resource sharing: timesharing use of high-speed input/outp

RSTSll terminal users may have Examples of the value of the Resource another terminal exclusive use of any peripheral 09 a Sharing concept are: one user may use the punched-card file whi8 timesharing system (except the disk, line printer, card reader, tape and BASIC program he ha% which is a shared device). They may use disk files for performing a "batch" off-line card punch. . - it as long as needed, and then return it adrmnistrative data processing task; for assignment to another user. The another terminal user may use a ability to enter, store, and retrieve DECtape unit for retrieving or creating a programs and data files using high-speed tape file intended for off-line storage; peripheral devices makes RSTS-11 a true and when thecard reader is free, yet general-purpose problem-solving system. RSTS for business and administrative problem solving

One of the most difficult problems facing Potential On-Line Administrative business today is increasing the Applications include: productivity of costly, hard-to-find clerks and secretaries. RSTS-11's power and Order Entry/Accounts Receivable/ flexibility offer the benefits of reduced Sales Analysis costs, increased customer satisfaction, Inventory Control/Accounts Payable and increased job satisfaction for clerical Data Entry with automatic error workers. checking, editing, and verification Inquiry-Response for "instant" access How RSTSll Benefits Administrative to records. Applications Journals, general ledger, and other account records are stored on-line for RSTSll can be dedicated in quick access from high-speed disk administrative application systems. The storage, thus reducing paper handling. power and versatility of RSTSll permit Because RSTS-11 is a full-scale terminals to be used for computational computer system, more of the steps and problem solving simultaneously with the decisions in accounting applications execution of administrative applications. can be automated thus reducing the Thus, the value of RSTSll in an drudgery of accounting operations and organization can be enhanced, for the possibility of human errors. example, by installing a number of Records are kept on-line. They can be RSTS-11 terminals in the updated quickly and retrieved easily engineering area as well as in for generating timely, detailed reports administrative offices. for better management control. Customer satisfaction increases when an on-line, RSTS-11 customer account inquiry system reports account status in a matter of seconds. Operating costs are reduced because accounting personnel can be trained quickly, work more effectively, make fewer mistakes, and have to handle less paper. RSTS in schools for interactive timesharing and administrative applications

The low operating costs of RSTS-11 RSTS-11 features make it an ideal system make it an ideal computer system for for the development of low-cost schools. Up to 16 students may have Computer-Assisted-Instruction (CAI) or simultaneous, interactive, access to a Computer-Managed Instruction (CMI) true timesharing computer. And, an systems. CAI and CMI system operations expanded RSTS-11 hardware consist primarily of processing if text in configuration lets you execute - the form of character strings. administrative applications at the BASIC-PLUS includes extensive language same time while students are using the features which simplify development of system for instruction. efficient CAI and CMI text processing Students with little or no computer programs. For example, special functions background can use RSTSll terminals are included that can measure a student's for developing computer concepts. More response time or continue a program if advanced students meanwhile, can there is no response. perform more complex problem-solving Administrative avvlications** can be run exercises. This is because RSTS-11 has simultaneously with timesharing terminal powerful features such as terminal-user use on expanded RSTS-11 hardware core space as large as 16,384 bytes (8192 configurations.For example, a Grade words). Hence RSTS-11 is valuable in Reporting System may be executed many curriculum areas. For example, utilizing a card reader, high-speed line students can conduct independent printer, and magnetic tape or disk files research in simulations, capital budgeting, while up to 1.5 students are each using an and computer-aided instruction system interactive terminal to complete their development. assignments. BASIC-PLUS programming language is so versatile that students may progress from the introductory stages of computer education to learning very advanced concepts in computer science and data processing. It is not necessary to interrupt the students' progress to learn a new language because they have "outgrown" a programming language. The success of BASIC as an introductory programming language has been proven with thousands of students, beginning with those at Dartmouth College, where BASIC was developed. As students become ready, they may be introduced to more and more of the extended features of BASIC-PLUS. For example, introduction of the PRINT USING statement (useful for complex formatting of printed output) may be deferred until the students are assigned more sophisticated projects. Thus, students with a broad range of RSTS for inhouse timesharing in scientific and industrial environments

