Transcript: Bartholomew's computers guide, 1985

Introduction to the editorial computer system

20 Mar 85

File name: guide.intl

The Editorial computer system was bought originally to cope with the information system, because it's our biggest everyday text-handling job, but the computer can also be used for writing your own files (such as typelists, indexes and specs). It also does alphabetical sorting of one-line entries, and can act as a calculator. Single-keying of text that is to be typeset is possible using the Discovery-5 interface box.

What it all boils down to:

You can create any text matter by using the computer just like a typewriter, but with the tremendous advantage that you can change your mind about any feature of it at any stage.

Mistakes are easy to put right. Changes can be made to as little as one character anywhere in the text, paragraphs can be swapped or deleted easily, printed formats can be revised if you don't like your first attempt, and lists are easy to update month after month.

Once you are used to it, the computer is a superior way of writing ever a one-page, one-off memo. A permanent copy of your file is kept on a floppy disk until you decide to through it away.

The computer is very much like a typewriter except that it used some keys for special commands. Sometimes these are ordinary letters, which may change their meaning depending on where you are in the word-processing program. For instance 'E' may mean 'edit' or 'exit' at different times. The computer usually gives you a 'promptline' or hint about what options you can press at the time.

The two programs you are most likely to need are the editor (to look at, write and alter text files) and the Filer (to list the disk directories, or to rename, transfer and remove files and carry out other utility jobs). These two program modes are called up simply by typing E for editor or F for filer.

The green blocks at the bottom of the screen refer you to the broad, numbered function keys as an alternative to pressing an initial letter. The 'execute' or 'accept' key (ETX, or No 7) is used to finish off every basic word processing operation such as inserting or deleting.

Word processing made it possible to write and revise this guide.

 

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