key.

       Cylinder. A set of disk tracks at a specific location of a hard
       drive platter or set of platters which can be read or written
       simultaneously by the read/write heads. Conceptually, a cylinder
       looks something like an empty tin can with the top and bottom
       removed.

       Database. An organized collection of records or information.

       Data Bus. An electronic pathway which carries pulses of
       electricity to and from the various integrated circuits and
       components inside a computer. Usually a data bus consists of
       between 8 and 32 conductive wires or lines, each capable of
       delivering the bits and bytes which make up computer data.
       Generally the more lines which make up the bus, the faster the
       data can travel.

       Default. A standard computer setting when nothing otherwise is
       specified. Can be changed in many programs temporarily or
       permanently. If you are not sure of a setting in a program, it
       may supply a default value automatically.

       Directory. An imaginary storage space on your disk which
       contains files.

       DOS. Disk Operating System. DOS allows you to input information
       from the keyboard to the computer,run programs, prepare files
       for disks and other necessary tasks.

       E-Mail. Electronic Mail. Sending and receiving messages via
       computers which link two or more users together. Messages are
       stored and retrieved as needed by individuals in the network and
       can be transmitting vast distances using ordinary telephone lines.
       Not necessarily FAX messages, although these can be incorporated in
       into an E-Mail network in addition to voice, photos, illustrations
       and text!

       [Enter] key. The large key to the right of your keyboard. On
       many computers, this is labeled [Return].

       [Esc] key. The key on your computer labeled Esc, meaning Escape.
       This key allows you to abort many computer entries and
       operations.

       Expanded Memory. Computer RAM memory which can be accessed only
       through a "window" or "page frame" set up inside the first 1
       Megabyte of RAM. The usual limit of expanded memory is 32MB.
       Segments of this memory are quickly "paged in and out" of the
       memory window to create an illusion to the central processing
       chip of a large amount of memory. Something like flipping the
       pages of a cartoon book to animate a story. Many applications
       such as spreadsheets and databases can use this memory to handle
       large tasks.

       Extended Memory. RAM memory which extends from the normal 1MB
       DOS limit to the top address limit of the CPU. Using special
       software it is possible to convert extended memory to expanded
       memory. Extended memory is useful for simple software tasks like
       RAM disks, print buffers and other applications, but is not as
       useful as expanded memory for applications such as spreadsheets
       and many databases.

       Extension. The last part of a filename, preceded by a dot which
       frequently shows the file type.

       External commands. DOS commands such as FORMAT (and others)
       which are retained only on disk and are temporarily loaded into
       ram for use then disappear from ram after a task is complete.

       FAX board. An internal expansion board which can be plugged into
       the PC to allow sending and receiving of FAX documents. These
       documents can be stored on disk and later printed on a printer
       or discarded. FAX boards also allow sending and receiving of FAX
       documents to several clients in a row and even calling at times
       of reduced telephone rates such as the early morning hours - all
       completely unattended.

       Field. An area of the screen (frequently a database program)
       where data or text is entered. A field is essentially a category
       of information.

       File. A collection of data on a disk or in memory which has been
       grouped together. This can be the text of a document, numbers
       and formulas in a spreadsheet, or codes to run a program or
       application.

       Floppy or floppy drive. A permanent magnetic storage medium for
       retaining data when the computer is off. Similar to a tape
       cassette. It stores data, can be erased and re-used and
       modified.

       Function keys. The keys labeled F1 - F10 on your keyboard. Some
       computers have 12 function keys.

       Heads. A reference to the read/write heads of a floppy or hard
       drive. They are small electromagnetic coils attached to an arm
       which moves freely over the surface of the spinning platter or
       disk. Electric pulses to these coils creative small fields of
       magnetism on the spinning surface below the heads.

       High level formatting. Is a process performed to a hard disk
       after low level formatting (see below). This high level format
       creates the directory structure of the disk (or file allocation
       table area) which DOS will later use.

       Ink Jet. This is a reference to a type of printer which forms
       characters and images by spraying tiny jets of ink on either
       plain paper or specially coated paper stock.

       Integrated Software. A type of software package which frequently
       combines several standard software applications into one entity.
       Frequently an integrated package will contain a spreadsheet,
       database, word processor and perhaps and modem or telephone
       dialing program.

       Interleave factor. The spacing of non-consecutive sectors around
       the track of a hard disk. Usually this is given as a ratio.
       Optimal interleave spaces these non-consecutive sectors for
       optimum speedy data retrieval from the hard disk.

       LAN. Local area network. Circuits to allow several or many
       computers to talk to each other and share data. Of interest to
       business and office computer users, but of only passing interest
       to home and home/office users having only one machine.

       Low level format. A preliminary process which is usually done to
       a hard drive to prepare it for accepting data. Low level
       formatting establishes tracks and sectors on the disk so the
       drive can accept data and locate it for later retrieval.
       Normally this will destroy all previous data!

