11/15/1978 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

IBM thought on a very big scale. And System/38 can have a large impact in stepping up the efficiency and profitability of the organiza- tions which use it. Big computer functions in a small system System/38 is designed to let any organization enjoy the productivity advantages of online applications typical of large-scale computers. Specifically; IBM sought to in- corporate in a simple -to -operate smaller system advanced functions that make work station applications easy to design, install and maintain. Functions like an integrated online data base with data base management. Single level storage. Simplified computer-aided pro- gramming. 7bta1 system manage- ment through a central control facility. Real-time inquiry and update. Onlilae training capability. Data integrity and security: Atall order, you'll agree. Especially for a system leasing for as little as $2,800 a month. Yet IBM System/33has all the features listed above—and more. Not just some of them. Every one of them. Together, they provide what may be the most attractive package of computing benefits ever offered to business. What can System/39s functions mean to your organiz.ation? Let's review them briefly. Distributed online work stations One of the biggest advantages of System/38 is that users don7t have to come to the computer to get the vital information needed in their jobs. Instead, the computer comes to them where they work, by means of online display stations and printers called work stations. As many as 40 local work sta- tions—as well as additional remote workstations—can communicate with Systenr/3ti interactively: They can bring the }lower ol'vit. computer to people doing totally different. jobs. At executive desks, in depart- ments, plants and warehouses. rehouses. Across the hall or across the .coun- try. And the same up -to -elate infor- mation will be available concur- rently to all autliorl7ed users for re4d-tinge inquiry. change or update. The value of System/38 in keep- ing everyone up to date can scarcely be overestimated. It cur mean him- dreds of thousands of dollars saved 111 opera(tlilg efliciencles. A self -managed system There are two aspects o i c orn- puting:. processing the data itself and rnanagintr the system that. pro- cesses the data. System nlanage- nlent a an cousunue a kit cat deal of expensive time and talent. System/3S, however, has a remarluzble internal facility that eliminates much of the complexity of system management. Call(;(} the Control Program facility, it mon- ftors and manages system ac tivity— including the flow and processing of data. As a result, users anti pro- gratnnrers are free to concentrate on their own.jobs, rather than worryingabout how the computer performs its tasks. Central offline data base Instead of havingseparate (lata files for each application—one for or- der entry, for example, and another for inventory— System/38 lets you combine data for related applica- tions into a single online data base. The integral Data Base Data 111•m - agement facility presents data in whatever format and :sequence is required by the user: Every user caul be in touch with the same central s ource of informa- tion. When data is updated for one application—say order entry— it's available for all others using that information, such as production, shipping, accounts receivable acrd inventory. Duplicated and cmflict- ingdata can be eliminated. I111i61- mation is easier to retrieve, revise and use. Streamlined programming Both new and experienced pro- giammers will find their work sim- plified and speeded with System/38. Tllaulks to advanced teclulology, . many functions that ordinarily require programming have been absorbed by the system. For example, System/35 offers a powerful "query" function which can 1-1,-1 data in the (lata base as required by the user and present itS,ystem,138 provides an exten- inthc desired sequenc c and report sive range of security levels. They forillalt— without Conventional pro- vary from simple basic precautions gramming. Executives can use a to an advanced plan which assigns work station at their desks to obtait a personal identification code to special management reports in nun- every user: utes, rather than days or weeks. Uilder this plan, the informa- tion any individual can access, change or process is carefully des- ignated and restricted according to a user "profile" stored in the data base. In a multiple work station environment, with large numbers of users, this kind of positive individ- ual control can be particularly ticularly help- ful in assuring the integrity and security of computer data. affected. This means that a pro - gr amines is no longer burdened with manual coding;, card punching and waiting for test time and . results. In short, System= can mean greater programmer productivity. Streamlined programming like this benefits both the progi ammer and the user who want results fast. Single level storage Another feature that makes for operating efficiency is an extension and simplification of the virtual stor- age used in larger computers. In System/38, IBM has taken this technique a big step further with the concept known as Single Level Storage Management. It tregtsall storage—both main and auxiliary --as a single unit or level and automatically keeps track of everything stored in it. Users, particularly programmers, no longer need be concerned about pro - grain size or location or any other aspect of storage management. Online training As more employees become in- volved with the computer, training them in its operation becomes an important task. tiirith System/38, your people can get "hands on" experience at live work stations, using actual data files—without fear of record destruction and with- out interfering with the use of the system by others. And the prompting and guiding messages flashed on the screen can aid both trainees and regular users alike. There is even a "HELP" key for use whenever further assis- tance is needed. Data integrity and sedurity version of the familiar RPG lan- guage, pJl'p>;lalrrmel S ill'C !,*11'('11 new freedom to tailor processing of data and flow of logic to the needs of an application. Aloreover; new applica- tion programs can be comp riled• tested and "debugged" froln any workstation—in real tinte:m(I using real data s:u)rples—while regular processing continues without living