Showing papers in "Ibm Systems Journal in 1990"
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IBM1
TL;DR: A mixed system that combines the superior key management capabilities inherent in public key cryptosystems with the much higher bulk-encryption speed obtainable with the Data Encryption Algorithm is discussed.
Abstract: Several cryptosystems based on exponentiation have been proposed in recent years. Some of these are of the public key variety and offer notable advantages in cryptographic key management, both for secret communication and for message authentication. The need for extensive arithmetic calculations with very large integers (hundreds of digits long) is a drawback of these systems. This paper describes a set of experimental programs that were developed to demonstrate that exponentiation cryptosystems can be efficiently implemented on the IBM Personal Computer (PC). The programs are organized into four layers, comprising procedures for: multiple precision integer arithmetic, modular exponentiation, prime number generation and testing, and cryptographic key generation. The major emphasis of the paper is on methods and techniques for improving execution speed. The items discussed include: the use of a specialized squaring procedure; a recursive splitting method to speed up squaring and multiplication; the computation of residues by using multiplication instead of division; the efficient encoding of residue information; and the use of thresholds to select the most effective primality testing algorithm for a given size number. Timing results are presented and discussed. Finally, the paper discusses the advantages of a mixed system that combines the superior key management capabilities inherent in public key cryptosystems with the much higher bulk-encryption speed obtainable with the Data Encryption Algorithm.
220 citations
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TL;DR: The steps needed to implement this process and the results that may be obtained are discussed and insights into the nature of programming errors and the application of this process to a variety of working environments are discussed.
Abstract: Defect Prevention is the process of improving quality and productivity by preventing the injection of defects into a product. It consists of four elements integrated into the development process: (1) causal analysis meetings to identify the root cause of defects and suggest preventive actions; (2) an action team to implement the preventive actions; (3) kickoff meetings to increase awareness of quality issues specific to each development stage; and (4) data collection and tracking of associated data. The Defect Prevention Process has been successfully implemented in a variety of organizations within IBM, some for more than six years. This paper discusses the steps needed to implement this process and the results that may be obtained. Data on quality, process costs, benefits, and practical experiences are also presented. Insights into the nature of programming errors and the application of this process to a variety of working environments are discussed.
161 citations
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IBM1
TL;DR: The automatic reading of optically scanned forms consists of two major components: extraction of the data image from the form and interpretation of the image as coded alphanumerics, also known as optical character recognition, or OCR.
Abstract: The automatic reading of optically scanned forms consists of two major components: extraction of the data image from the form and interpretation of the image as coded alphanumerics. The second component is also known as optical character recognition, or OCR. We have implemented a method for entry of a wide variety of forms that contain machine-printed data and that are often produced in business environments. The function, called Intelligent Forms Processing (IFP), accepts conventional forms that call for information to be printed in designated blank areas, but in which the information may exceed boundaries due to poor registration during printing. The human eye easily accommodates data that impinge on form boundaries or on background text; however, the same powers of discrimination applied to machine processing pose a technical challenge. The IFP system uses a setup phase to create a model of each form that is to be read. Scanned forms containing data are compared against the matching form model. Special algorithms are employed to extract data fields while removing background printing (e.g., form lines) intersecting the data. The extracted data images are interpreted by an OCR process that reads typical monospace fonts. New fonts may be added easily in a separate design mode. If the data are alphabetic, a lexicon may be assembled to define the possible entries.
88 citations
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IBM1
TL;DR: The IBM strategy that supports AD/Cycle is addressed and an overview of the major components of the AD/ Cycle architecture is given and is an introduction to other papers that follow in this issue.
Abstract: Over the years, IBM has made progress in resolving many of the issues that deal with improving application development (AD) productivity and quality. Systems Application Architecture™, together with IBM's recently announced AD/Cycle™ direction, provides a platform for even greater progress. This paper addresses the IBM strategy that supports AD/Cycle and gives an overview of the major components of the AD/Cycle architecture. This paper is an introduction to other papers that follow in this issue.
64 citations
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IBM1
TL;DR: The system design, hardware and software architectures, and performance of the ImagePlus™ High Performance Transaction System are discussed, which handles bank checks and many other similar applications.
Abstract: The need for a cost-effective method for handling, processing, storing, and retrieving transaction documents combined with the availability of hardware and software technologies capable of satisfying this need are the basis for the High Performance Transaction System discussed in this paper. The particular transactions that are the subject of this paper are bank checks, the volumes surpassing 50 billion per year and continuing to grow. Other transactions might be the handling of such documents as bill remittances, tax documents, mail-order forms, census forms, and many other similar applications. This paper discusses the system design, hardware and software architectures, and performance of the ImagePlus™ High Performance Transaction System.
