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`

`

`PUBLISHED BY
`Microsoft Press
`A Division of Microsoft Corporation
`One Microsoft Way
`Redmond, Washington 98052-6399
`
`Copyright © I 997 by Microsoft Corporation
`
`All rights reserved. No part of the contents of this book may be reproduced or transmitted
`in any form or by any means without the written permission of the publisher.
`
`Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data pending.
`
`[SBN l-5723l-743-4
`
`Printed and bound in the United States of America.
`
`I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 QMQM 2 l O 9 8 7
`
`Distributed to the book trade in Canada by Macmillan of Canada, a division of Canada
`Publishing Corporation.
`
`A CLP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
`
`Microsoft Press books are available through booksellers and distributors worldwide. For further
`information about international editions, contact your local Microsoft Corporation office. Or
`contact Microsoft Press International directly at fax (425) 936-7329. Visit our Web site at
`tnspress.microsoft.com.
`
`Macintosh, Power Macintosh, QuickTime, and TrueType fonts are registered trademarks of
`Apple Computer, Inc. Intel is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation. Directlnput, DirectX,
`Microsoft, Microsoft Press, MS-DOS, Visual Basic, Visual C++, Win32, Win32s, Windows,
`Windows NT, and XENIX are registered trademarks and ActiveMovie, ActiveX, and Visual
`J++ are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Java is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, lnc.
`Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respec(cid:173)
`tive owners.
`
`Acquisitions Editor: Kim Fryer
`Project Editors: Maureen Williams Zimmerman, Anne Taussig
`Technical Editors: Dail Magee Jr., Gary Nelson, Jean Ross, Jim Fuchs, John Conrow,
`Kurt Meyer, Robert Lyon, Roslyn Lutsch
`
`

`

`A
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`lell
`
`- a
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`lication bina
`
`interface '
`
`long cited as a shortcoming of the Macintosh com(cid:173)
`pared with IBM PCs and compatibles. This feature,
`along with other layout changes and the addition
`of new keys and lights, makes the Apple Extended
`Keyboard quite similar in form
`to
`the IBM
`enhanced keyboard. See the illustration. See also
`enhanced keyboard.
`Applen \ ap'I too'\ n. The second computer
`introduced by the Apple Computer Corporation, in
`April 1977. The Apple II featured 4K dynamic
`RAM, expandable to 48K (with 16K chips), and
`used the 6502 microprocessor. The Apple II was
`the first computer to offer a TV video adapter as
`an optionai alternative to a color computer moni(cid:173)
`tor. It also featured sound and eight expansion
`slots. See also 6502.
`Apple key \ ap'l ke' \ n . A key on Apple keyboards
`labeled with an outline of the Apple logo CJ. On
`the Apple Extended Keyboard, this key is the same
`as the Command key, which functions similarly to
`the Control key on IBM and compatible key(cid:173)
`boards. It is generally used in conjunction with a
`character key as a shortcut to making menu selec(cid:173)
`tions or starting a macro.
`Apple Macintosh \ap' l mak' ;;m-tosh\ n. See Mac-
`·
`intosh.
`Apple Newton \ ap' l noo't;m\ n. See Newton.
`AppleScrlpt \ ap'l-skripf\ n. A script language
`used with Macintosh computers running under the
`System 7 operating system to execute commands
`and automate functions. See also script.
`AppleShare \ ap'l-shar' \ n. File server software
`that works with the Mac OS and allows o ne Mac-
`
`intosh computer to share files with another on the
`same network. See also file server, Mac OS.
`applet \ a' pldt\ n . A small piece of code that can be
`transported over the Internet and executed on the
`recipient's machine. The term is especially used to
`refer to such programs as they are embedded in
`line as objects in HTML documents on the World
`Wide Web.
`AppleTalk \ ap'l tak' \ n. An inexpensive local
`area network developed by Apple that can be
`used by Apple and non-Apple computers to
`communicate and share resources such as print(cid:173)
`ers and file servers. Non-Apple computers must
`be equipped with AppleTalk hardware and suit(cid:173)
`able software . The network uses a layered set of
`protocols similar to the ISO/OSI model am;!
`transfers information in the form of packets
`called frames. AppleTalk supports connections
`to other AppleTalk networks through devices
`known as bridges, and it supports connections
`to dissimilar networks through devices called
`gateways. See also bridge, frame (definition 2),
`gateway.
`application \ a'pld-ka 'shdn\ n. A program de(cid:173)
`signed to assist in the performance of a specific task,
`such as word processing, accounting, or inventory
`management. Compare utility.
`application binary interface \ a-pld-ka' shdn bI'(cid:173)
`ndr-e in'tdr-fas, bT'nar-e\ n. A set of instructions
`that specifies how an executable file interacts with
`the hardware and how information is stored. Acro(cid:173)
`nym: ABI (A'B-11. Compare application program(cid:173)
`ming interface.
`
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`t . i
`
`11
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`Apple Extended Keyboard.
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`:all.
`1ter-
`
`Lan-
`1968
`>1 is
`that
`syn(cid:173)
`ible
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`:tge-
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`ions
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`also
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`.ph-
`are
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`rare
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`first
`.vas
`
`

