The Role Of The Operator; The Program And Run Book; Operator Responsibilities - IBM 1800 Operating Procedures Manual

The
IBM
1800 Data Acquisition and Control System was
developed to meet the needs for real-time data acquisition,
analysis, and control. Real-time applications normally require
continuous on-line communication between the system and
some process or operation occuring outside the computer
system. These real-time applications, with continuous
operation, require little operator intervention once started.
In many installations, however, the real-time control
system does not utilize all the computer time. Through
time-sharing, idle computer time can be used to perform
background jobs such as data processing or scientific com-
putations. It is in this area that the operator exhibits his
abilities.
In most installations, the tasks of the operator are
divorced from those of the programmer, system analyst,
and keypunch operator. In some installations, however,
one individual performs more than one of these tasks. The
subjects treated in this manual will help the operator learn
to operate the data processing input/output devices and
processor-controller console used in an 1800 system instal-
lation.
In most cases, the operator works directly with the
machine. In data processing applications, he must under
stand that he cannot allow the machine to remain idle.
The operator should not attempt to supply data which
should have been provided by the programmer. In such
cases, the operator should terminate the job and return it
to the programmer for correction. This action minimizes
or eliminates idle computer time.
The Program and Run Book
The system analyst initiates the first steps in developing a
program. He analyzes the information supplied by the user,
decides upon the most efficient means of instructing the
computer to process the information, and divides the
problem into segments. Each pr~blem segment is then
solved by the programmer, who lists the specific steps
required to instruct the computer to solve that segment.
The programmer writes the instructions for the computer
in a special programming language. This list of instructions
is called a program.
The program is then punched into
IBM
cards (called a
source program deck) by keypunch operators. The com-
The Role of the Operator
puter cannot execute a source program because a source
program is in a programming language and not in machine
language. The source deck is then translated during a com·
puter run by a program called an assembler or a compiler,
which produces an object program in machine language.
For simplicity, we will refer to the executable program as
the "program." An executable program may be in cards
as a program deck, or it may be on a disk.
The programmer also supplies a series of instructions and
notes (called a run book), which gives the operator specific
information regarding the particular program. The program
deck and the run book are delivered to the opera tor, who
depends on the run book to tell him what he must know to
proceed with the processing operation. For example, the
programmer includes error messages in his program to
describe errors that would occur because of incorrect input
data or an incorrect operational procedure. The operator
refers to the run book to determine what corrective action
to take when an error occurs. The run book also tells him
which program deck or disk to use, which forms to use in
the printer, and how to continue with the processing when
departures from conven tional procedures are necessary.
To this extent the operator works with the programmer.
the
run book, which has been prepared by the programmer
for each specific program, is used by the operator as one of
his tools while running the program through the computer.
The operator uses the program and the machine to complete
the processing of data. He does not explore all of the factors
that determine the structure of the program.
Operator Responsibilities
During the processing of data, the operator is responsible
for all on-line and off-line system components. On-line
devices attach to the system and operate according to
instructions in the program. At times it is desirable to make
one or more of these components temporarily unavailable
to the system (while preventive maintenance is being per-
formed, for example). While the component is unavailable
to the system, it is considered to be off-line. Equipment
that is never attached to a particular computer system is
also termed off-line. Keypunches, sorters, collators, and
reproducers are typical examples of off-line equipment.
The Role of the Operator