BASIC-PLUS with its powerful extended language features makes RSTS-11 an ideal tool for scientific and engineering problem solving. RSTS-11 terminals are easier to use and more flexible than a desk calculator-even for simple problems. And, RSTS-11 has large-scale system features: user core storage of up to 16,000 bytes per terminal; additional programs that can be quickly called from an on-line program library. Sophisticated or simple, all applications can be handled with ease. RSTS-11 terminals can be placed where the problems are. High-speed paper tape and punched-card invuts lets data collected from experiments to be quickly entered and analyzed. RSTS-I1 terminals bring computational power to engineers and scientists with the convenience, accessibility, and economy heretofore available only with deskcalculators. And, if you're already using a subscription timesharing service, RSTS-11 gives you the same familiar programming language but with many extra extended benefits. the UNIBUS"" -pathway to RSTS-11 system expansion configurations expandibility The PDP-11 UNIBUST% the PDP-11's Because of PDP-11 flexibility, the initial The RSTS-11 configuration may be unique means for intercommunications RSTS-11 configurations may be tailored expanded either initially or at a later among all system components of RSTS-11. to closely fit your needs and budget. And, time with any of the following: Any unit -including processor, memory, when these needs and budget grow, the disk, terminals, and other peripheral configuration may be expanded by Additional fixed-head disk units to devices-may be added to RSTS-11 adding equipment from a broad range of increase the on-line file capacity simply by plugging the unit's controller optional hardware. available to users. into the UNIBUS. This modularity means A minimum RSTSll configuration Moving-head, removable disk that RSTS-11 can grow as your needs and includes: a PDP-11 computer with 20,480 cartridge drives for large-scale on-line budget grow. Your investment in RSTS-11 words of memory, a fixed-head disk unit, file capacity. is safe and never becomes obsolete. All a dual DECtape magnetic tape unit, a Moving-head disk, removable disk future devices for the PDP-11 will always real time clock, a bootstrap-loader pack units similar to the IBM 2314 fo~ be compatible. read-only memory unit, from one to 16 on-line capacity up to 32 million byte terminals, terminal interfaces and Additional terminals and terminal mounting hardware. interfaces (up to 16 total). Terminals This configuration also supports the may be typewriters, Teletypes, the 30 program development system, DOS, character-per-second DECwriter, which may be used for the development the high-speed DECdisplay for sil* and execution of FORTRAN IV and terminal operation. assembler-language programs. See page 11 Communications line terminal for further details. interfaces for remote operation of interactive terminals via telephone lines. I Card reader for entering punched High-speed paper tape reader and card files. punch for economical input and output - Line printer for producing hard-copy of files at medium speed. output at high speed. Additional core memory for increasing Additional DECtape transports for the core storage area per terminal from expanding the amount of on-line serial 8192 bytes (on the minimum file capacity. configuration) to a maximum of 16,384 Industry-compatible one-half inch bytes. Addtional core also helps magnetic tape transports for improve the responsiveness of the large-scale on-line serial file capacity system. and for transferring data files manually between RSTS-11 and other computer systems. matrix operations string operations print formatting A variety of operations are available Many applications, including Computer- Many applications, such as business data which permit efficient operations upon Assisted Instruction and business data processing, require more flexible control one and two dmensional arrays of data. processing, require efficient processing of of the printing format than Dartmouth Matrix data elements may be character strings of characters. A string may be up BASIC allows. BASIC-PLUS includes a strings, floating-point, or integer-numeric to 512 characters in length. String PRINT USING statement which may be quantities. operations available include: used to achieve precise definition of Operations include: Concatenation for appending one printed data format. PRINT USING MAT READ string to the end of another. allows character, decimal, and exponential CHANGE a one dimensional array of data field lengths and positions to be MAT PRINT defined, and mixed, for a print line. In MAT INPUT characters to a string or a string to a vector (In RSTS-11, a character string addition, leading dollar or asterisk Initialize matrix to zeroes, ones, or the need not be considered as a one- symbolsmay be "floated" to automatically identity matrix. dimensional array of characters). precede the most significant digit of decimal fields. Trailing minus signs for Matrix addition, subtraction, A full set of relational operators for data fields may be specified for transposition, and inversion. comparing one string to another. compatibility with accounting report Large arrays may be dimensioned, LENGTH function for determining the e standards. stored, and accessed on an element-by- number of characters in a string. element basis in an on-line disk file, thereby conserving user core memory LEFT, MID, and RIGHT functions for space. extracting a string of characters contained within a larger string. INSTR for searching for a substring within a string. SPACE function for creating a string of N space characters. extended program statement coding integer data type The effectiveness of RSTS-11 in solving problems in a broad variety of application BASIC-PLUS includes the definition of areas is significantly increased with the addition of numerous extensions to the integers in addition to strings and structure (syntax) of the BASIC program statements. These highly flexible program floating point numbers. Integers are statements permit more concise expression of complex program steps. Here are a whole numbers in the range of -32,767 to few examples: +32,767. The use of integers often LET A1=PlkR1 IF R1=5.0 OR R1=0.0 increases the execution efficiency of programs. The most common uses of GOT0 5530 UNLESS Xl$>Yl$ AND Z$="ABC integers are in counting and LET (Yl,Zl)=Zl+3 FORZ1=1 TO L indexing operations. IF X>Y AND Y >Z THEN Z=X ELSE Z=Y FOR I=X (J) STEP 3 WHILE L$ (I)=L$ (I+1) AND JI-I42 ON X(2,5) GOT0 100,150,200,250,300 interval timer In some timesharing applications, the length of time that a terminal user takes in responding- to a message- printed- at his terminal is a significant variable. The program recovery from input/output errors WAIT function provides an interval timer One of the more frustrating situations for a timesharing terminal user is when his feature which may be used for signaling program is cancelled because an input/output error condition occurs (perhaps the program that the terminal user has temporary) and causes all results created (in a file, for example) to that point to be lost. not responded within some predetermined This situation, although rare, may be eliminated in RSTS-11 applications by use of the length of time. One example of the use of ON ERROR GOT0 statement. This subroutine call statement is triggered by a variety the WAIT function is in Computer-Aided of input-output operation errors. The call subroutine is passed a value which Instruction applications where one identifies the error type, and attempts to recover from the error condition. If the measure of student performance is his subroutine is successful, normal execution of the application program resumes. "think time." If he takes more than 5 seconds, for example, to respond to a question, the computer can restate the question in another manner, and record the delay as one element of his overall performance. An additional feature provides year, month, day, and time-of-day information to the RSTS-I1 program. file handling input-output capability on-line file library file security