`

`arithmetic expression
`
`article-
`
`the militaiy. ARP ANET was tl1e network from which
`the Internet evolved. See also Internet, MILNET.
`ARP request \arp' r;:i-kwesf , A-R-P '\ n. Short for
`Address Resolution Protocol request. An ARP
`packet containing the Internet address of a host
`computer. The receiving computer responds with
`the corresponding Ethernet
`or passes along
`address. See also ARP, Ethernet, IP address, packet.
`array \;:ir-a'\ n. In programming, a list of data val(cid:173)
`ues, all of the same type, any element of which
`can be referenced by an expression consisting of
`the array name followed by an indexing expres(cid:173)
`sion. Arrays are part of the fundamentals of data
`structures, which, in turn, are a major fundamental
`of computer programming. See also array element,
`index, recorcl1, vector.
`array element \;:ir-a' el';:i-m;:int\ n. A data value in
`an array.
`array processor \;:ir-a' pros'e-s;:ir\ n. A group of
`identical processors operating
`interconnected,
`synchronously, often under the control of a central
`processor.
`arrow key \ar'o ke' \ n. Any of four keys labeled
`with arrows pointing up, clown, left, and right,
`used to move the cursor vertically or horizontally
`on the display screen or, in some programs, to
`extend the highlight. See the illustration.
`
`Arrow keys
`(when Num Lock is ofO
`
`,,,.
`
`I
`
`arithmetic expression \ar'ith-mefik eks-presh'(cid:173)
`;;m \ n. A series of elements, including data labels
`and constants as well as numbers, that are joined
`by arithmetic operators, such as + and - , and can
`be calculated to produce a value.
`lo(ik
`logic unit
`\ar-ith-mefik
`arithmetic
`yOb'nit\ n. A component of a microprocessor
`chip used for arithmetic, comparative, and logical
`functions. Acronym: ALU (A'L-U'). See also gate
`(definition 1).
`arithmetic operation \ ;:i-rith ' m;:i-tik op-;:ir-a 'sh;:in,
`ar-ith-mefik\ n . Any of the standard calculations
`in arithmetic-addition, subtraction,
`performed
`multiplication, or division. The term is also used in
`reference to negative numbers and absolute values.
`arithmetic operator \ar-ith-mefik op';:ir-a-t;:ir\ n.
`An operator that performs an arithmetic operation:
`+, - , x, or /. An arithmetic operator usually takes
`one or two arguments. See also argument, binary,
`logical operator, operator (definition 1), una1y.
`.arj \dofA-R-]'\ n. The DOS file extension used
`with archive files created with the ARJ compres(cid:173)
`sion program .
`. army.mil \dot-ar'me-dot-mil', dot-ar'me-dot-M-I(cid:173)
`L'\ n. On the Internet, the major geographic
`domain specifying that an address belongs to the
`United States Army.
`ARP \A'R-P', arp\ n. Acronym for Address Resolu(cid:173)
`tion Protocol. A TCP/ IP protocol for determining
`the hardware address (or physical address) of a
`node on a local area network connected to the
`Internet, when only the IP address (or logical
`address) is known. An ARP request is sent to the
`network, and the node that has the IP address
`responds w ith its hardware address. Although ARP
`technically refers only to finding the hardware
`address, and RARP (for Reversed ARP) refers to the
`reverse procedure, ARP is commonly used for
`both senses. See also IP address, TCP/ IP.
`ARPANET \ar' p;:i-nef , A'R-P'A-N'E-T'\ n. A large
`wide area network created in the 1960s by the U.S.
`Depa1tment of Defense Advanced Research
`Projects Agency (ARP A, renamed DARPA in the
`the free exchange of information
`1970s) for
`between universities and research organizations,
`although the milita1y also used this network for
`communications. In the 1980s MILNET, a separate
`network, was spun off from ARP ANET for use by
`
`~
`
`7
`
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`
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`• 5
`'
`~
`e. - -
`
`' 9 ....
`
`6
`.:;.:
`3 ....
`
`'
`I
`1 ..
`
`,._
`
`'
`
`-·
`
`Arrow keys
`Arrow key. When Num Lock is off, the arrow keys
`on the number keypad can be used.
`
`article \ar't;:i-k;:il\ n . A message that appears in an
`Internet newsgroup . Also called post. See also
`newsgroup.
`
`