50 citations
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IBM1
TL;DR: The primary concepts and services of the Repository Manager/MVS are introduced, and specific aspects of the product and its operation are discussed.
Abstract: IBM's Repository Manager™ enables specifications involved in the program application development process to be managed. On the basis of the technology, the Repository Manager/MVS™ was developed as a product. The primary concepts and services of the technology are introduced, and specific aspects of the product and its operation are discussed. A discussion of what is involved in designing and implementing a tool is also included.
46 citations
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IBM1
TL;DR: In this article, the authors report on pertinent aspects of business/enterprise modeling studies that were conducted with nine IBM customers using what are now called computer-aided software engineering (CASE) tools.
Abstract: This paper reports on pertinent aspects of business/enterprise modeling studies that were conducted with nine IBM customers using what are now called computer-aided software engineering (CASE) tools. Coming shortly after the recent AD/Cycle™ announcement and the increased focus in IBM on tool-supported (CASE) business/enterprise modeling, this description of actual modeling studies should be especially germane. The model definitions (dimensions) used in the studies correspond exactly to many of the dimensions used by AD/Cycle, DevelopMate™, and the Repository Manager™. Compelling business reasons for conducting the studies are identified.
35 citations
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IBM1
TL;DR: This paper explains the concepts of an application development process model and of work management for application development under AD/Cycle™ and its relation to project management.
Abstract: Quality is probably one of the most serious concerns of today's software community. For software applications exhibiting a certain complexity, the quality of a product can only be guaranteed by a methodological approach, using appropriate administration and tools. The methodology and administration must be manifested in a well-defined and well-observed application development process. The process must integrate the human activity, the tools, and the intermediate and final work products into a coherent flow of actions. In this regard, the development of applications follows patterns that are well established in other industries where an application development (AD) process model is defined and then executed via an interpretation mechanism. The complexity of the development process makes it necessary to support and integrate all of its aspects by means of on-line interactive computer support. Computer-aided process support in the general sense we call work management. This paper explains the concepts of an application development process model and of work management for application development under AD/Cycle™ and its relation to project management.
24 citations
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IBM1
TL;DR: The authors conclude that the present level of technology makes this a good time to move forward with the installation of large-scale operational document image systems.
Abstract: A large-scale, optical disk-based, operational image system for office-size documents has been implemented to support an insurance customer service application. Images stored on optical disk can be displayed on any of the more than 1400 workstations or printed on any of 22 printers. This system was the prototype for the IBM MVS/ESA™ ImagePlus™ product. Each day over 25 000 pages of incoming mail are scanned, stored, and delivered to users for processing. In addition, computer-generated data (soon expected to reach one million pages per day) are stored for display or print on image-stored overlay forms. The system is described in the context of any large-scale office document application. The discussion includes some of the business factors that created an environment for success and the business issues that led to the development of the system. The paper discusses the discoveries and lessons learned from use of two pilot systems. The authors conclude that the present level of technology makes this a good time to move forward with the installation of large-scale operational document image systems.
19 citations
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IBM1
TL;DR: This paper describes the design methodology used to build REASON (Real-time Explanation And SuggestiON), an intelligent user-assistant prototype for a windowed, multitasking environment that solves problems arising from a user's activity.
Abstract: The provision of intelligent user assistance has been an ongoing problem in designing computer interfaces. Interactive computing environments must support expert as well as novice users when providing advice for error correction and answers to questions directed to a system. To address these issues, we have investigated the application of fairly well-understood artificial intelligence techniques in novel ways to provide intelligent help. This paper describes the design methodology used to build REASON (Real-time Explanation And SuggestiON), an intelligent user-assistant prototype for a windowed, multitasking environment. REASON's central component is an inference engine that solves problems arising from a user's activity. When the user makes one of several different kinds of errors, the inference engine offers dynamically generated suggestions about what the user might have intended. The user can also query REASON using natural language. In addition to providing suggestions of corrected input or answers to questions, REASON can provide two complementary types of explanations of these responses, derived from the inferences that led to them.
18 citations
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IBM1
TL;DR: The multimedia approach represents a major innovation in computer technology involving new concepts such as the digitization of audio and video, the involvement of the Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI), and the creation of a multimedia story.
Abstract: This paper describes the technology behind the creation of multimedia presentations using a new IBM program product, the Audio Visual Connection® (AVC™). The multimedia approach represents a major innovation in computer technology involving new concepts such as the digitization of audio and video, the involvement of the Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI), and the creation of a multimedia story. Two hardware adapters support the AVC: the Audio Capture and Playback Adapter and the Video Capture Adapter. When used with these adapters, the AVC digitizes both stereo audio and color video, performs powerful edit and synchronization functions, defines an interactive user environment, and creates a multimedia presentation using standard IBM Personal System/2® hardware. Additional input is available from MIDI song files, screen capture, and non-AVC image systems. Final results range from passive presentations to interactive applications to sophisticated database front ends.
