MPE/iX Glossary of Terms and Acronyms (32650-90887)

Chapter 1 31
Glossary of Terms
fixed space font A typeface in which each character occupies the same amount of space.
The space between characters is uniform for all nonproportional fonts.
flexible disk A random access storage device, also called a diskette or floppy disk. Data
may be written to or read from one or both sides with a special disk drive
intended only for diskettes. Flexible disks are often used with personal
computers.
floating-point operations per second (FLOPS) A measurement of the speed of a
processor.
foreign tapes A tape or tapes not created on an HP 3000.
formal file designator The name that commonly appears on the left side of a file
equation for the purpose of redirecting input/output to or from a
file/device, or defining the characteristics of a file/device. This is the name
that processes will refer to, rather than to the actual file or device.
formatting 1. Part of a process of preparing a disk for use.
2. To prepare a file to be output with a certain organization. Formatting
includes such processes as setting page length and width, specifying
printing fonts, and adding headers and footers.
FORTRAN Formula translator. A high-level computer programming language often
used in scientific and engineering applications.
frame A unit of information used in packet switching. A frame contains no more
than one packet.
frame checking sequence (FCS) A 16-bit sequence derived from an algorithm common
to data circuit-terminating equipment (DCE) and data terminal
equipment (DTE). The sequence is appended to each frame and used as a
verification of data transmission.
free space map A map of allocated and available disk sectors on the volume set.
full-duplex A method of transmission that allows simultaneous two-way
communication. Full-duplex is also called duplex. It is the opposite of
half-duplex.
fully qualified file name A complete file description that includes the file name, the
group to which the file belongs, and the account to which the group
belongs. The fully qualified file name of the LETTER file in the PUB group of
the SYS account is expressed as LETTER.PUB.SYS.
function keys Special keys on the terminal keyboard that are labelled sequentially, F1,
F2, F3, and correspond to the windows that appear at the bottom of the
terminal screen. Function keys perform various activities.
fundamental operating software (FOS) The programs, utilities, and subsystems
supplied on the master installation tape (MIT) for MPE/iX.
gate A circuit with one or more input signals to produce a single output of
binary 1 or 0 depending on the type of logic built into it.
gateway 1. A special instruction used to increase the user's privilege level and
perform a branch. It is required to access the operating system.