IBM Personal Computer XT Manual To Operations page 350

operator and often involves performing routine
functions, such as mounting tape reels. (3) The
preparation of the system for normal operation.
signal. A variation of a physical quantity, used to
convey data.
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software. (1) Computer programs, procedures, and
rules concerned with the operation of a data processing
system. (2) Contrast with hardware.
storage.
(1)
A storage device. (2) A device, or part of
a device, that can retain data. (3) The retention of data
in a storage device. (4) The placement of data into a
storage device.
Synchronous Data Link Control (SDLC). A protocol for
management of data transfer over a data link.
synchronous transmission. (1) Data transmission in
which the time of occurrence of each signal
representing a bit is related to a fixed time frame. (2)
Data transmission in which the sending and receiving
devices are operating continuously at substantially the
same frequency and are maintained, by means of
correction, in a desired phase relationship.
syntax. (1) The relationship among characters or
groups of characters, independent of their meanings or
the manner of their interpretation and use. (2) The
structure of expressions in a language. (3) The rules
governing the structure of a language. (4) The
relationships among symbols.
text. In ASCII and data communication, a sequence of
characters treated as an entity if preceded and
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terminated by one start-of-text and one end-of-text
transmission control character, respectively.
Glossary-8