Patent Publication Number: US-4549500-A

Title: Programming aid device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a programming aid device for computer output and, more specifically, to a device for aiding in the interpretation of fields of data in a computer programming printout. 
     One of the problems in making problem determinations with respect to computer printouts is to be able to rapidly select a particular row of the computer printout and then to interpret the hexidecimal (hex) characters of the record contained in the selected row. Heretofore, masking devices have been employed containing one or more clear transparent slots through which exposed rows of character printout may be viewed. These devices are moved over a sheet of computer printout to block out printed matter, except that of the row to be selected. An objection to this type of device is the difficulty in locating the desired row due to obscuring the reference material above and below the row to be viewed. Another type of prior masking device shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,739,739 provides lightly tinted areas adjacent to a clear transparent slot to allow viewing rows adjacent to the desired row and thereby aid in rapidly selecting the desired row. However, in both cases, the device is merely an aid in selecting the desired row of the computer printout. To interpret the hex characters of the record in the selected row, the user would have to first look up information pertaining to the format of the selected record, then obtain an offset value to locate the particular field of interest in the selected record, count over to the offset, read off the value in the particular field and again look up information to interpret that field. This interpretive information may span many pages of a manual and be co-mingled with a lot of other information. The user might have to keep his fingers in several places within a manual to make sense of the information in the computer printout. The problem determination effort then becomes time consuming and is susceptible to error in interpretation because of having to look in many different places for the information. Another type of masking device that has been employed is illustrated in the IBM 8100 Information System distributed Procesing Programming Executive Base Problem Determination Reference Summary, Form No. SX27-0026-0 published in May 1980. This device consists of a paper template, the edge of which acts as a straight edge and the body of which acts as a blind to block out undesired rows of the computer printout. The template is formed as a multi-page foldout from a manual which makes it awkward for use in scanning the rows of a computer printout. A portion of a record format is printed on one edge of the paper foldout and the fields along the edge are used to exactly match the fields of the computer printout. Interpretive data is provided on different folds of the paper template pointed to by arrow directed lines which criss-cross each other to tables of data. Again, such an arrangement is awkward and confusing and does not make for ease of use. Likewise, there is no easy eye-catching way of lining up the edge of the template with the computer printout. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a simple programming aid device which can be moved quickly and easily through computer printouts to select a desired row for examination. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a programming aid device which contains eyecatcher data that allows a quick alignment of record format data on the device to be matched up with data fields of a computer printout. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a programming aid device which contains a preset data field or fields that allows a rapid alignment of the data field or fields on the device to be matched up with a data field or fields of the computer printout under examination. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a template which makes reading and interpreting computer printout information faster and less prone to error. 
     Still a further object of the invention is to provide a template having record fields and captions which make reading computer printout information easier, faster and more accurate. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a programming aid device which includes designator values associated with record field captions to direct the user to interpretation data for computer printout. 
     In accordance with the present invention, a programming aid device is provided which comprises a flexible card having record and interpretative data inscribed on the card. Each record on the card is formatted into sections of collimated fields of data corresponding to sections of collimated fields of computer printout. With this arrangement, when the card is positioned along a selected row of computer printout, the sections of collimated fields of data on the card align with and identify the record fields of data in the selected row of the computer printout. To aid the alignment of the record data on the card with the record data of the selected row of computer printout, eyecatcher data, in the form of hexidecimal characters, is provided at the beginning of the first data field of the first section of a record on the card to correspond to identical data at the beginning of the first data field of the record in the selected row of computer printout. Other fixed data characters which are known to always appear in a data field of a computer record printout may also be preset on the corresponding data field on the card. Accordingly, because the preset data characters on the card will be identical and correspond to the fixed data characters in a field of computer record printout, these preset data characters also act as eyecatchers to aid the alignment of the card record with the computer printout record. Descriptive captions are provided for each field on the card and are arranged so that they describe the computer printout fields to which they visually relate. Designator numbers are centered below certain descriptive captions to designate corresponding number tables of information, found elsewhere on the card, which contain unique information that is determined by the particular program for which the card is created. The tables of information each contain a column of hex characters corresponding to the hex characters which appear in the data fields associated with the designator numbers and are each followed by a brief description of the meaning of the hex characters. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIGS. 1A-1D taken together as in FIG. 1, constitute a plan view of a programming aid device for reading and interpreting computer printout data. 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of the aid device shown in position over a portion of a computer printout. 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of the aid device shown in position over another portion of a computer printout. 
