×
The internal search function is temporarily non-functional. The current search engine is no longer viable and we are researching alternatives.
As a stop gap measure, we are using Google's custom search engine service.
If you know of an easy to use, open source, search engine ... please contact support@midrange.com.
From early mainframe days, when the operator "console" was an IBM 1050
(modified Selectric) typewriter, IBM attempted to make the operator
command language as terse as possible (since most computer operators
were not touch typists, but more of the one-finger "hunt-and-peck"
variety).
So, for example, you could type: " v 12f,on " for "vary device 12F
on" and " v 242,off " for "vary device 242 off" and so forth.
The operator console command language abbreviations were something like
this:
C for Cancel
D for Display ("D J" = display jobs, "D A" = display active, etc.)
F for modiFy ("m" was already used for "mount")
...
M for Mount
R for Reply to message
S for Start
T for sTop
...
V for Vary.
In part, the choice of the term "vary" may have been made to select a
command name for which an easy-to-remember one-letter abbreviation was
available. IBM actually did some "human factors" studies, when designing
the operator command language for the System/360 DOS and OS, based on
earlier experiences with the previous generation of IBM systems, the
1410s, 709s, 7090s, etc.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
This mailing list archive is Copyright 1997-2024 by midrange.com and David Gibbs as a compilation work. Use of the archive is restricted to research of a business or technical nature. Any other uses are prohibited. Full details are available on our policy page. If you have questions about this, please contact
[javascript protected email address].
Operating expenses for this site are earned using the Amazon Associate program and Google Adsense.
midrange.com