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IBM1
TL;DR: The background for this evolution and the development of the IBM system solution for image processing, Image-Plus™, are described in this paper.
Abstract: Within the span of a few years, image processing has evolved from an esoteric, expensive technology to an indispensable tool used by modern businesses to manage the overwhelming flood of paperwork. Some of the background for this evolution and the development of the IBM system solution for image processing, Image-Plus™, are described in this paper.
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IBM1
TL;DR: The kinds of information required for software development are discussed and some suggestions on how the data model should be organized and implemented are offered.
Abstract: One of the motivations for the use of a facility such as the Repository Manager™ in an information processing system is to centralize the information needed for the development of software. What this information is and how it is interrelated is defined in the underlying data model. This paper discusses the kinds of information required for software development and offers some suggestions on how the data model should be organized and implemented.
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IBM1
TL;DR: This paper discusses the techniques used to successfully re-engineer the software to run on an IBM System/370™, illustrating that real-time software can be logically converted from one computer to another, reliably and cost-effectively.
Abstract: In 1986, the Federal Aviation Administration formed a contract with three companies to re-engineer a major portion of the New York terminal approach control (TRACON) application software—the software that supports air traffic control in the New York City and Newark, New Jersey, area. This paper discusses the techniques used to successfully re-engineer the software to run on an IBM System/370™, illustrating that real-time software can be logically converted from one computer to another, reliably and cost-effectively.
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IBM1
TL;DR: The concepts of object storage management using a storage hierarchy that contains DASD and optical disk storage are described.
Abstract: The Object Access Method (OAM) component of MVS/Data Facility Product is responsible for the storage, retrieval, and management of objects in IBM MVS/ESA™ ImagePlus™ systems and in other applications. The OAM Storage Management Component is the subcomponent of OAM that provides storage management for objects stored within an object storage hierarchy. Storage management is a cyclic procedure which assures that data are stored in conformity to a policy defined by the data processing storage administrator. During a storage management cycle, the OAM Storage Management Component (OSMC) selects objects for processing based on requirements for backup, expiration, or service level changes. This paper describes the concepts of object storage management using a storage hierarchy that contains DASD and optical disk storage.
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IBM1
TL;DR: Experiences at the IBM Myers Corners Laboratory MVS Interactive programming area in putting the Defect Prevention Process theories into practice are documents, believing that other organizations can benefit from the experiences by understanding how the Defection Prevention Process can be adapted to best meet the needs of any organization.
Abstract: A process for preventing defects has been gaining momentum in the IBM Corporation as a way to improve quality and increase productivity. The Communications Programming Laboratory in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina (near Raleigh), has been implementing the process for the past six years and has realized a 54 percent reduction in errors. This paper documents experiences at the IBM Myers Corners Laboratory MVS Interactive programming area in putting the Defect Prevention Process theories into practice. This paper begins with the proposal to adopt the Defect Prevention Process at the Myers Corners Laboratory in Poughkeepsie, New York, and our experiences thus far. It is our belief that other organizations can benefit from our experiences by understanding how the Defect Prevention Process can be adapted to best meet the needs of any organization.
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IBM1
TL;DR: The problems relevant to personal systems image application architecture and how these problems were solved in the ImagEdit® program are discussed and object-oriented design was used to address the functional complexity problem.
Abstract: Image applications require complex processing on large amounts of data. The application designer is presented with difficult challenges that are exacerbated on personal systems which have limited processor speed and constrained memory. This paper discusses the problems relevant to personal systems image application architecture and how these problems were solved in the ImagEdit® program. A virtual array manager (VAM) consisting of a virtual memory manager (VMM) and an access scheduler was used to solve the data management problem. The VAM divided each image into segments and transferred them to the VMM for storage. These segments were swapped between memory and disk in response to a sequence of access requests, controlled by the access scheduler using performance-maximizing heuristics. Object-oriented design was used to address the functional complexity problem. The processing functions were divided into two classes. The data-stream class included scanning, printing, and filing, with each data-stream function decomposed into a series of demand-driven pipe objects. The editing class included cut and paste, textual and graphical annotation, and freehand drawing.
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IBM1
TL;DR: This paper gives an approach that extends current database management systems through a technique called pre-precompilation, which is a definition of the constraints that must hold for the information to be valid.
