ML20245E724
| ML20245E724 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/01/1987 |
| From: | NRC OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION & RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (ARM) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| NUREG-BR-0056, NUREG-BR-0056-V03-N2, NUREG-BR-56, NUREG-BR-56-V3-N2, NUDOCS 8908110343 | |
| Download: ML20245E724 (16) | |
Text
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Volume 3, Number 2 E" Spring 1987 g g g NUREG/ BR-0056 gg .3 W
~ Information Technology [N U.S. Nuclear $5fl",y,'"'f,T*" "
Services Support Center : ) Regulatory and Training Laboratory \.,,,,./ Commission f,"gg,,
NRC COMPUTER SOFTWARE g'-
c POLICY UNVEILED f:
If only you had read -
PolicyI ,
llRg N
% y
$y w
"Wg ao Karen VanDuser written with these goals business. systems de-in mind. veloped by users for personal productivity On January 21, 1987, This article and future raay use Public Domain Agency Bulletin 0904-3, newsletter articles will software that has not authored by IRM, was is- address questions concern- i sued. The bulletin de- ing the policy and provide THE ISSUE AT HAND scribes NRC policy for the background on why and how -
acquisition, development, this policy was developed. software Pohey Unvekd . .1 modification, copying and The topics covered in this Tm om e Tw distribution, use, and issue are Public Domain here for inquinng Minds . .3 disposal of NRC computer Software, Software Instal- IDMs!R Upaate. .4 l
software. In short, the lation and Documentation. Good computs Asocawns l
document containe every- """ ~5 thing you need to know !
about the use of computer Q. Why is there a restric- CDC consddamn. .6 software at the NRC. IRM, tion on the use of m sm J Public Domain software'l while committed to encour- ITs Tranng > dan .8 aging innovative use acd sharing of sof tware, must A. First, let's emphasize Busy Tirne for iTs Tranng lab . 9 also address compatibility that the restriction is Pc user Group updates . .10 among software products really limited to those
.11 i nd consistency with the systems that impact Tech Notes .
i NRJ's kor range ADP directly on the scientific software codes . .16 plans. This policy was agency's conduct of 8908110343 8706M PDR NUREG BR-DODb R PDR
b xn previously for trcusfer to tho
, cppesv;d by IRM. Othzr 5520.
uscs of Public D min ITS NEWS Crrdits ssftware requira IRM 2) Software somstimas ,
The "' "V review, approval and ,, ,1T8 ca ionN $ vijing i o m tion requires special tail-oring to your machine distribution. of interest to users of computer
'$ceNy$he d st7tf o e RC configuration (boards, Many useful Public formation Technology Services peripherals', etc.). I Domain software pro- $Pgcen *S#
y ncon T'*i"i"'ne netion w Examples of this are l ducts are expected to NRC's Office of Personnel. LOTUS on a machine with '{
be approved by IRM for Your articles, ideas, questions a mgnohome ad % x use in systems cl. ass- and comments are welcomed. monitor configura tion.
ified as Organization P ea
, , ,se yforward them to the iTS Similar tailoring is Unique and Corporate, done for DisplayWrite j 2
However, some precau- hhjne:
o, p and Crosstalk.
tions must be taken to P-808 Phillips Bldg.
protect the Agency from Gerald Paulsen, ARM /ITSB 3) Standard batch files products that may cause Executive Editor and the autoexec. bat ;
damage to Agency data Douglas vickery. uSD A/GS and config.sys files on or result in incompat- Managing Editor the XT hard disk system ibility within a data Patncia Rathbun, OP/WASI are essential to the use area. chief ability to resolve user Karen VanDuser, ARM /ITSB calls to the Support CXAMPLES: There are ^Cng chief Center for assistance.
Public Domain software Kathy Beckman USDA/GS products that seem in- Direct r, ITS Training Lab People with differing accent and useful, but Design and Layout: level 8 of experience erase or format hard NRC Graphics Section and knowledge share disk drives. There are computers. What is also products that re- simple for you to main RAM resident, understand may not be which may create pro- that simple for others.
blems in running agency IRM is trying to make supported software. machines and sof tware Still other products . .
as user-friendly as vendor installation possible for all users.
allow for parameters, such as file sizes, instructions and have which are larger than even installed the same s ftware on my home Q. Why do I need to docu-these that can be used C 2Puter; why can t I by standard Agency pro- tnent my system? I know ducts. do it myself? how to run it and fix it.
Berore release for use, A. There are several products must pass re- reasons: A. If a system is used for view for impact and other than Personal usefulness. The proce- 1) Agency unique files Productivity it has dures for distribution are placed on your disk become a part of the must be developed o at installation time. way the Agency does its insure that problems For example, a profile bus ines s . If you leave which develop using to set margins, tabs, the Agency or accept this software can be P i tch, length of page, another position, your corrected for all first typing line and replacement is left users. last typing line is with the problem of installed with Display- learning the system Q. Why must IRM install Write to ensure that with no help. If mod-all microcomputer soft- your documents meet ifications of the sys-ware? I can read the agency specifications tem are needed, you may 2
not remtb:.r tha think- Inquira Avril: bis.
ing bthind all of the system logic.
