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FrameMaker
Desktop publishing program from Frame Technology Corp., San Jose, CA, that runs on UNIX platforms, Macintosh and Windows. It is noted for its integrated text and graphics capabilities. Optional viewers let documents run on machines without FrameMaker, providing a way to distribute hypertext-based help systems.

framework

(1)- In object-oriented programming, a generalized subsystem design for building applications. It consists of abstract classes and their object collaboration as well as concrete classes. While object-oriented programming supports software reuse, frameworks support design reuse.

(2)- (FrameWork) One of the first integrated software packages for PCs that included a programming language. From Ashton-Tate.

framing bit
Same as start bit and stop bit.

free-form database
Database system that allows entry of text without regard to length or order. Although it accepts data as does a word processor, it differs by providing better methods for searching, retrieving and organizing the data.

free-form language
Language in which statements can reside anywhere on a line or even cross over lines. It does not imply less syntax structure, just more freedom in placing statements. For example, any number of blank spaces are allowed between symbols. Most highlevel programming languages are free-form.

Free Software Foundation
Non-profit organization founded in 1985 by Richard Stallman, dedicated to eliminating restrictions on copying and modifying programs by promoting the development and use of freely re-distributable software. It is developing the GNU computing environment, including kernel, utilities, editor, compiler and debugger. GNU programs, X Windows and others are available for a transaction charge. Address: 675 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139, 617/876-3296, Internet: gnu@prep.ai.mit.edu. See League for Programming Freedom.

FreeHand
Full-featured Macintosh drawing program from Aldus Corp., Seattle, WA, that combines a wide range of drawing tools with special effects.

freeware
Software distributed without charge. Ownership is retained by the developer who has control over its redistribution, including the ability to change the next release of the freeware to payware. See shareware and public domain software.

frequency
Number of oscillations (vibrations) that are in an alternating current within one second. See carrier.

frequency division multiplexing
See FDM.

frequency modulation
See FM.

frequency shift
See FSK.

friction feed
Mechanism that allows cut paper forms to be used in a printer. The paper is passed between the platen and a roller that presses tightly against it. Contrast with tractor feed.

frob
From frobnicate. Slang for manipulating and adjusting dials and buttons for fun.

front-end CASE
CASE tools that aid in systems analysis and design. Contrast with back-end CASE.

front end processor
Computer that handles communications processing for a mainframe. It connects to the communications lines on one end and the mainframe on the other. It transmits and receives messages, assembles and disassembles packets and detects and corrects errors. It is sometimes synonymous with a communications controller, although the latter is usually not as flexible.




frontware
Software that adds a graphical user interface to mainframe applications. The frontware application is processed in the personal computer which is used as a terminal to the mainframe.

FSK
(F-requency S-hift K-eying) Simple modulation technique that merges binary data into a carrier. It creates only two changes in frequency: one for 0, another for 1.

FSR
(F-ree S-ystem R-esource) In Windows, the amount of unused memory in a 64K block (128K for Version 3.1) reserved for managing current applications. Every open window takes some space in this area.

FT1
See fractional T1.

FTAM
(F-ile T-ransfer A-ccess and M-anagement) Communications protocol for the transfer of files between systems of different vendors.

FTP
(F-ile T-ransfer P-rotocol) TCP/IP protocol that is used to log onto the network, list directories and copy files. It can also translate between ASCII
and EBCDIC. See TFTP.

FTS 2000
(F-ederal T-elecommunications S-ystem 2000) Digital fiber-optic network providing voice, video, e-mail and high-speed data communications for the U.S. government. AT&T and Sprint are the major
equipment providers.

FUD factor

(F-ear U-ncertainty D-oubt factor) Marketing strategy by a dominant or privileged organization that

restrains competition by not revealing future plans.

full backup
See backup types.

full-duplex
Transmitting and receiving simultaneously. In pure digital networks, this is achieved with two pairs of wires. In analog networks or in digital networks using carriers, it is achieved by dividing the bandwidth of the line into two frequencies, one for sending, one for receiving.

full featured
Hardware or software that provides capabilities and functions comparable to the most advanced models or programs of that category.

full path
Path name that includes the drive (if required), starting or root directory, all attached subdirectories and ending with the file or object name. Contrast with relative path. See path.

full project life cycle
Project from inception to completion.

full-screen mode
Programming capability that allows data to be displayed in any row or column on screen. Contrast with teletype mode.

fully populated
Circuit board whose sockets are completely filled with chips.

function
In programming, a software routine that does a particular job. The function performs the job and returns control to the instruction following the calling instruction. Programming languages provide a set of standard functions and may allow programmers to define others. The C language is built entirely of functions.

function keys
Set of keyboard keys used to command the computer (F1, F2, etc.). F1 is often the help key, but the purpose of any function key is determined by the software currently running.



function library
Collection of program routines. See function.

functional decomposition
Breaking down a process into non-redundant operations.

functional specification
Blueprint for the design of an information system. It provides documentation for the database, human and machine procedures, and all the input, processing and output detail for each data entry, query, update and report program in the system.

fuse
(1)- Protective device that is designed to melt, or blow, when a specified amount of current is passed through it. PROM chips are created as a series of fuses that are selectively blown in order to create the binary patterns in the chip.