       Macro. A sequence of keystrokes or commands that can be recorded
       and played back to execute a program or task of data entry thus
       saving you keystrokes.

       Mass storage. All disk-oriented forms of data storage such as
       hard and floppy disks, optical disks and even backup tape
       drives.

       Memory Addressability. The number of separate individual memory
       locations in RAM which the CPU is capable of communicating with.

       Memory Cache. An area in RAM memory - usually about 8K to 128K
       in size of extremely fast RAM which the CPU can use to store
       frequently accessed data rather than going to a hard drive or
       floppy disk. This speed up operations.

       On Line Service/BBS/Bulletin Board. Computers connected to
       telephone lines which users can access by modem. Messages to
       other users can be left and retrieved. Software can be sent
       (uploaded) or retrieved (downloaded), databases can be searched
       for information.

       Operating system. Another name for DOS. The essential "core"
       software which itself runs other programs and talks to the
       keyboard and printer.

       Paging. The ability of software and hardware to store a
       program segment of code instructions on the hard disk and
       then retrieve it a later time. This allows conservation of
       limited RAM memory.

       Parameter. Information sent to a program. Example: /p is the
       parameter of the DOS command dir/p.

       Parking the heads. Refers to the process of running a software
       program to cause the read/write heads of a hard disk mechanism
       to move to a track area of the disk which is of low use or is a
       designated safe zone. Somewhat like lifting the needle from a
       phonograph record and placing it on the "needle rest." This
       prevents the possibility that the heads will drop or otherwise
       gouge into the soft magnetic surface of the platters below. The
       heads are usually parked while the disk is spinning and once
       parked the machine is turned off. A few expensive hard drives
       automatically park the heads, but this is not common for most
       hard drive units.

       Partition. A subdivision which is created by the FDISK utility
       of DOS. A partition can be used to subdivide a hard disk into
       more than one logical drive (e.g., C: and D:) or run various
       operating systems from the same disk such as DOS and Unix. It is
       usually established after a preliminary high-level format
       process.

       Path. A list of subdirectories where DOS searches for
       information. You can set this with the DOS PATH command. The
       path command is usually set within the AUTOEXEC.BAT file
       mentioned above.

       Password. A word or phrase which must input at the keyboard
       before a program or operation can begin.

       Platter. The physical disk medium of a hard drive or floppy
       system onto which data is recorded and read back. Usually a
       platter refers to a hard drive disk which is aluminum and coated
       with a metallic iron oxide.

       Pointing device. Mice, trackballs, light pens and so on allow
       input to the computer in addition to the more conventional
       keyboard.

       Presentation Graphics Software. Programs which produce charts, text
       or images for businesses presentations. The illustration or chart
       is designed on the computer screen and then finally output to a
       lecture slide, overhead transparency, printed sheet or even
       computer screen image which will later be viewed.

       Protected Mode. A unique feature of the 80286 (and later) Intel
       CPU chip to access RAM memory beyond the 1MB limit as well as
       manage and protect multiple software programs in memory.

       RAM. Temporary memory in  your computer (random access memory).
       When you turn the computer off, all RAM contents are lost until
       replaced from data stored on a disk.

       Real Mode. A unique feature of the 80286 (and later) Intel CPU
       chip which allows simulation of the 1MB memory limit and
       instructions of the older 8086 CPU which allows operation of
       older software programs. This is an example of "downward" or
       "backwards" compatibility.

       Record. A set of information elements in a database. For example
       the data Mr. Smith including his address, income, telephone
       number and occupation would together constitute a single record.

       Relational Database. A database software package which can
       interrelate multiple databases (e.g., parking ticket database
       AND policemen on the force AND parking meters which are out of
       order - each of these databases is a separate file, but a
       relational database can interrelate them and produce very
       complex reports and find unique relationships.) Relational
       databases often contain complex command languages, application
       generators, query systems, specialized report writers, SQL
       support and more.

       Resident commands. DOS commands such as COPY, TYPE, DIR, DEL
       which are retained in RAM instead of disk. Also called internal
       commands.

       Resident program. Program(s) which are loaded into your computer
       temporarily and remain available until the computer is turned
       off. Resident programs are also known as TSR programs (terminate
       and stay resident.)

       Scanner. A device which can convert a printed image such as a
       photo or illustration to a digital image within the computer
       memory. Some scanners use OCR (optical character recognition) to
       scan text documents containing printed words and convert them to
       text characters in the computer as if a person had typed the
       document. These scanned documents or illustrations can then be
       edited, transmitted or stored as desired.

       Sector. The smallest unit of storage on a hard or floppy disk
       consisting of 512 bytes - typically there are either 17 or 26
       sectors per track on a hard drive.

       Track. Concentric rings or circles of data sectors on a disk
       platter which contain data and mark position points for the
       read/write heads.

       Virtual 8086 mode. A unique operating feature of the Intel 80386
       CPU chip that can provide several DOS software programs with a 1MB
       section of RAM memory which acts like a "separate small 8086
       computer" which is running in real mode.