A Tc:1 For & D 1Realililliat Tcxt D;to Jg There should always be anagement ,
y a User Guide and a Maintenance Guide for each system. Standards A #-,~ ~
t, J
for microcomputer ap- -#
plications which define minimum acceptable doc- -g e >.
umentation are avail- ,
Support enter Bulletin 0904-3 contains a LET YOUR_ P.C D.O THE WALKING
~
wealth of information Gerald Paulsen and proximity techniques.
about the use of software - ~
That is, a search may ask at the NRC, the require. The NRC has acquired a for all documer.ts contain-ments for computer soft- software package called ing word x in the same ware deliverable by con- INQUIRE for the purpose of sentence as word y.
tractors and acquisition managing text data bases.
of software, plus much, It is installed on the Two projects are under way ]
much more. Please become Department of Justice ecm- in IRM which will use familiar with it. Should puter system. INQUIRE. One will trans-you have any questions, INQUIRE is a product of fer the pilot data base please call Karen VanDuser Infodata, Inc. With it* developed for NMfS in con-at the Support Center' text data hees can be nection with the three X2-8310. Look for fucure designed i.nd implemented year licensing of high-articles on this topic in quickly usiug powerful level waste disposal, from
- high-level commands. The STAIRS, an older software full text of documents can package, to INQUIRE.
Computer Terms be stored on-line. rixed Revisited The other project will set data fields can de addea SOFTWARE: The entire set to the documents to pro- up a data ba. containing vide for a more precise correspondence between the of programs and procedures NRC and the Congress, and related documentation description of the con-This data base will enable sesociated with a computer tents.
users ca e re evant system. Sometimes tem- Search and retrieval capa- past questions and answers peramental in nature if bilities of the software
" bugged". Usually per- allow the user to search f r geference when res-p nding to Congressional forms as user or developer the data base for docu- quertes and n quests.
requires, but occasionally ments containing specified appears to assert indepen- words, phrases or combina- The use of full-text data dence and exercise " free tions of worda and phras-base management systems thinking" es; review the text of the c
irms at much of our BUG: 1. An undocumented selected documents on- business is still conduct-Eture. 2. A mythical line; and produce printed ed in word s , no t numbers .
scapegoat invoked by all output in a format defined ,
For further information sections of the DP by the user. The entire about the Waste Management industry. text of the document can project, contact Avi BUFFER: A region between be searched, as weli as Bender, 7-4483; for infor-fixed data fields, or com- W Cge two devices designed to distort or, if possible, binations of the two. sional Correspondence pro-prevent the flow of data Precise selections can be ject, contact Jerry in either direction. made using Boolean logic Paulsen, 2-8309. a 3
andintegration the enforcement data and QG of data on
} G G Q OQo
. generic issues. and plant-specific {
\
O GC oO O g g 1 O C
Outputs from the SINET/
c gg EXSIS project will includ e O O graphic information to o Q COO support the performance oo oo O indicator reports as well as plant profile informa-tion designed for senior NRC management.
j C j "C mmand ae.guired for SE Center" _ softw To facilitate the une of EKSIS by top management IRM has acquired ,
i mand Center" software. This executivethe "Co CDN RECHRISTENED "SINET" software, currently in use by senior to provide manao,ersent Fran Goldberg an integrated source ofwith $yd$er.ecutives in many F basic information on oper -
data bases. $NENISMNR The Winter NEWS announced issue of ITSinformation on plant charating reactors, includ -
had begun that work acteristics, performance IDMS/R application.on the first and Performance In- include a friendlyer PCFeatur -
focus of application de The an at rs , events, issues, apeedon based user interface re-
. reement status, and en- quiring no knowledge of foreseeable future on safety relat e will bvelopment efforts skills;for thefcomputers and no t highly information preso:exible cal data baces.ed these It techni-is in options including thetation aread The first phase of this ability to that IDMS/R can fits provide the most bene- Executive Safety Informa- combine color and give the most tion System (EKSIS? lar data on the samegraphics, te completed direct support for NRC's mission, will focus this summe,r,to be screen; and a on database designed tomainframe data. reactor unit and eventoperating In order to a manager to view dataallow The accelerated beginning at the top lev l sion with earlieravoid efforts confu- schedule for the first phase and proceed down to the e whichdata, included of EXSIS is IRM has non mission in large part, possible related changed ing detail. desired level of rupport the name because o,f the already ex-and presentation tech-The data base the Safety Informationof CDN tensive to work which went niques Network, or "SINET." into the EVENT and UNIT designed to facilitateare specifically data bases during the W
IDMS/R prototype effort di8 Play of historical
_o_rk beeins on safetz
_rglg,ted aeolications
. trends, exception reporta, will address other infor-Subsequent summary data, and other phases of EX high level management in
, mation identified by man- formation. -
INET application area NRC ise oo,j,ective of the s misalon.agement , first as importent t Possible Watch this space for mo re areas include inspection information upcoming issuesabout EKSIS in NEWS. m of ITS 4
and enforcement data and the integration of data on
. generic and plant-specific issues.
Outputs from the SINET/
OO o EXSIS project will include Q
g O OOO OO O 00 QO O graphic information to g o OO O support the performance C indicator reports as well o O O go o O as plant profile informa-Q O O QQo O tion designed for senior O
NRC management.
