A Time-SharedAutomatic Data Retrieval and CompositionSystem

The advent ofADP-controlled production oftech- nical publications hasprovided manybenefits intheformofcost- effectiveness, efficiency, andaccuracy. However, thechief prob- lemsencountered insuchtechniques historically havebeenthekey- punchoperation andtheuseofpaperprintouts asreproducible manuscripts. Keypunching requires theuseofoutside vendors, with theconcomitant problems ofcost, transportation, andthecon- spicuous absence ofhighly touted accuracies. Inaddition, thein- creasing usageofGovernment computer facilities hasbegunto present problems whenapublication withafrequent revision cycle isinvolved. Also, theuseofpaperprintouts asreproducible manu- scripts increases printing costs because ofthelowcharacter density inherent inhigh-speed printers. Taking stock oftheforegoing prob- lems, theNavalShipEngineering Center sought somewaytosolve them.Itneeded toimprove thedataacquisition andmanagement system usedtopublish theelectronic equipment Field Change Iden- tification Guide(FCIG) program. A dataretrieval andcomposi- tionsystem hasbeenadopted toprovide afast-response capability bymeansofanon-line time-shared computer inwhichFCIGdata areaccessed bymeansofanoperator terminal. Theflowofinput andoutput dataassociated withthefield change program hasbe- comemanageable andadapted to streamlined operation through useofthenewsystem showninFig. 3ofthetext.