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title IBM 1401 Programming Systems
author Anonymous
source IBM 1401 Programming Systems manual
taken from Project Gutenberg, December 9, 2008. Produced by Gerard Arthus, Carla Foust and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/27468)
genre non-fiction
terms of use Creative Commons license

1IBM 1401 Programming Systems
2When companies order an IBM 1401 Data Processing System , methods - programming staffs are given the responsibility of translating the requirements of management into finished applications .
31401 Programming Systems are helping cut the costs of getting the computer into operation by simplifying and expediting the work of these methods staffs .
4Modern , high - speed computers , such as the 1401 , are marvelous electronic instruments , but they represent only portions of data processing systems .
5Well - tested programming languages for communication with computers must accompany the systems .
6It is through these languages that the computer itself is used to perform many of the tedious functions that the programmer would otherwise have to perform .
7A few minutes of computer time in translating the program can be equal to many , many hours of staff time in writing instructions coded in the language of the computer .
8The combination of a modern computer plus modern programming languages is the key to profitable data processing .
9This brochure explains modern IBM Programming Languages and their significance to management .
10Page 2 : Here an operator points to machine language instructions for a new application being generated by the 1401 system on the 1403 high - speed printer .
11Statements about the application which were written by the programmer are being translated internally to machine - coded language .
12What Is A 1401 Program ?
13A program is a series of instructions that direct the 1401 as it solves an application .
14What Is A Stored Program Machine ?
15A stored program machine is one which stores its own instructions in magnetic form and is capable of acting on those instructions to complete the application assigned .
16The 1401 uses a stored program .
17What Are 1401 Programming Systems ?
18There are two types : ( 1 ) Systems that provide the programmer with a simplified vocabulary of statements to use in writing programs , and ( 2 ) Pre - written programs , which take care of many of the everyday operations of the 1401 .
19What 1401 Programming Systems Mean To Management :
20INCREASED PROGRAMMING EFFICIENCY
21Programmers can concentrate on the application and results rather than on a multitude of “ bookkeeping ” functions , such as keeping track of storage locations .
22FASTER TRANSLATION OF MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS INTO USABLE RESULTS
23Simplified programming routines allow programmers to write more instructions in less time .
24SHORTER TRAINING PERIODS
25Programmers use a language more familiar to them rather than having to learn detailed machine codes .
26REDUCED PROGRAMMING COSTS
27Many pre - written programs are supplied by IBM , eliminating necessity of customers ' staffs writing their own .
28MORE AVAILABLE 1401 TIME
29Pre - written programs have already been tested by IBM , reducing tedious checking operations on the computer .
30EASIER TO UNDERSTAND PROGRAMS
31Programs are written in symbolic or application - oriented form instead of computer language .
32This enables management to communicate more easily with the programming staff .
33FASTER REPORTS ON OPERATIONS
34Routines such as those designed for report writing permit faster translation of management requirements into usable information .
35IBM Programming Systems :
36Symbolic Programming Systems
37These systems permit programs to be written using meaningful names ( symbols ) rather than actual machine language .
38Autocoder
39This is an advanced symbolic programming system .
40It allows generation of multiple machine instructions from one source statement , free - form coding , and an automatic assembly process through magnetic tape .
41COBOL
42COBOL is a problem - oriented programming language for commercial applications .
43COBOL permits a programmer to use language based on English words and phrases in describing an application .
44Input<sol>Output Control System
45This system provides the programmer with a packaged means of accomplishing input and output requirements .
46Utility Programs
47These are pre - written instructions to perform many of the everyday operations of an installation .
48Subroutines
49These are routines for multiplication , division , dozens conversion , and program error detection aids .
50Tape Utilities
51These are generalized instructions , particularly useful to 1401 customers who also use larger data processing systems .
52They facilitate the transfer of data between IBM cards , magnetic tapes , and printers .
53They also provide for some 1401 processing while the transfer of data is taking place .
54Tape Sort Programs
55Data can be sorted and classified at high speed for further processing by use of these generalized sorting routines .
56Report Program Generator
57The programmer uses simplified , descriptive language with which he is already familiar to obtain reports swiftly and efficiently .
58FORTRAN ( Contraction of FORmula TRANslator )
59Engineers and mathematicians state problems in familiar algebraic language for solution by the computer .
60RAMAC File Organization
61Routines are supplied for simplifying organization of records for storage in the 1401 Random Access File .
62Here 's how one of the 1401 programming systems — Report Program Generator — works to increase programming efficiency
631401 computers produce important reports for management in record time because of their outstanding processing and printing abilities .
64In addition to this rapid machine processing of input data used in reports , still more speed is achieved by the rapid preparation of programs to produce the reports .
65This is possible because of the IBM Report Program Generator , a unique system which permits programs to be created with a minimum of time and effort .
66This example illustrates how the Report Program Generator simplifies the preparation of one part of an Expense Distribution Report ( The Major Total Line ) :
67Without the Report Program Generator , the program to get the Major Total Line would be written out in detail , step by step :
68But with the Report Program Generator , all the programmer has to write are these two statements :
69It 's just as easy to write the statements to generate the rest of the report !
70The 1401 itself does the work of converting the programmers ' statements into the detailed instructions .
71The Report Program Generator is an example of what IBM Programming Systems can accomplish .
72With IBM you can be certain of total systems support for maximum profitability .
73IBM Stands For Service
74Service that begins long before the delivery of a computer ... and continues in depth long after .
75Service that has been proven by years of data processing experience .
76New IBM Services include : Programmed Applications Library Pre - tested computer programs designed to handle various major data processing functions common to firms within a specific industry . Programming Systems Support To keep customers up - to - date on the availability and use of all new programming systems . To assist the IBM programming staff in reflecting customer requirements in the specification of new programming systems .
77Other services available to every IBM customer :
78Program Library
79A library of 1401 programs will be established to aid all 1401 customers in solving specific applications , scientific as well as commercial .
80These will include programs written by customers and programs written by IBM .
81Schools and Seminars
82Executive schools for management personnel .
83Programming schools for methods personnel .
84Industry seminars where customers meet to discuss subjects of common interest .
85Branch Offices
86More than 200 branch offices serve customer needs promptly and efficiently .
87Sales and Systems Representatives
88Experienced , highly trained individuals work with customers in applying IBM methods to their requirements .
89These are just a few of the many IBM services .
90Your IBM Sales Representative will be pleased to discuss all of them with you .
91International Business Machines Corporation Data Processing Division , 112 East Post Road White Plains , New York
92-LSB- Footnote A : COBOL specifications were developed by the Conference on Data Systems Languages , a voluntary cooperative effort of users , and manufacturers of data processing systems . -RSB-