`

`.fidonet.org
`
`file format
`
`.fidonet.org \dot-f"I'd6-net-dot-6rg'\ n. On the
`Internet, the major domain specifying that an
`address is located on Fidonet.
`field \feld\ n . 1. A location in a record in which a
`particular type of data is stored. For example,
`EMPLOYEE-RECORD might contain fields to store
`Last-Name, First-Name, Address, City, State, Zip(cid:173)
`Code, Hire-Date, Current-Salary, Title, Department,
`and so on. Individual fields are characterized by
`their maximum length and the typ e of data (for
`example, alphabetic, numeric, or financial) that can
`be placed in them. The facility for creating these
`specifications usually is contained in the data def(cid:173)
`inition language (DDL). In relational database man(cid:173)
`agement systems, fields are called columns. 2. A
`space in an on-screen form w here the user can
`enter a specific item of information.
`field-effect transistor \feld' d-fekt tranz-i'stdr\ n.
`See FET.
`field-programmable logic array \feld'pro-gram(cid:173)
`d-bl loj'ik dr-a' \ n . An integrated circuit containing
`an array of logic circuits in which the connections
`between the individual circuits, and thus the logic
`functions of the array, can be programmed after
`manufacture , typically at the time of installation in
`the field. Programming can be performed only
`once, typically by passing high current through
`fusible links on the chip. Acronym: FPLA (F'P-L(cid:173)
`A'). Also called PLA, programmable logic array.
`field separator \feld ' sep'dr-a-tdr\ n . Any charac(cid:173)
`ter that separates one field of data from another.
`See also delimiter, field (definition 1).
`FIFO \ fi 'f6, F' I-F-O '\ n. See first in, first out.
`f1fth-generation
`computer \fifth' jen-dr-a' shdn
`kdm-pyBb ' tdr\ n . See computer.
`fifth normal form \fifth' nor' mdl form ' \ n.
`Abbreviated 5NF. See normal form (definition 1) .
`file \fil\ n. A complete, named collection of infor(cid:173)
`mation, such as a program, a set of data used by a
`program, or a user-created document. A file is the
`basic unit of storage that enables a computer to
`distinguish one set of information from another. A
`file is the "glue" that binds a conglomeration of
`instructions, numbers, words, or images into a
`coherent unit that a user can retrieve, change,
`delete, save, or send to an output device.
`file allocation table \ fil , al-d-ka' shdn ta' bl\ n . A
`table or list maintained by some operating systems
`
`to manage disk space used for file storage. Files on
`a disk are stored, as space allows, in fixed-size
`groups of bytes (characters) rather than from
`beginning to end as contiguous strings of text or
`numbers. A single file can thus be scattered in
`pieces over many separate storage areas. A file
`allocation table maps available disk storage space
`so that it can mark flawed segments that should
`not be used and can find and link the pieces of a
`fil e. In MS-DOS, the file allocation table is com(cid:173)
`monly known as the FAT. See also FAT file system.
`file attribute \fil' a' trd-byoot\ n. A restrictive
`label attached to a file that describes and regulates
`its use-
`for example, hidden, system, read-only,
`archive, and so forth. In MS-DOS, this information
`is stored as part of tl1e file's directory entry.
`file backup \ fil ' bak'up\ n. See backup .
`file compression \ fil ' kdm-presh' dn \ n. The pro(cid:173)
`cess of reducing the size of a file for transmission
`or storage. See also data compression.
`file control block \fil' kdn-tr61' blok\ n. A small
`block of memory temporarily . assigned by a com(cid:173)
`puter's operating system to hold information about
`an opened file. A fil e control block typically con(cid:173)
`tains such information as the file's identification,
`its location on disk, and a pointer that marks the
`user's current (or last) position in the file . Acro(cid:173)
`nym. FCB (F'C-B ').
`file conversion \fil ' kdn-vdr' zhdn\ n. The pro(cid:173)
`cess of transforming the data in a file from one for(cid:173)
`mat to another w ithout altering its contents-for
`example, converting a file from a word processor's
`format to its ASCII equivalent.
`file extension \ fil' eks-ten' shdn \ n. See extension
`(definition 1).
`.file extent \ fil ' eks-tenf\ n. See extent.
`file format \fil' for'mat\ n. The structure of a file
`that defines the way it is stored and laid out on the
`screen or in print. The format can be fairly simple
`and common, as are files stored as "plain" ASCII
`text, or it can be quite complex and include vari(cid:173)
`ous types of control instructions and codes used
`by programs, printers, and other devices. Exam(cid:173)
`ples include RTF (Rich Text Format), DCA (Docu(cid:173)
`ment Content Architecture), PICT, DIF (Data
`Interchange Format), DXF, TIFF (Tagged Image
`File Format), and EPSF (Encapsulated Postscript
`Format).
`
`