'oymand Center" software l . - auired for SINET f
W To facilitate the use of EXSIS by top management, IRM has acquired the "Com-mand Center" executive software. This software, a
currently in use by senior executives in many Fortune CDN RECHRISTENED to provide managenent with SI 'E I MS/R "SINET" an integrated source of g g ,,,
basic information on oper-Fran Goldberg ating reactors, including information on plant char- Features of Command Center -
include a friendly FC-The Winter issue of ITS acteristics, performance (SAI.P and Perfonnance In- based user interface re-
- ** quiring n knowledge of had begun on the first dicators), events, issues, and inspection and en- computers and no typing IDMS/R application. The skills; highly flexible forcement status, focus of application de- information presentation velopment efforts for the options including the foreseeable future will be ability to combine color on saf ety-related techni- The first phase of this graphics, text, and tabu- {
cal data bases. It is in lar data on the same Executive Safety Informa-there areas that IDMS/R tion System (EISIS), to be screen; and a mainframe can provide the most bene- database designed to allow completed this summer, I fits and give the mort will focus on operating a manager to view data direct support for NRC's reactor unit and event beginning at the top level 518810"*
data. The accelerated and proceed down to the schedule for the first desired level of support-In order to avoid confu- phase of EXSIS is ing detail. The data base sion with earlier efforts possible, in large part, and presentation tech-which included non-mission because of the already ex- niques are specifically '
related data, IRM has tensive work which went designed to facilitate changed the name of CDN to into the EVENT and UNIT display of historical the Safety Information data bases du:.ing the trends , exception reports ,
Network, or "SINET." IDMS/R prototype effort. summary data, and other Subsequent phases of EXSIS high level management in-Work beeins on safetv- will address other infor- formation.
related applications. mation identified by man-Watch this space for more agement as important t The obj,ective of the first NRC's mission. Possible information about EKSIS in SINET application area is iss es of ITS areas include inspection NEWS. m j 4
GOOD COMPUTER the data being put into imperative to remember the data base airesay that someone else mzy have APPLICATIONS DON'T available in electronic to %ke over the JUST HAPPEN form? Is there a system application. So data already in place that will definition guidelines Gerald Paulsen meet, or can be made to should be followed, appropriate documentation What makes the difference "?et the needs? These kinds of questions are prepared to support the between " good" computer software, and procedures applications and ,,not s
. . important to constder be-fore beginning the devel- and processes developed good ones? Planning. It and documented for che opment, is much too essy to jump management of data and right into coding the production of the required software and entering Conceptual Desien - Given outputs. Of course, the data, so many of us don't the requirements we have appropriate standards and take the time to do the defined, is the PC the policies should be folic,w-preliminary planning we best hardware choice? If cd. Coding should be done should, so, what are the software so that the capabilities choices? Do we need to of the hardware and soft-program in BASIC or ware are maximized and the ADP professionals follow a FORTRAN or can we use system is easy to use with series of steps called the dBASE or LOTUS 1-2-3 to no pitfalls or dead ends Systems Development Life speed the development pro- built in.
Cycle. These steps in- cess and make the applica-clude: tien more transferable?
What ere the best ways to Test - The prudent person
. structure the data files, would not start a cross-o Requirements Analysis to update the files and to country trip in a newly o Conceptual Design retrieve data? How large repaired car without first o Development will the data base be? making a test drive, just Testing a t, the prudent computer o Implementation user wouldn't put a newly o Evaluation. Development - Now we can developed application into
, start defining data ele- production without testing These steps are just as ments and coding sof tware. it. Errors and discrepan-relevant and valuable t As the development activi- cies discovered in the us in developing PC-based ties progress, it is testing process should be systems as they are Ior main-frame systems. Let's look at each step in a little more detail.
Recuire.aents Analysis - By the time we decide to de-velop an application on f 6 our PC we already know /
what the requirements are ,
- for ourselves--today. I L But what about other gI users? Are there other I
/ ,'
people who have the same '
need? How will our needs /
grow and change in the q /[ /!//
future? Is the capacity _
available for it? Is there a need to transmit ' Computer recordsfirst, then women and children' data to other users or is 5
a ccrrected cid rstssted to This sequcnce of activi- Cyber 176 Disk storege, or insure that deto will be ties has been' proved to TRS tape library. Some h:cdled correctly and the work in all kinds of envi- licensing codes, unused at results of the prccessing ronments, with all kinds present, were written to
,will be as planned. The of ADP systems. It may be tape in portable format to testing process should possible to produce a good be stored at NRC until include not only the pro- system without following needed. Certain smaller grams, but the documenta- these steps, but it will applications were moved to tion and procedures as be hard to produce a not the DG MV6000.
well. If possible, some- so good system if these one unfamiliar with the steps are followed. Next application should do the time you start to develop testing to help ensure a PC application, take the The conversion effort in-that documentation and time to go through these volved 520 files. 200 procedures are clear and s t ep s . I'm sure that you card decks were read into the program logic is com- will be pleased with the on-line data files and 700 plete. results. m K-tapes at BNL vere re-viewed, copied and/ or Implementation - At last, discarded (some of them you are ready to put the dated back to 1975).- ITS CDC SCIENTIFIC CODE sta n taught con - sion application to use. But first, there are some WORK CONSOLIDATED workshops and the regular final actions to concider. Emily Robinson There should be an orderly well attended dur?' ing "the transition from the old A year ago discussions and wanter months. At this system to the new. Files plans were initiated to time, all file, tape and may need to be trans- consolidate the Control card transfers have been ferred, old procedures and Data code application com- accomplished and all users processes retired and re- puter work at one instal- fnewgomputersystems placed with new ones, lation. Efforts were in- wh desired training have users trained, and recipi- tensified and focused when attended classes.
ents of information pro- Brookhaven National Lab !
duced by the application (BNL) a".nounced that it )
familiarized with the new would phase out all CDC In conjunction with this j information available and equipment by April 1987. effort, ITS has developed j its formats. It may be a new training course, !
