Files and Data Banks
J. D. Morley · GEOMATICA · 1969
Computer files may be handled by routine or real-time processes. Routine processes are scheduled, repetitive and well defined, and the activities may be batched. In real-time processes, the edit, update and action cycle may recur transaction by transaction. Routine files should not be encumbered with data not needed by the routine process and should be altered only by routine programs. Data banks, like other banks, have collection, deposit and withdrawal processes, each with its own special problems. Data collection has both hardware and software problems. Deposit processes involve decisions on editing, organization and data compression. Withdrawal programs are often from a number of sources and must not modify data in the bank. The use of routine files as data banks is rarely satisfactory. Files are designed for efficiency, timeliness and special purposes; data banks are research and planning tools for storing large amounts of information covering a generally broader range of topics.