TAL Programmer's Guide

Glossary
096254 Tandem Computers Incorporated Glossary–13
STRING. A data type that requires a byte or word of storage and that can represent an
ASCII character or an 8-bit integer.
structure. A variable that can contain different kinds of variables of different data
types. A definition structure, a template structure, or a referral structure.
structure data item. An accessible structure field declared within a structure, including a
simple variable, array, substructure, simple pointer, structure pointer, or redefinition.
Contrast with “structure item.”
structure item. Any structure field, including a structure data item, a bit filler, or a byte
filler. Also see “structure data item.”
structure pointer. A variable that contains the address of a structure that you can access
with this structure pointer.
sublocal data. Data that you declare within a subprocedure; identifiers that are
accessible only from within that subprocedure.
subprocedure. A named sequence of machine instructions that is nested (declared)
within a procedure and that is callable only from within that procedure.
substructure. A structure that is nested (declared) within a structure or substructure.
SYMSERV. A process, integrated with the TAL compiler, that on request provides
symbol-table information to the object file for use by the Inspect and Crossref
products.
system. The processors, memory, controllers, peripheral devices, and related
components that are directly connected together by buses and interfaces to form an
entity that is operated as one computer.
system procedure. A procedure provided by the operating system for your use. System
procedures, for example, manage files, activate and terminate programs, and monitor
the operations of processes.
TAL. Transaction Application Language. A high-level, block-structured language that
works efficiently with the system hardware to provide optimal object program
performance.
TALDECS. A file, provided by the TAL compiler, that contains external declarations for
TALLIB functions. See also “TALLIB.”
TALLIB. A library file, provided by the TAL compiler, that contains procedures for
initializing the CRE and for preparing a program for SQL statements.
Tandem NonStop Series system. See “TNS system.”
Tandem NonStop Series/RISC system. See “TNS/R system.”
template structure. A declaration that describes a structure layout but allocates no
storage for the structure. Contrast with “definition structure” and “referral structure.”
TNS system. Tandem NonStop Series system. Tandem computers that are based on
CISC technology. TNS processors implement the TNS instruction set.