necessary to operate the This move, togethm .ith offered for the first time old and new applications other financial and sup- on May 20-21, on DISSPLA in parallel for a brief port aspects favoring con- to teach users how to use period, but there should solidation, prompted a this powerful graphics be a decision point at management decision to software on either the which the new application convert all applications, INEL or DG systems (refer l will take over. codes and files from BNL to Summer 1986 Newsletter j to INEL's CDC system or issue, page 12). ;
Evalustion - Now that it lac's DG MV8000, is working, a hard look must be taken at the In October, all BNL users The conversion effort has application to determine were asked for detailed allowed much hardware and whether it does what we information about their telecommunications equip-intended it to do, whether files, tapes and card ment to be retired or re- i there is more that it decks. A major project assigned, resulting in '
_ could do and whether it was undertaken by the ITS reduced operating costs could do it better. If staff and a contractor to and improved access to discrepancies are noted or make the successful networks and other tele- l more development is need- conversion. Most large communications advance-ed, return to the require- code applications (which ments being considered in ments step and go through were in UPDATE format) conjunction with the move the process again, were moved to the INEL to White Flint. m 6 l
- l
n er imm er um as um -um -
M EM M E M
- N DOCUMENT CONTROL M' WW SYSTEM NEWSLETTER DCS ENHANCEMENTS Possible to retrofit o data elements, abstract existing DCS records via p & full-text storage.
automated text comparison f the Title / Description The first candidates for Roberta Osborn field against the list. full-text storage and re-The Document Control trieval will be the NRC Branch, DISS/IRM, recently Rules and Regulations, inaugurated a major effort Regulatory Guides, Manual to improve the services Direct Data Transfer Chapters and NUREG ab-already provided by the stracts.
De ument Control System. It is currently possible The enhancements are: to print out or save search results to PCs o subject serrch using DCS emulation, but Improved Document Control capability, this approach is not prac-
~tical for downloading The control of documents o direct data transfer to large volumes of data at will begin at the Document end-user PCs, this time. The communica- Control Desk rather than tions interface necessary at the DCS facility. The o revised record for direct data transmis. DCS will provide the structure sion to PCs will be devel. training and tc lecommuni-
- abstracting oped by the DCS. End- cations software to permit
- full-text storage 6 users will then be able to the Document Control Desk retrieval create files from DCS data to track the distribution
- multiple screen and manipulate these files and disposition of formate, with PC software. document packages.
o improved document control.
Revised Record Structure It is expected that some and Full-Text StoraRe of the enhancements will Subieet Search be available to NRC staff PCS data records will take in the near future. The Subject search capability on new forms to accommo- subject search system will vill involve the develop- date keywords, abstracts be operational by mid-ment of a thesaurus, the and full-text retrieval, summer.
design of screens and sys- The screens and search j tems programs for retriev- Protocols may be tailored l al, and the development of to individual offices. All f the new features procedures and training Each document will be materials. The thesaurus categorized for processing will be shaped by the in one of the following needs of the DCS user com- {
vill include broader, nar-i groups: munity. The enhancement l rower and related terms. project team has relied ;
NRC lists of keywords have heavily on input from the been provided to ;.he DCS o data elements only, , {
key user groups and will to determine the required keep them closely involved specificity and scope of o data elements & in this effort. m the thesaurus. It may be abstract, I
I 7
1 I
i _---___________A
M1 JUNE 1987 l
2\ dBASE 111 PLUS 3 4 5 COM U CAIONS ...... . .. ..... RAMIS tl REPORTER O CE O CE AND CROSSTALK PART 2 PART1 PART 2 R AMIS 11 REPORTER PART1 9 INTRO TO 10 INTRO TO 11 INTRO TO 12 NOVICES SIMS SIMS INTRO TO PART 2 PART1 PART 2 NOVICES ..................... ...................... .....................
18 15 PART 1 INTRO TO NOVICES 16, INTRO FOR MANAGERS PART1 INTRO TO NOVICES 17 INTRO FOR MANAGERS PART 2 '
'NTRO TO LLTUS 12-3 18
'NTRO FOR MANAGERS PART 3 INTRO TO LOTUS 12-3 19 PART1 FART 2 PART1 PART 2 INTRO TO
..................... ...................... ..................... ..................... COMMUN! CATIONS INTRO TO INTRO TO AND CROSSTALK DISPLAYWRITE 3 DISPLAYWRITE 3 dBASE lit PLUS dBASE 111 PLUS PART1 PART 2 PART1 PART 2 E INTRO TO 23 24 dBA INTRO TO I LUS 25 INTRO TO 26 PC DOS dBA 1 PLUS INTRO TO GRAPHICS USING
.......g.g.......
tOggga ..................... ......................