     FIGS. 4A-4D, taken together as in FIG. 4, constitute a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the programming aid device for reading and interpreting computer printout data. 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view of the aid device shown in FIG. 4 in position over a portion of a computer printout. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a programming aid device which comprises a flexible card template 2 of a size that fits the needs of a particular program information with which it is to be used. The card may consist of opaque 50# paper, varnished or plastic-coated cover stock, or plastic or vinyl card stock material. Thus, a representative programming aid device may consist of a vinyl card that is 81/2×11 inches. The edges of the template card 2 act as a straight edge for locating a desired row of computer printout information. One or two record formats are inscribed, in ruled form, along each edge of the card. Thus, edge 4 (FIGS. 1A and 1B) has one ruled record format while edges 6 (FIGS. 1B and 1D), 8 (FIGS. 1C and 1D), and 10 (FIGS. 1A and 1C) each have two ruled record formats. The space between ruled lines, e.g., space 12 FIG. 1A, defines a field of hex characters in the computer printout while a series of fields bounded by spaces constitutes a section of the record. The spaces between sections of the record, e.g., spaces 14, 6 and 18 (FIGS. 1A and 1B)), are left blank to allow matching exactly the spaces between sections of the computer printout to be scanned. Eyecatacher data, i.e., hex characters that always appear in a field, are shown within the field, right-reading, directly below the exact position where they would appear in a row of computer printout, e.g., C1 always appears in the first field of the record format along edge 4 of the card 2 (FIG. 1A). Other hex characters that always appear in a field or fields other than the first field may also be shown within the field, directly below the exact position where they would appear in the row of computer printout, e.g., the row of hex F characters in the two fields of the record shown along edge 8 of the card 2 (FIG. 1C). Thus, these eyecatcher data characters may be permanently preset on the card 2 and may be used as an aid in aligning a record format on the card with a computer printout record. 
     Lines are ruled at 90° to the edge of the card and are used to delineate fields of the record format on the card. The lines are angled away from the record format at about a 30° angle and descriptive captions are given in slanted type between the angled lines to relate them visually to the fields they describe. The descriptive captions tell the user what the hex characters in the field mean, i.e., in the ALERT record format (FIGS. 1A and 1B), the four hex characters in the third field of the computer printout record represent the network address of the logic unit causing the alert. 
     Designator numbers are centered below certain descriptive captions to designate corresponding numbered tables of information, centered on the card, which contain unique information that is determined by the particular program for which the card is created. The tables of information each contain a column of hex characters corresponding to the hex characters of the computer printout which appear in the data field associated with the designated number and are each followed by a brief description of the meaning of the hex characters in that particular field of data. Thus, the delineated fields of data and descriptive captions make reading the computer printout data much easier, much faster and more accurate. Also, the cross-referenced information in the tables identified by the designator numbers saves the user from having to find the information on several pages of a manual or, perhaps, in several manuals. 
     When using the programming aid device of the present invention, the template card 2 is laid against the computer printout and quickly moved through the printout to a selected row. The blank spaces between sections of the record format on the card 2 are aligned with the spaces between sections of the computer printout and the hex character eyecatcher data or other preset data on the card 2 is also matched to the same eyecatcher data on the computer printout. Referring to FIG. 2, the programming aid device is shown with edge 4 being positioned below a selected row of computer printout. It should be noted that the template card 2 blocks all of the print data below the selected row and helps the user focus on the single row of computer output. It should also be noted that the spaces between sections of the record format on the card 2 are matched exactly with the spaces between sections of the computer printout record. Further, it should be noted that the eyecatcher data C1 in the first field of the first section of the record format matches exactly with the C1 of the computer printout record. Having lined up the record format on the card 2 with the computer printout, it is noted that a designator number is provided beneath the second field of the record format and designates table 2 of the tables of information provided on the card. The meaning of the hex characters in that field of the computer printout record may now be interpreted by the brief description in the table at the entry associated with the hex characters. Thus, the hex characters 0A in the computer printout may now be interpreted according to the 0A in table 2. This description eliminates the need for the user to search many pages within a manual or even pages of several manuals, for the meaning of these codes. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, the programming aid device is shown with the edge 6 being positioned below a selected row of computer printout. Here again, the spaces between sections of the record format on the card are lined up with the spaces between sections of the computer printout record and the eyecatcher data in the first field of the record format on the card 2, i.e., D7, matches identically with the same eyecatcher data in the first field of the computer printout record. With the record format of the card 2 being properly aligned with the computer printout record, the hex characters in the second, third and fourth fields of data of the firt section are to be interpreted in accordance with the designator numbers 1, 7 and 4 visually shown as being associated with those fields. However, referring to tables 1 and 7, it is noted that there are identical entries in several subtables for the hex characters 03 and 0A. Therefore, it is necessary to provide information as to which subtable is to be used to interpret the hex characters of those fields. Accordingly, the user must first view the fourth field associated with the designator number 4 and which contains the descriptive caption designated Control Block or Task ID. The hex characters, D5, in the fourth field of the first section of the computer printout record is interpreted as a PU entry in table 4 as shown in FIG. 1C. Therefore, the hex characters 03 and 0A in the second and third fields, respectively, of the first section of the computer printout record may be interpreted by corresponding entries in the PU subtables of tables 1 and 7, respectively, as shown in FIG. 3. Thus, for these type of records, the user quickly learns to read the fourth field of a PIU record before looking at the second and third fields of the record, i.e., the interpretations to be given to the entries in the second and third fields of such a record are dependent upon the setting of the fourth field. 