(2)- To bond together.

fusible link
Circuit line in a PROM chip or similar device that is designed to be blown apart. See PROM programmer.

Futurebus+
IEEE standard multisegment bus that can transfer data at 32, 64, 128 and 256-bits and can address up to 64 bits. Clock speeeds range from 25 to 100MHz. At 100MHz and 256 bits, it transfers 3.2 Gbytes/sec.

fuzzy computer
Specially-designed computer that employs fuzzy logic. Using such architectural components as analog circuits and parallel processing, fuzzy computers are designed for AI applications.

fuzzy logic
Mathematical technique for dealing with imprecise data and problems that have many solutions rather than one. Although it is implemented in digital computers which ultimately make only yes-no decisions, fuzzy logic works with ranges of values, solving problems in a way that more resembles human logic.

fuzzy search
Inexact search for data that finds answers that come close to the desired data. It can get results when the exact spelling is not known or help users obtain information that is loosely related to a topic.

G
See giga.

G-byte
See gigabyte.

gain
Amount of increase that an amplifier provides on the output side of the circuit.

GAL
(G-eneric A-rray L-ogic) Programmable logic chip (PLD) technology from Lattice Semiconductor.

gallium arsenide
Alloy of gallium and arsenic compound (GaAs) that is used as the base material for chips. It is several times faster than silicon.

game port
I/O connector used to attach a joy stick. It is typically a 15-pin socket on the back of a PC. See serial port.

gamma correction
In computer graphics, using a formula to provide a range of intensities that appear uniform to the human eye.

gang punch
To punch an identical set of holes into a deck of punched cards.

Gantt chart
Form of floating bar chart usually used in project management to show resources or tasks over time.

gap
(1)- Space between blocks of data on magnetic tape.


(2)- Space in a read/write head over which magnetic flux (energy) flows causing the underlying magnetic tape or disk surface to become magnetized in the corresponding direction.

gapless
Magnetic tape that is recorded in a continuous stream without interblock gaps.

garbage collection
Routine that searches memory for program segments or data that are no longer active in order to reclaim that space.

garbage in...
See GIGO.

gas discharge display

See plasma display.

gas plasma
See plasma display.

gate
(1)- Open/closed switch.

(2)- Pattern of transistors that makes up an AND, OR or NOT Boolean logic gate. See gate array.

(3)- In a MOS transistor, the line that triggers the switch.

gate array
Chip type that contains unconnected logic elements. The finished, customized chip is obtained by adhering the top metal layer of pathways between the elements. This final masking stage is less costly than designing the chip from scratch.

It usually contains only two-input NAND gates,
which can be used singularly or connected with other NAND gates to provide all the Boolean operations required for digital logic.

gated
Switched "on" or capable of being switched on and off.

gateway
(1)- Computer that performs protocol conversion between different types of networks or applications. For example, a gateway can connect a personal computer LAN to a mainframe network. An electronic mail, or messaging, gateway converts messages between two different messaging protocols. See bridge.

(2)- (Gateway 2000, N. Sioux City, SD) PC manufacturer founded in 1985 by Ted Waitt and Mike Hammond. With fiscal 1992 revenues of over one billion, Gateway is the largest direct marketer of PCs in the U.S. Gateway first sold peripherals to owners of Texas Instrument computers. In 1987, it began to offer complete systems and has continued to drive down the cost of quality PCs by mail.

gather write
To output data from two or more noncontiguous memory locations with one write operation. See scatter read.

GatorBox
Gateway from Cayman Systems, Inc., Cambridge, MA, that interconnects LocalTalk and Ethernet networks and supports TCP/IP and NFS protocols. It also functions as a router to connect AppleTalk-based computers on a LAN with remote AppleTalk devices.

gauss
Unit of measurement of magnetic energy.

Gaussian distribution
Random distribution of events that is often graphed as a bell-shaped curve. It is used to represent a normal or statistically probable outcome.

Gaussian noise
In communications, a random interference generated by the movement of electricity in the line. Also called white noise.

GB, Gb
See gigabyte and gigabit.



Gbit
See gigabit.