INTRO TO SIMS SggS,1gg LOTUS 12 3 INTRO TO SIMS PART1 PART1 PART '2 20 DISPLAYWRITE 3 30lP g T ,E PART 1 . . . .c. . mmmmmmm... . . . ..&
..................... -DiSeg; write 3 dB SEI US "$NUR"YO"dBASE lil" PART 1 PLUS PART 2 6 7 dBASE Ill PLUS gglNIERN COMPUTER g jQ USER GROUP ORIENTATION 1:30 INTRO TO INTRO TO
. . W- 102. . . . . . INThJ TO LOTUS
. . . . . . . . ..... cBASE til PLUS dBASE Ill PLUS INTRO TO . . . . . 1. .2,3 ,P,A,} } ,2, , , , , , PART 1 PART 2 A Tb ' INTRO TO PC-DOS DISPLAYWRITE 3 15 16 17 PART1 PART 2 INTRO TO INTRO TO INTRO TO
........................................" LOTUS 1-2 3 113'DISPLAYWRITE 3 LOTUS 1-2 3 COMMUNICATIONS BASIC BASIC PART1 PART 2 AND CROSSTALK PROGRAMMING PROGRAMMING PART1 PART 2 21 22 23 24 T
GRAPHICS USING PRO RA G IN PRO RA M G IN INTERMEDIATE 120 dBA I PLUS dBA I LUS PC DUS CH R MASE 27 AlUSER 29 30 AT 28 l QO,Uf,,1y,,,W,-]2,, INTRO TO INTRO TO l31 PR M IN PR M IN INT
..................... o Segga:TE 3 MEgATE INTEPMEDI E ...................*. PART 1 PART 2 PART1 LOTUS 1-2-3 PART 2
Commissioner and Staff Tra ia inn j NRC Commissioner Kenneth Carr and 4 members of his REMINDERS e " -" ~4 - --
stve one-week ,Introduc-Class seats are still available tion to End-user co=Putina for the June 2-3,'RAMIS ll Basic at NRC for Executives" course at the 1TS ta3 in Reporter" class at the ITS Lab. early AP ril. ITS Lab in-structors, assisted by the ITS Support Center staff, Oe your Training
=
designed and presented this course, which will be Coordinator for details. adapted for training othe, senior managers upon re-quest. Further informa-BUSY TIME AT THE ~New XT Classroom tion on this training will ITS TRAINING LAB be forthcoming from Peter In April, the ITS lab ac- J. Goldman shortly.
Kathy Beckman quired 6 new XTs. The Lab g training facility now has: ; I The ITS Lab piloted a new f course, "RAMIS II Basic
- 8 PCs (Classroom B) ,
Reporting ," April 1-2.
- 6 XTs (Classroom C) ,1
{
Using sample data from the Safety Issues Maragement Q#
System (SIMS), partici- N- -
-J' ,j pants learned how to use the RAMIS II Reporter f -
~'
N f j
' f, Q software to prepare a \ 3 report request, format a report, perform calcula- -
A G [
)
tions on report data, pre- y 5- . Regional Representatives ,
view the report at the PC at Lab for PASS {
j terminal, and then print -
Seminar the report offline. Stu- I ,
dentr. can apply reporting d =a m -h j PASS Traininc ;
techniques learned in this class to several NRC sys- {T ]~%ELI
.v.e .-1T1. 4 i.
2 Representatives from all tems: SIMS; Allegations j five NRC Regional Offices Management System (AMS); attended a Property Man-New XT Classrorn af fab agement Seminar at the ITS NMSS s Licensing Manage- Uses ATSty/e Keyboard
"#" Y8 ** I
- Lab March 30-31. Focus of i Operator Licensing 4 rack-this training was the Pro-ing System (OLTS); and the perty and Supply System l Plant Specific Backfit (PASS). Regional Property System (PSB). This configuration allows Officers used the Lab's the Lab to conduct t ra in- IBM-PCs, modems, and Smar-The next RAMIS II Reporter "
E # '#"
' ' Y" ' ' *~"
session will be offered June 2-3. To enroll, con-
- *"" "" * " I used at the NRC. Course
- # "E *
- query and update of their tact your Training Coor- maeralswillberedseg property records via PASS, dinator or call the ITS to address both user audi- which runs on a 16-bit Lab, X2-4744 ences. Data General Eclipse C-330 minicompu er. s 9
dBASE lil USER GROUP Several members of the PC USER GROUP group pitaned to attend
' Al Serkiz MEETINGS '
the Third Annus1 Texas The purpose of the NRC 1:30 pm, Training Lab Instruments Satellite Syt.
~~
dBASE III User Group is to Posium on Artificial In-dBASE: telligence conducted on share ideas and techniques First Tuesday e A Pril 8.
among beginning, interne- each month
.diate, and advanced users at the NRC. To become a Al: Last Tuesday PC FORTRAN USER member, call Garrie Wil- Odd # Months GRCUP liams on X2-4470.
FORTRAN: Last Tuesday Harold Vandermollen At the February,1987, Even # Months The purpose of the FORTRAN meeting Bill Carrier and George Mathews of ADM/PSS User Group is to learn
.. . from presentations, share discussed conditional pro- artificial intelligence ideas and discuss prob-gramming utilizing struc- computer programming tech-lems. Memners range from tured techniques in dBASE nigges in NRC s regulatory g III Plus. IF, IF THEN activities.
ELSE and nested IF THEN Vi e8 8nd Persons who February's meeting of the are simply curious about ELSE etatements were dis- the FORTRAN language. The cussed along with the NRC's AI User Croup was next meeting will be held advantages of CASE state- very sparsely attended due i ments. Demonstration pro- to the previous day's n Tuesday, June 30, 1987, at 0 pm in Woodmont blems and dBASE III Plus severe snowstorm. The few 102, Classrcom A.
members who were able to If you program handouts were pro-l vided for future ref2r- attend learned of an in- w uld like to become a ence. The March, 1987, teresting expert system member and receive our mailings, please call meeting was a planning developed at Battelle session directed at iden- Columbus Laboratories, Harold VandtrMolen, the l
tifying topics of interest Presented by Mr. Stephen group a chairperson, on and need. The consensus Nicolosi of the Battelle I2-7389.
among the regular atten- Staff. The system was -
dees was to share program- developed to help chemical The Feb'ruary 24 meeting of ming techniques and devel- industry managers deter-mine which of a number of the PC FORTRAN User Group opment of user friendly featured a presentation on screen menus to promote different practical ap- j Proaches should be used in transfe ring data from a wider usage of dBASE III. ,
developing hazardous ma- FORTRAN-compiled program If you have suggestions' terials accident risk as- to the LOTUS 1-2-3 package sessment studles.