Abstract: A data model consists of three parts: (1) a data definition that represents the information in an understandable manner; (2) a definition of the constraints that must hold for the information to be valid; and (3) a definition of operations that can be performed on the information. Current database management systems do not allow explicit specification of all three parts of the data model. This paper gives an approach that extends current database management systems through a technique called pre-precompilation.
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IBM1
TL;DR: The communication requirements to support the IBM ImagePlus™ system are discussed, based on the experience gained in installing the initial ImagePlus systems at several business enterprises.
Abstract: This paper discusses the communication requirements to support the IBM ImagePlus™ system. The analysis and approach discussed are based on the experience gained in installing the initial ImagePlus systems at several business enterprises.
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IBM1
TL;DR: This paper describes how, over the last decade, knowledge-based systems have evolved into a viable technology for building commercial data processing applications, and how increasing attention has been paid to incorporating these applications into commercial dataprocessing environments.
Abstract: Knowledge-based systems technology is a branch of artificial intelligence that deals with the processing of knowledge, as distinct from other branches of artificial intelligence that deal with topics such as robotics, vision systems, and speech recognition. This paper describes how, over the last decade, knowledge-based systems have evolved into a viable technology for building commercial data processing applications, and how increasing attention has been paid to incorporating these applications into commercial data processing environments. A logical conclusion of this direction is the capability to build knowledge-based applications that are full Systems Application Architecture™ (SAA™) applications. As this conclusion is approached, a requirement emerges that the knowledge-based development process be integrated with the application development environment provided by the other SAA language and service components. The integrated environment must provide high customer productivity in the development of applications that use knowledge-based technology, and must support a spectrum of development scenarios, ranging from the most basic to those involving complex applications and large development teams. This paper explores how knowledge-based products can address these requirements by integrating their development facilities with AD/Cycle™.
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IBM1
TL;DR: The purpose of this paper is to explain the basic concepts of image processing in business, which makes the document capture, retention, and retrieval process more cost efficient, but also makes it a faster service to the users.
Abstract: Business today is wrestling with mountains of paper that must be moved, filed, located, and moved again from person to person. Often the paper must be stored for extended periods of time, sometimes as long as seven or more years. The long-term storage of paper records is becoming more and more costly. An image system not only makes the document capture, retention, and retrieval process more cost efficient, but also makes it a faster service to the users. The purpose of this paper is to explain the basic concepts of image processing in business.
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IBM1
TL;DR: The primary design goal was to deliver operational performance for image processing in a cost-effective workstation, while permitting the user maximal control in viewing and manipulating scanned documents.
Abstract: IBM's ImagePlus™ system is designed to permit the capture, storage, management, and retrieval of documents through digital imaging. The ImagePlus Workstation Program is that portion of the ImagePlus system that controls the user's workstation. This paper describes the challenges that were posed in designing an ImagePlus Workstation, and the approach taken by the development group to solve them. The primary design goal was to deliver operational performance for image processing in a cost-effective workstation, while permitting the user maximal control in viewing and manipulating scanned documents. The solution chosen implemented a Personal System® workstation that operates with a System/36, Application System/400®, or System/370 Multiple Virtual Storage host.
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IBM1
TL;DR: An early effort by IBM to use system integration services to assist in solving complex problems for commercial customers involved developing an image system for USAA, a large financial services association, which became IBM's ImagePlus™ MVS/ ESA™ product.
Abstract: An early effort by IBM to use system integration services to assist in solving complex problems for commercial customers involved developing an image system for USAA, a large financial services association. USAA had well-defined and stringent requirements for a policy services application that required enhancements to existing products to provide the necessary function and performance. Key problems solved included managing a storage hierarchy to handle image size objects, the use of optical storage as a low-cost storage medium, and the capability to compress and decompress images rapidly at a workstation to allow high-speed paging through documents. Additionally, the registering and indexing of documents and management of work flow and recovery issues were undertaken. The effort was a good example of the new role of application solution development in that the solution was developed in conjunction with a specific customer, but has developed into a product. The particular solution described in this paper became IBM's ImagePlus™ MVS/ ESA™ product. Although the specific technical issues were different, the same methodology was used to develop ImagePlus for the System/36 and Application System/400®.
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IBM1
TL;DR: The structure and interfaces between controls and the system are described in order to provide an understanding of the correct procedure for programming the Presentation Manager efficiently.
Abstract: The OS/2TM Presentation ManagerTM provides an integrated graphical, windowing user interface to IBM's OS/2 operating system. This paper addresses a primary area of interest for Presentation Manager application developers: the use and development of user controls. A control in the Presentation Manager environment is a program object with a programming interface and application function. The structure and interfaces between controls and the system are described in order to provide an understanding of the correct procedure for programming the Presentation Manager efficiently.