Gbits/sec
(G-igaBITS- per SEC-ond) Billion bits per second.

GBps, Gbps
(G-igaB-ytes P-er S-econd, G-igaB-its P-er S-econd) Billion bytes per second. Billion bits per second.

GByte
See gigabyte.

Gbytes/sec
(G-igaBYTES- per SEC-ond) Billion bytes per second.

GCOS
Bull HN operating system used in its minis and
mainframes (formerly Honeywell's product).

GCR
(1)- (G-roup C-ode R-ecording) Encoding method used on magnetic tapes and Apple II and Mac 400K and 800K
floppy disks.

(2)- (G-ray C-omponent R-eplacement) Method for reducing amount of printing ink used. It

substitutes black for the amount of gray contained in a color, thus black ink is used instead of the three CMY inks. See UCR and dot gain.

GDDM

(G-raphical D-ata D-isplay M-anager) Software that generates graphics images in the IBM mainframe environment. It contains routines to generate graphics on terminals, printers and plotters as

well as accepting input from scanners. Programmers use it for creating graphics, but users can employ its Interactive Chart Utility (ICU) to create business graphics without programming.

GDDM/graPHIGS is a programming environment that combines graphics capability with a user interface similar to the Presentation Manager in OS/2.

GDI
(G-raphics D-evice I-nterface) Windows graphics language used to provide output to the screen, printer or other device. Applications create images on screen by calling GDI functions. A GDI driver executes these Windows functions directly.

GDM
See CGM.

GE
(G-reater than or E-qual to) See relational operators.

GEM
(G-raphics E-nvironment M-anager) Graphical user interface from Digital Research similar to the Mac/Windows environment. It is built into ROM in several Atari computers, and the DOS version of Ventura Publisher comes with a runtime version.

gender changer
Coupler that reverses the gender of one of the connectors in order that two male connectors or two female connectors can be joined together.

General Magic
(General Magic, Inc., Cupertino, CA) Spin off of Apple Computer in 1990. Its mission is to create new personal intelligent communications products and services by developing and licensing technology to a wide variety of manufacturers and service providers. It has formed an alliance with large organizations such as AT&T, Sony, Philips and Motorola in order to reach the widest possible audience. See Telescript and Magic Cap.

general-purpose computer
Refers to computers that follow instructions, thus virtually all computers from micro to mainframe are general purpose. Even computers in toys, games and single-function devices follow instructions in their built-in program. In contrast, computational devices can be designed from scratch for special purposes (see ASIC).



general-purpose controller
Peripheral control unit that can service more than one type of peripheral device; for example, a printer and a communications line.

general-purpose language
Programming language used to solve a wide variety of problems. All common programming languages (FORTRAN, COBOL, BASIC, C, Pascal, etc.) are examples. Contrast with special-purpose language.

generalized program
Software that serves a changing environment. By allowing variable data to be introduced, the program can solve the same problem for different users or situations. For example, the electronic versions of this Glossary could be programmed to read in a different title and thus be used for any type of dictionary.

generator
(1)- Software that creates software. See application generator and macro generator.

(2)- Device that creates electrical power or synchonization signals.

Generic CADD
Full-featured PC CADD package from Generic Software, Inc., Bothell, WA, that offers levels for beginner, intermediate and advanced users.

GEnie

(G-eneral E-lectric N-etwork for I-nformation E-xchange) Online information service from GE Information

Services that provides business information, news and access to special interest groups. See online services.

Genifer
dBASE application generator from Bytel Corp., Berkeley, CA, that creates dBASE source code.

genlock

(gen-erator lock-) Circuitry that synchronizes video signals for mixing. In personal computers, a

genlock display adapter converts screen output into an NTSC video signal, which it synchronizes with an external video source.

geostationary
Same as geosynchronous.

geosynchronous
Earth aligned. Refers to communications satellites that are placed 22,300 miles above the equator and travel at the same speed as the earth's rotation, thus appearing stationary.

GeoWorks Ensemble
Popular graphical operating environment for DOS from GeoWorks, Inc., Berkeley, CA, that includes
word processing, drawing, communications, card file and calendar applications. It provides complete DOS file management and simulates file folders like the Macintosh. Users can launch all applications from within Ensemble. GeoWorks Pro includes the Quattro Pro spreadsheet.

germanium
(Ge) Material used in making the first transistors. Although still used in very limited applications, germanium was replaced by silicon years ago.

gesture recognition
Ability to interpret simple hand-written symbols such as check marks and slashes.

get
In programming, a request for the next record in an input file. Contrast with put.

Gflops
See gigaflops.

ghost
(1)- Faint second image that appears close to the primary image on a display or printout. In transmission, it is a result of secondary signals that arrive ahead of or later than the primary signal. On a printout, it is caused by bouncing print elements as the paper passes by.