for Plotting. Although questions or would like to share your programming , scientific and calculation techniques call Al Serkiz The March meeting of the language, and LOTUS 1-2-3 X2-7487 or Garrier Wil- Al User Group, originally is usually thought of as a 11ams X2-4470. Your par- scheduled for March 31, business-oriented data-ticipation is solicited. was postponed due to tech- processing tool, data com- I nical difficulties en- patibility between FORTRAN Al USER GROUP c untered with a videotape and LOTUS 1-2-3 is sur-machine. Lambrose Lois prisingly easy to achieve. 4 Bill Kennedy had planned to present a This is a major advantage, videotape provided by the since many users are in- {
l The II' User Group is com- University of Maryland terested in using existing posed of NRC personnel containing a condensation f
FORTRAN applications, interested in current and of their television course rather than writing new future applications of on AI. pror-ams.
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E M M E essa N y Q M W %9 E %R 15 r This section of the news- o Auto page ending auto- dMSE Printer Setups letter provides tips and matica11y advances to a j
technical information of new page when you type Most users of dMSE know interest to NRC micro and past the last line of a it's possible to send a mainframe computer users. document page. command to the printer to If you have any questions )
produce a specific type l regarding the Tech Notes o Key combinations are style which can be reduc- !
or wish to contribute an used to underlip , bold ed, emphasized or, in some item for publication, con- and overstrike. This cases, italicized. How- =
tact tne ITS Support Cen- eliminates the need to ever, not all printers ter on 492-4160, use the block function. respond to the same com-mands.
PERSONAL COMPUTERS * " P*d I""**I " I*
used to move a section The printer codes for an DisplayWrite 4 of text into another Epson printer are not the document. same as those for an IBM The newest edition of Printer. Your dMSE man-IBM's DisplayWrite word o The paper clip function ual contains a list of the processing software is returns you to the loca. character values for IEM DisplayWrite 4. The up- tion at which you saved printers but not for Epson grade of this ptrular pro- the document. printers .
duct provides many new functions designed to make To circumvent a potential use easier. o An indexed help feature problem, refer to your for each topic. printer manual for the Some of the package's new codes for each character features are: o Requires 320k to you wish to send to the ,
, operate. printer and use the appro-o Simple user menus. priate code. If you need assistance, contact the o The default extension of o Comes on 5 diskettes, 4 Support Center.
documents is now . DOC. of which are used to create and print a docu-o Notice boxes provide ment. dMSE Terms messages and their re-commended actions at the One of the problems in bottom of the screen. DisplayWrite 4 is current- learning dMSE is becoming I
ly being analyzed by the familiar with the terms c The F2 End/Save option ITS Support Center and the used to describe each com-contains additional fea- Hardware and Software Ac- pot.en t . Below we have tures such as the abi- quisition Branch to deter- listed a few of the most lity to abandon the cre- mine the impact of its new common terms and their ation of a document features and the best way definit ions .
without saving it and to integrate it into the the option to end, save NRC software inventory. FIELD: A field is a and paginate all in one Watch for further informa- portion of a record con-coamand. tion. taining a piece of infor-11
. mes N' W h=
M. W m IM us- N g E W L .
metion. A collection of database file can le refe- convert the data by using fields meke up a record renced. It is possible to a string (STR())
and a collection of re- open up to 10 different conver.sion or a date cords mate up a file. At database files during a (DTOC()) conversion NRC, dMSE fielos may be dMSE s es sion. Each open function.
specified as containing database file vill reside charatters, numerica, in a specific work area The TkIM() function vill dates, or logical types of and must be labeled with remove any trailing blanks information. You're lim- an alias. It's through from your fields. TRIM ited to 128 fields in a these aliases that the can help you fit more data record and a field can be open database files will into a column as well as {
no longer than 254 charac- be addressed. Without improve the appeararance ters. This length limit- open database files and of your report, ation applies to character aliases you cannot create fields. Logical fields relationships or link your Creating good reports with will automatically be as- database files. the report generator is a signec a ler:gth of one matter of practice and character and date fields imagination. Using the vill contain eight char- dEASE Peports report generator can also acters. eliminate the need for dBASE contains an excel- hours of programming.
MEMORY VARIABLES: A memory lent report generator variable is like a post which can meet most common office box. You may give user needs. The report Hints For LOTUS Mee.ory the box a name and store generator is intended to Full Problems information in it for relieve the user of many later use. Memory varia- hours of programming which Have you ever encountered bles are used to store vould ordinarily be requi- the "Merc,ry Full" error data temporarily during red to generate a simple message in Lotus 1-2-3?
the operation of a pro- report. Here are some hints to gram. You can have up to help you avoid and/or cor-256 memory variables which There is a limit of 24 rect this problem.
can centain any type of columns of information in information. Information o Organize your spread-a report. , One vay'to get sheet into a compact stored in memory variables around this limit is to is not permanent. It is place more than cne field area around cell A1.
lost when you exit dBASE of information in a cel- o Don't leave blank col-unless you specifically umn. For example, em- umns and rows.
call for this portion of playee Icst and first . o Set columns to appro-memory to be copied to a names could be placed in pr M e widths.