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IBM1
TL;DR: IBM's midrange ImagePlus™ system provides an imaging environment for departmental installations of up to 256 workstations that combines the image-handling capabilities of the IBM ImagePlus Workstation Program, the user interface and case/folder processing of the AS/400 Workfolder Application Facility, with the image storage and retrieval capabilities ofThe optical storage support subsystem.
Abstract: Storage space, loss of documents, misfiled and misplaced documents, and document retrieval are just a few of the problems of processing large volumes of paper. High storage costs, lost productivity, personnel costs, and poor responsiveness are some of the results. Until recently, technology could not provide a cost-effective method for reducing this paper flow. IBM designed its midrange ImagePlus™ system to provide an effective and comprehensive solution to both the paper and the work-flow problems. The AS/400™ ImagePlus system provides an imaging environment for departmental installations of up to 256 workstations. This system combines the image-handling capabilities of the IBM ImagePlus Workstation Program, the user interface and case/folder processing of the AS/400 Workfolder Application Facility, with the image storage and retrieval capabilities of the optical storage support subsystem. All together, these facilities provide a high configurable system capable of handling high volumes of transactions.
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IBM1
TL;DR: Requirements for the architecture, concepts of the Architecture, use of the architecture in the different data stream environments used by image processing systems, and the IOCA function sets that have been defined for interchange within Systems Application Architecture™ environments are discussed.
Abstract: Technical advances to image processing and the availability of the resulting technologies at reasonable cost have helped to promote the use of images in office, engineering, and scientific environments. As evidence of this use, a wide variety of applications and products designed for image processing have been introduced into the market in recent years. In order to encompass different applications and products in a single image processing system and to allow image data to be exchanged and interpreted consistently throughout the system, IBM has introduced the Image Object Content Architecture (IOCA). This paper discusses requirements for the architecture, concepts of the architecture, use of the architecture in the different data stream environments used by image processing systems, and the IOCA function sets that have been defined for interchange within Systems Application Architecture™ environments.
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IBM1
TL;DR: A new approach to the use of information systems that is based on enterprise information system modeling concepts and how the DevelopMate™ software product supports some of those phases is discussed.
Abstract: This paper discusses a new approach to the use of information systems that is based on enterprise information system modeling concepts. This approach is primarily oriented to the enterprise expert, who is considered to be the individual most familiar with the functioning of a particular area of the enterprise information system. The approach is not primarily oriented toward the data processing professional. The paper discusses the phases of the approach and how the DevelopMate™ software product supports some of those phases.
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TL;DR: The experience gained from identifying, selecting, and preparing several areas within IBM for an ImagePlus system is discussed and ImagePlus as an application enabler is discussed.
Abstract: An ImagePlus™ internal use program (IUP) was established in IBM to assist users inside the company with their initial application selection and their training, procedure definition, and prototype system installation, as well as their initial use of the system on a regular working basis. This paper discusses the experience gained from identifying, selecting, and preparing several areas within IBM for an ImagePlus system. The experience begins with establishment of IUP objectives and guidelines, continues through the account nomination and selection process used to identify and select the application, and ends with identification of the justification or business case process and some of the major elements considered in the justification for the purchase of a system. A detailed description of several internal operations that have installed an ImagePlus system is given. In conclusion, ImagePlus as an application enabler is discussed.
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IBM1
TL;DR: A feasibility study to implement partial tool support for the graphical component of the box structure methodology (BSM) is described to provide the reader with a background for selecting one of the various implementations available today.
Abstract: This paper describes a feasibility study to implement partial tool support for the graphical component of the box structure methodology (BSM). By following the defined strategy and process, an existing computer-aided software engineering (CASE) environment has been extended with a customizer to provide support for the box definition graphics (BDG) component of BSM. The critical functions required from a CASE environment are also described to provide the reader with a background for selecting one of the various implementations available today.
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IBM1
TL;DR: In AD/Cycle™ user interface services defined a set of services that assist in the management of the displays on the workstation that help increase the productivity of the tool builder by enforcing Common User Access rules and guidelines, and raise the level of consistency of user displays of the tools in AD/ Cycle.
Abstract: Significant progress has been made in the effort to separate programmers from the management of data storage. By comparison, the window of a workstation is still managed and controlled in great detail by the typical programmer. In AD/Cycle™ user interface services defined a set of services that assist in the management of the displays on the workstation. These services also help increase the productivity of the tool builder by enforcing Common User Access rules and guidelines, and raise the level of consistency of user displays of the tools in AD/Cycle.