(2)- To display a menu option in a dimmed, fuzzy typeface, indicating it is not selectable at this time.



GHz
(G-igaH-ertZ-) One billion cycles per second.

GIF
(G-raphics I-nterchange F-ormat) Popular raster graphics file format developed by CompuServe that handles 8-bit color (256 colors) and uses the LZW method to achieve compression ratios of approximately 1.5:1 to 2:1.

giga
Billion. Abreviated "G." It often refers to the precise value 1,073,741,824 since computer specifications are usually binary numbers. See binary values and space/time.

gigabit
One billion bits. Also Gb, Gbit and G-bit. See
giga and space/time.

gigabyte
One billion bytes. Also GB, Gbyte and G-byte. See giga and space/time.

gigaflops
(GIGA- FL-oating point OP-erations per S-econd) One billion floating point operations per second.

GIGO
(G-arbage I-n G-arbage O-ut) "Bad input produces bad output." Data entry is critical. All possible

tests should be made on data entered into a computer.

GIGO also means "Garbage In, Gospel Out." People put too much faith in computer output!

GIS

(1)- (G-eographic I-nformation S-ystem) Digital mapping system used for exploration, demographics, dispatching and tracking.

(2)- (G-eneralized I-nformation S-ystem) Early IBM mainframe query and data manipulation language.

GKS
(G-raphical K-ernel S-ystem) Device-independent graphics language for 2-D, 3-D and raster graphics images. It allows graphics applications to be developed on one system and easily moved to another with minimal or no change. It was the first true standard for graphics applications programmers and has been adopted by both ANSI and ISO.

glare filter
Fine mesh screen that is placed over a CRT screen

to reduce glare from overhead and ambient light.

glitch
Temporary or random hardware malfunction. It's possible that a bug (permanent error) in a program may cause the hardware to appear as if it had a glitch in it and vice versa. At times it can be extremely difficult to determine whether a problem lies within the hardware or the software.

global
Pertaining to an entire file, database, volume, program or system.

global variable
In programming, a variable that is used by all modules in a program.

glossary
Term used by Microsoft Word and adopted by other word processors for the list of shorthand, keyboard macros created by a particular user.

glue chip
Support chip that adds functionality to a microprocessor, for example, an I/O processor or extra memory.

GNU

(G-nu's N-ot U-NIX) Project sponsored by the Free Software Foundation that is developing a complete software environment including operating system kernel and utilities, editor, compiler and debugger. Many consultants and organizations provide support for GNU software.



goal seeking
Ability to calculate a formula backward to obtain a desired input. For example, given the goal gross margin = 50%- as well as the range of possible inputs, goal seeking attempts to obtain the optimum input.

GOCA

(G-raphics O-bject C-ontent A-rchitecture) See MO:DCA.

gooey
See GUI.

GOSIP
(G-overnment O-pen S-ystems I-nterconnection P-rofile) U.S. government mandate that after 8/15/90, all new network procurements must comply with OSI. Testing

is performed at the NIST, which maintains a database of OSI-compliant commercial products. (TCP/IP protocols can also still be used.)

GOTO
(1)- In a high-level programming language, a statement that directs the computer to go to some other part of the program. Low-level language equivalents are branch and jump.

(2)- In dBASE, a command that directs the user to a specific record in the file.

(3)- In word processing, a command that directs the user to a specific page number.

GOTO-less programming
Writing a program without using GOTO instructions, an important rule in structured programming. A GOTO instruction points to a different part of the program without a guarantee of returning. Instead of using GOTOs, structures called subroutines or functions are used, which automatically return to the next instruction after the calling instruction when completed.

Gouraud shading
In computer graphics, a technique developed by Henri Gouraud that computes a shaded surface based on the color and illumination at the corners of polygonal facets.

GPCmark
See PLB.

GPF

(1)- (G-eneral P-rotection F-ault) Application program abend in Windows 3.1. See UAE.

(2)- (G-UI P-rogramming F-acility) OS/2 application generator from GPF Systems, Inc., Moodus, CT.

GPI
(G-raphical P-rogramming I-nterface) Graphics language in OS/2 Presentation Manager. It is a derivative of the GDDM mainframe interface and

includes Bezier curves.

GPIB
(G-eneral P-urpose I-nterface B-us) IEEE 488 standard parallel interface used for attaching sensors and programmable instruments to a computer. It uses a 24-pin connector. HP's version is the HPIB.

GPS
(G-lobal P-ositioning S-ystem) Series of continuously-transmitting satellites used for identifying earth locations. By triangulation from three satellites, a receiving unit can pinpoint where it is on earth.