`

`local loop
`
`logical file
`
`local loop \i<Ykdl 185p'\ n. A telephone connec(cid:173)
`tion that runs from the subscriber to the local tele(cid:173)
`phone exchange.
`local memory \16' kdl mem'dr-e\ n. In multipro(cid:173)
`cessor systems, the memory on the same card or
`high-speed bus as a particular processor. Typi(cid:173)
`cally, memory that is local to one processor cannot
`be accessed by another without some form of per(cid:173)
`mission.
`local newsgroups \l6'bl n85z 'gr85ps\ n. News(cid:173)
`groups that are targeted toward a geographically
`limited area such as a city or educational institu(cid:173)
`tion. Posts to these newsgroups contain informa(cid:173)
`tion that is specific to the area, concerning such
`topics as events, meetings, and sales. See also
`newsgroup.
`local reboot \lo'kdl re ' boot\ n. A reboot of the
`machine that one is directly working on, rather
`than a remote host. See also reboot.
`LocalTalk \lo'kdl-tak'\ n. An inexpensive cabling
`scheme used by AppleTalk networks to connect
`Apple Macintosh computers, printers, and other
`peripheral devices. See also AppleTalk.
`local variable \lo'kdl var'e-d-bl\ n. A program
`variable whose scope is limited to a given block of
`code, usually a subroutine. See also scope (defini(cid:173)
`tion 1). Compare global variable.
`location \16-ka 'shdn'\ n. See address1 (defini(cid:173)
`tion 1).
`lock \lok\ n. 1. A software security feature that
`requires a key or dongle in order for the applica(cid:173)
`tion to run correctly. See also dongle. 2. A mech(cid:173)
`anical device on some removable storage medium
`(for example, the write-protect notch on a floppy
`disk) that prevents the contents from being over(cid:173)
`written. See also write-protect notch.
`locked file \lokd fin n. 1. A file on which one or
`more of the usual types of manipulative operation
`cannot be performed-typically, one that cannot
`be altered by additions or deletions. 2. A file that
`cannot be deleted or moved or whose name can(cid:173)
`not be changed.
`locked volume \lokd' vol'y85m\ n. On the Apple
`Macintosh, a volume (storage device , such as a disk)
`that cannot be written to. The volume can be locked
`either physically or through software.
`lockout \lok'out\ n. The act of denying access to
`a given resource (file, memory location, I/ O port),
`
`usually to ensure that only one program at a time
`uses that resource.
`lock up \lok' up\ n. A condition in which pro(cid:173)
`cessing appears to be completely suspended and
`in which the program in control of the system will
`accept no input. See also crash1.
`log \log\ n. 1. A record of transactions or activities
`that take place on a computer system. 2. See loga(cid:173)
`rithm.
`logarithm \log'dr-idh'dm\ n. Abbreviated log. In
`mathematics, the power to which a base must be
`raised to equal a given number. For example, for
`the base 10, the logarithm of 16 is (approximately)
`1.2041 because 101.2o4i equals (approximately) 16.
`Both natural logarithms (to the base e, which is
`approximately 2.71828) and common logarithms
`(to the base 10) are used in programming. Lan(cid:173)
`guages such as C and Basic include functions for
`calculating natural logarithms.
`logic \lo(ik\ n. In programming, the assertions,
`assumptions, and operations that define what a
`given program does. Defining the logic of a pro(cid:173)
`gram is often the first step in developing the
`program's source code. See also formal logic.
`logical \loj'd-kdl\ adj. 1. Based on true and false
`alternatives as opposed to arithmetic calculation of
`numeric values. For example, a logical expression
`is one that, when evaluated, has a single outcome,
`either true or false . See also Boolean algebra. Com(cid:173)
`pare fuzzy logic. 2. Of or pertaining to a concep(cid:173)
`tual piece of equipment or frame of reference,
`regardless of how it may be realized physically.
`Compare physical.
`logical decision \loj' d-kdl dd-sizh ';:m \ n. Any
`decision that can have one of two outcomes (true/
`false , yes/ no, and so on). Compare fuzzy logic.
`logical device \loj'd-kdl dd-vi:s '\ n. A device
`named by the logic of a software system, regard(cid:173)
`less of its physical relationship to the system. For
`example, a single floppy disk drive can simulta(cid:173)
`neously be, to the MS-DOS operating system, both
`logical drive A and drive B.
`logical drive \loj' d-kdl dri:v '\ n. See logical device.
`logical error \loj'd-bl ar'dr\ n. See logic error.
`logical expression \loj' d-kdl eks-presh'dn \ n. See
`Boolean expression.
`logical file \loj'd-kdl fil'\ n. A file as seen from a
`conceptual standpoint, without reference to and as
`
`21111 -
`
`