     It should be apparent that the programming aid device of the present invention can be moved through computer printout records quickly and easily because the device matches the size and layout of the printed records. The device also makes reading and interpreting information faster and less prone to errors. The formation contained on the card summarizes data which might otherwise be contained on many non-continuous pages of a manual. The mechanics of scanning computer printout record information, finding data of importance and interpreting that data with the aid device is much faster than with traditional manual documentation techniques. 
     When the record formats for a program are relatively few in number, the programming aid device fo FIG. 1 is suitable for use in scanning and analyzing computer printout records. However, as programs grow in size and complexity, the number of record formats used by the program increases proportionately and it is not possible, because of the limited number of sides of the record template card, to continue using a single card to accommodate all the different formats required by larger programs. Accordingly, referring to FIG. 4, there is shown an alternative embodiment of the present invention which will accommodate a greater number of record formats on a single card without losing any of the advantages of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. 
     The programming aid device of FIG. 4 also comptrises a flexible card 20 formed with a series of clear transparent slots 22, 24, 26, 28 (FIGS. 4A and 4B), 30 and 32 (FIGS. 4C and 4D) extending longitudinally of the card and parallel to each other. The spacing between the edges of each of these slots is such that it is slightly larger than the height of the characters of the computer printout record and therefore, when the card is positioned on a computer printout, a single row of the computer printout will be visible through each transparent slot. The areas 34, 36, 38 (FIGS. 4A and 4B), 40, 42 and 44 FIG. 4C and 4D between the slots are relatively wide compared to the width of the slots and are of an opaque color to block out non-selected rows of the computer printout. 
     Vertical lines are ruled from the lower edge of one slot to the upper edge of the next succeeding lower slot. These lines are ruled at 90° to the edges of the slots and serve to delineate fields of hex characters in the computer printout. Descriptive captions are provided between the ruled vertical lines to relate them visually to the fields they describe. A series of captioned fields bounded by non-captioned spaces, such as spaces 46 and 48, (FIG. 4A), constitute a section of the record. The spaces between sections of the record are left blank to allow matching exactly the space between sections of the computer printout. 
     Eyecatcher data is provided in the first field of data of each record format, directly below the exact position where it would appear in a row of computer printout. Thus, for example, the hex characters C1E3E3 always appear in the first field of a computer printout record having an ATT record format (FIG. 4A). The name of the record format type, e.g. ATT, is also carried in the first field of the printout record below the hex characters. The presence of the latter type of information is used to aid in selecting the row of printout data to be examined as will be later explained. Hex characters that always appear in another field or other fields may be present on the card directly below the exact position where they would appear in the printout record, e.g., the series of 0&#39;s in the fourth section of the ATT record may be permanently preset on the card and used as an aid in aligning the card record format with the computer printout record. 
     Designator numbers are centered below certain descriptive captions to designate corresponding numbered tables of information found elsewhere on the card which contain unique information determined by the particular program being used with the programming device. The tables of information, as in the earlier version of the programming aid device, each contain a column of hex characters corresponding to the hex characters of the computer printout and are each followed by a brief description of the meaning of the hex characters in that particular field of data. Thus, here again, the delineated fields of data, the descriptive captions and the cross-referenced information in the tables identified by the designator numbers make reading and interpreting the computer printout much easier, faster and more accurate. 
     Referring now to FIG. 5, when using the programming aid device 20, it is laid against the computer printout to be examined and quickly moved to a selected row. The blank spaces between sections of the record format of the card and the eyecatcher or other preset data on the card is used to aid in aligning the record format with the computer printout. The record format type printed in the first field of a record format on the card 20 and positioned beneath the eyecatcher hex characters also serves as eyecatcher data in selecting a computer printout record. Thus, each row of the computer printout includes a codal representation of the record format type, and as the card is moved across the computer printout, the codal representation in the printout may be visually compared against the record format type contained in the first field of the record format on the card until a match is found identifying the selected row. Thus, by using codal representations of the computer record format, spaces between sections of the record and other eyecatcher data, the selection, reading and interpreting of computer printout records is made easier, faster and more accurate than has heretofore been attained. It should be appreciated that the opposite side of the template cards can also be used for additional record formats and would likewise have ruled lines, eyecatcher and preset data, descriptive captions, designator numbers and table of interpretative information for the further election, reading and interpretation of computer printout records. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.