Chapter 1. Ibm 3740 Data Entry System; System Overview - IBM 3742 Reference Manual

SYSTEM OVERVI EW
The IBM 3740 Data Entry System is a family of products
that satisfies a variety of key entry requirements. The
3740 system is equally adaptable to centralized, decentral-
ized, and remote key entry environments. Original records
are entered much like they are on a standard keypunch.
The characters are entered in temporary storage as they
are keyed and written on the disk after the complete record
has been keyed.
A key element of the 3740 system is a magnetic recording
medium, the I BM diskette. This disk is an economical
means of storing data and replaces the standard punched
card. One disk holds 1898 records, roughly the equivalent
of one box of 80-column cards. Furthermore, the disk can
be used over and over, and data that has been entered on
the disk can be easily corrected and updated, thus elimina-
ting the rekeying of entire records and the scrapping of
cards.
The 3740 system devices are:
• IBM 3742 Dual Data Station: Designed for data entry
use in a centralized transcription location.
• IBM 3741 Data Station Models 1 and 2: Designed for
data entry use as a stand-alone station in a decentralized
or remote location as well as in a centralized transcrip-
tion area.
• IBM 3747 Data Converter: Designed to convert data
entered on magnetic disk by the data stations to mag-
netic tape for use by other 9-track systems and to con-
vert data from magnetic tape to disk for updating by
the 3740 system.
• IBM 3713 Printer: Designed to attach to the 3741 to
provide hard copy output.
Chapter 1. IBM 3740 Data Entry System
Thus, as shown in Figure 1, the IBM 3740 is actually an
integrated data entry system answering today's require-
ments for data entry in various operating environments.
In a centralized transcription environment, a typical instal-
lation includes a number of IBM 3742 Dual Data Stations
for recording data on diskettes. An IBM 3747 Data Con-
verter would be included to convert the data to one-half
inch, 9-track tape for processing by the host central pro-
cessing unit.
In a decentralized transcription environment, several IBM
3741 Data Stations would be located throughout a business
site. For instance, one station might be in the parts distri-
bution department and used by the inventory clerk to enter
part movement information. Other stations might be in
manufacturing departments where requests for parts are
entered by a control person. A diskette would be sent to
other departments or to a location having a converter.
In a remote environment, a typical situation would include
one or more IBM 3741 Data Stations at various offsite
locations, or, if the work load is heavy, IBM 3742 Dual
Data Stations. Perhaps parts are distributed from a ware-
house to several divisions of a company located miles apart.
The inventory data would be entered via the data station on
disk as transactions occurred. Periodically the data would
be transmitted to the warehouse via an IBM 3741 Data
Station Model 2 with binary synchronous communications.
IBM 3740 Data Entry System