storage device (diskette the same column rather or hard drive). than in two separate o Periodically check your columns. vorksheet's active area ALIAS: An alias is an by pressing the END key alternative database f!1e You can also combine data followed by the HOME name by which a specific in other fields, but re- key. This allows you to work area contaiaing that member, you may need to see what has been defin-m 12
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W ed as your spreadsheet a list of filenames and mand will be drive speci-area. other related file infor- fier:\ (example A,;).) If mation is displayed. To you are in a subdirectory o Reset blank formatted display the directory one on drive A called XTALK cells with / Range Format screen-full at a time, and enter a CD command, Reset, and erase enter the DIR command with the response will be unnecessary data before a /P parameter (i.e., A:\XTALK. To switch to a saving the worksheet. olnep ) . To list filenames subdirectory named XTALK, in a wide display across enter co\xTALK . Any time o If your active worksheet the screen, enter the DIR you refer to a subdirec-is still larger than command with the /W para- tory in a DOS command you your actual worksheet, meter (i.e., otR/W ) . must Use a \ followed by do a / File Xtract speci- the subdirectory name, fying the range of your When the DIR command is actual worksheet and entered without a drive To switch back to the root providing a new work- designator you will get a directory, enter the com-sheet name. Do not directory listing of the mand co\ at the prompt.
overwrite or delete the current active area of the If you want to list all original file until you current active drive (the the subdirectories under are sure the new ex- default drive). To get a the root directory, enter tracted file contains directory listing for a the command TnrE ,
all the information you drive other than the de-want. fault drive, use a drive Conving Files (Pse with designator with the DIR Subdirectories): To copy o NEVER use the spacebar command. For example, to or from a subdirectory, to erase the contents of olR B /P you must Specify the Sub-a cell. Always use the directory name in the path proper erase sequence , , option of the copy com-(/ Range Erase) to delete Subdirectories: DOS vg,11 mand. Fer example, to a cell's contents. allow more than one direc- copy a file from drive A tory on a disk. The main to a subdirectory named directory is called the DOS Tips XTALK on a hard-disk root directory. Other (drive C:), enter the directories are called command:
These tips are provided in subdirectories. One of response to recurring the major reasons for COPY A: filename C:\XTALK\ filename questions received in the having a subdirectory is Support Center. to group all programs and/or data files for a You must place a \ before Directories: The DIR com- software package together the subdirectory name and mand has two useful in one place, before the filename. To i' options: the /P and /W copy a file from a subdir-parameters,. These options To determine the current ectory called XTALK to a control the way the file active area use the CHDIR e subdirectory on the same list is displayed. (CD) command, without any diskette called 5520 enter options. If you are in the command When the DIR command is the root directo.y, the entered without an option, response to a DOS CD com- COPY \XTA LK\filenama\5520 '
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1 The file will have the sirulates a typewriter as Protocol Conversion for same name in the target much as possible. Full Screen Applications subdirectory (\5520 ) .
If you find that within a NIH has installed a Proto-Monitor Problem in document you frequently col Conversion Facility need to type other charac-CROSSTALK for full screen applica-ters not in the WP key- tions. Users with Version 3.61 of CROSSTALK, board extension, such as asynchronous ASCII type now being distributed at the greater than/less than display terminals, such as the NRC, has a problem symbols or a backslash, an IBM PC or IT, may use when the program is being change your home keyboard the Protocol Converter as executed on a system with extension to DP, If you an alternate to the Renex an AmJek monitor. The have only an occ asional Converter. You may access text is broken up or com- need for a specific char- full-screen applications pletely unreadable. If acter, you can specify an such as the Safety Issues you experience this pro- alternate extension set. Management System (SIMS) blem call the ITS Support See the DisplayWrite 3 via the Protocol Con-Center. users manual for details. verter.
DW3 Keyboard Changes These changes are done If you h".e an IBM PC or through the Revise Profile XT, you .nould emulate a DisplayWrite 3 lets you Task from the Main Task DEC VT100 terminal when view on your screen and Selection Menu of DW3. If logging on via the proto-print on your printer many you have any trouble with col converter. The phone more character sets than keyboard changes, call the number for the protocol are engraved on your key- ITS Support Center for conversion facility is board. These character help. (301) 492-2229. If you sets are called keyboard are going to make heavy extensions. Each keyboard use of the protocol con-extension has its own name MAINFRAME COMPUTERS verter you should order a and number, copy of the NIH Protocol Conversion Facility guide As you do ordinary typing, NIH from the NIH Technical the characters that you Information Office, produce come from the home Upload / Download Procedures keyboard. If you have to Profiles for CROSSTALK hold down the ALT key to Procedures for NIH main- have been made for the get a character, it comes frame to PC download, and Renex and the NIH protocol from one of the keyboard PC to NIH mainframe up- converter, and are avail-extens ions . There are load, are available able from the WS Support three choices for th home through the Support Center. Be sure to bring keyocard set. They ne Center. The procedures a diskette with you. For Data Processing (DP 103), describe how to use Cross- more information on the Word Processing (WP 001), talk or Kermit to upload / NIH protocol converter, and International. DW3 is download. Call X2-4160 or read articles in INTERFACE setup with WP 001 as the drop by the center to pick issues 132 and 133, avail-standard at the NRC. This up a copy. able at the ITS Support 14
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Center, or ask a Fupport INEL tape library stated il Center Consultant for in- INEL formation. Congratulations to the Attention Summer Interns! INEL tape library which
, was recently rated #1 by New Version of TELL-A-GRAF Summer intern computer CDC for the lowest read /
orientation is coming. write errors of 39 sites NIH has replaced version Call Emily Robinson on evaluated. This is due to 5.1 of TELL-A-GRAF with x28316, to sign up before the 1985 plan to set stan-version 6.0 The new ver- June 15. dards for tape handling, aion supports many new verification, cleaning and graphics devices. JCL maintenance, statements and procedures NRC PC to INEL PC for using TELL-A-GRAF h ve changed. You are enec e Anyone planning to do a Permanent Files Stay! {
aged to convert and ten . file transfer via PC be-all applications using tween NRC and INEL must NOW permanent files have TELL-A-GRAF as soon as apply for a special ID and no retention period which possible. For more Password at least three means that they will re-information, refer to weeks prior to need-to-use main, accruing charges, NIH's INTERFACE issue 134, date, due to the connec- until the file owner available at the ITS tion via INEL secure LAN. purges them from the sys-Support Center. Call Emily Robinson on tem. If you receive a x28316 for details. letter from ITS about ex-cessive charges, please New Release of FORTRAN take action!
Reduced Resources NIH has installed release 2.1.1 of VS FORTRAN Vers- For a five week period WESTLAW Acquired ion 2. The new release this summer, there will be contains a major enhance- only one CYBER 176 NRC has recently acquired ment for the Vector Facil- available. This may cause access to WESTLAW, devel-ity. For details of this slow response time or oped by West Publishing new facility, consult the other problems for users Company. An account is new FORTRAN manuals, which of large codes. For being set up and appro-are available at the ITS further information, call priate training is being Support Center. Emily Robinson, x28316. prepared. Call Karen Van-Duser X2-8310 for details.
Charting FORTRAN programs FYI for graphics users If you want to chart your FORTRAN program but are All registered INEL users not sure how to go about have access to the follow-it, check into the ITS ing graphics software:
Library (P-808) for the DISSPla, TELLAGRAF, CVS manual on PPE. and l'JLPPER.
, 15 m_______.-__ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . . _ _ _ . _
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- 2) The Radiation Shielding WREg viSH OHso @o a%8e %
P;t Bill Information Center ptainacopyofanyasss-As pcrt of the consoli- crated computer softvsre.
(RSIC) in Oak Ridge, dation of information-related functions in the Tennessee.
Office of Information Code submissions to NESC Resource Management (IRM), All NRC codes reauirinR should be coordinated the scientific code dis- distribution should now be through Patricia Bell of tribution function has sent to the National the ITS Support Center.
been assigned to the Energy Software Center Answers to any questions Information Technology ( NESC) . Distribution re- concerning this article, Services Branch (ITSB). quirements are described as well as NESC submittal In the past, NRC software in Bulletin 0904-3, At- forms, can be obtained by has been distributed by tachment 1, Section 3. calling Ms. Bell on exten-two major code centers: sion X2-8317 (FTS 8-492-Computer codes associated 8317). Any requests for
- 1) The National Energy with NUREG documents computer codes from either Software Center (NESC, should normally be trans- NESC or RSIC should also for:serly the Argonne mitted to NESC at the time be. referred to Ms. Bell. m ye am au sm. mas em ums um um s s .m um aus mis um me, som s.m um aus - aum om um aus am m mm s.m um um in. aus NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION I I I I NRC END-USER COMPUTING SERVICES g l ITS SUPPORT CENTER FACILITY DIRECTORY I I Location: I I Room Hardware Acqu,s, i ition
, / Upgrade / Relocation 7920P-808, Norfo* Philips Avenue,Building l Bethesda, MD 20814 and Software Acquistion/Upgrado: l me Macmams, 622 X2-8143 g l Phone: Hardware Installation and Maintenance: g g IFTS) or (301) 492-4160 Dawn Oliver, P-622, X2 8219 NRC local X2-4160 I I Center Hours: 5520 Support:
l 8:15 a.m. - 5:00 p.m M-F Beth Williams, F-622, X2 4832 I Consulting Hours: Timesharing Access /lDs:
Mike King, P-622, X2 4974 l l 8.3010011:30
- 5:00 a.m. M --FF p.m. M PC Et NIH Support: I I:Services: ITS Support Center, P408, X2-4160 E I User Assistance (Telephone & Walk in). Equipment and Software g for Trial Use, Demonstrations. Technical Library, Tours plus Data General Systems Problems: l Computer / Video-based Tutoriais. Juoy Seeherman, P-622, X2-9687 g g
Data General and INEL Scientific Support:
Pat Bell, P-808, X2-8317, Emily Robinson, P-808, X2-8316 l
g TRAINING LABORATORY FACILITY Scientific Code Distribution - RSIC and NESC:
Location: Pat Bell, P-808, X2-8317 Suite W-102 Woodmont Building g g 8120 Woodmont Avenue, Computer Room: X2-7713 Bethesda, MD 20814 I I DataBrownell, Communications - Modems and Data Lines: !
Bnan W 331, X2-7927
! (Phone:
FTS) or (301) 492 4744 O I NRC Local X2-4744 Safety issues Network (SINET):
l Laboratory Hours: Lynn Scattolini, MNBB-7602, X2-4056 I 8 .30 a.m. 5:00 p.m. M - F Systems Development and Modification: I I Chuck Fitzgerald, P 612, X2-7785 g g
Services:
I Three classrooms for formal ADP training including one equipped Operations Center: l James Carter, MNBB-7602, X2-9860 g g with tion six IBM useXTs and one withand eight IBM PCs. Hancs-on" instruc-in the of microcomputers timeshanno systems. g g Patricia Rathbun and Doug Vickery, W-102, X2 4873 The training Laboratory is operated by the USDA Graduate l Note: School under a contract, managed by the office of Personnel,Course to
!g Development: =
I provide training in end user computing for the NRC staff. Technical guidance is provided by IRM.
Patricia Rathbun. W-500, X2-8934
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