Small computer timesharing does not RSTS-11 users may create and have Each terminal user has full control on d imply a reduced need for file handling high-speed access to program and data the degree of privacy he desires for each capability. RSTSll supports a broad files stored on disk units with total file file he creates. The disk librarv file range of peripheral devices with costs space of up to 32,000,000 bytes. Files directory system, which provides and characteristics suitablefor a variety may be created for either sequential or efficient access to files, includes a of problems. Each peripheral device may random access processing, depending privacy-protection level which may be be directly accessed by a terminal user upon the requirements of a user's set only by the terminal user responsible to help him solve his problem in the most application. Up to 12 files may be open for creation of the file. Personnel records, effective manner: and accessible from a single program at for example, can be given absolute Low-speed paper tape at ASR any one time. The number of files a user protection from all other users. Other Teletype terminals for short or may have stored in the disk library is levels of protection include access infrequently used programs and data. bounded only by the total system disk limited to a particular group of users, High-speed paper tape reader and capacity and the library demands of read only, write only, and public. punch for somewhat larger files. other users. An on-line file library system means that Industry-compatible DEC Magtape and inexpensive, high-performance RSTSll terminal users have the DECtape for unlimited program and convenience of almost instant access to data file storage. Low-cost reels of any desired file or file item. Terminal DECtape offer many benefits over users are spared the problems and punched cards for off-line file frustrations of handling paper tape each storage: faster input/output, reduced time a program is to be executed. Many storage space, ease of handling, and applications such as on-line customer increased reliability. inquiry-response are possible with the large-scale file library system of DECpack removable disk cartridge RSTS-11. drives, DECdisk fast-access fixed-head disk units, and removable disk packs with a capability of 32 million bytes, total, for on-line storage of frequently used files. Punched-card files may be created off-line for data collection or classroom programming and then entered into RSTS to build data and program files. Files may be printed at high speed under terminal user control via a high-speed line printer. ' running other languages onRSTS-11 he need for a variety of programming languages, the RSTSll hardware - 10116rnav be usedfor the develment and execution of FORTRAN IV and assembly-languq; programs using the development software system, DOS. PDP-11 FORTRAN includes language compatibility elements that permit transfer of FORTRAN IV programs from other systems such as the IBNI 1130 to the PDP-11. The language, which is an ANSI-standard compatible FORTRAN IVl will .operate in the minimumRSTS hardware configuration described on page 6. DOS is a disk-resident software system which enables a user to both develop and run his own programs. A series of software modules permits creation, debugsing and editing of programs with a series of simple commands. During the program run, the monitor furnishes all the I/O device routinesI loaders and basic resources accounting necessary from disk resident files. AdditionaI features af DOS include random access and sequential files, file protection for user privacy, sirnultaneaus use of inputfoutput devices with processing and input/output device independence. digital 4 uipment corporation and its timesharing experi rice

Your decision to buy a minicomputer timesharing system is an important one. The company behind the system is * important too. Digital Equipment Corporation is the world's largest and most experienced manufacturer of small computer systems. Over 11,000 Digital small- computers are now in use performing a large variety of tasks. Digital has a network of sales, support, and field service offices throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, The United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan. These offices are prepared to respond quickly to your needs for training, programming assistance, and maintenance. Digital produced the first minicomputer timesharing system-TSS-8, a 16-user system based on the popular PDP-8 computer. The features built into RSTS-11 reflect Digital's experience in responding to the needs of the many owners and users of TSS-8 in schools, research and development organizations and timesharing utilities. The developers of TSS-8 system software participated in the development of RSTS-11. You benefit from Digital's knowledge about minicomputer timesharing. Digital also produces thel27-user PDP-10 timesharing system, giving you the added benefit of large-scale experience. This background has allowed Digital to produce the best medium-scale system- the RSTS-11; one that has many of the best features of both large and small scale systems. Dallas. Texas 75247 *%ANPA Telephone (214)838-4880 TWX: 910.881-4MK1 %IS Cieawlw Place, sclb fda. HOUSTON Atlanta. Georg~a90340 3417 Mdam Street. Suite A. Houslon. Texas 770M Telephone (404)-4583133/3134/3135 TWX 810-7574223 Telephone. (713>5242981 TWX: 810881-1651 KNOXVILLE 5731 Lyons View Pske. S W.. Knomille. Tenn. 37919 WEST Telephone: (615)-5886571 TWX: 8105830123 REGIONAL OFFICE CENTRAL 560 San Antonlo Road. Palo Alto. Californla 94306 REGIONAL OFFICE: Telephone (415)3265&(0 TWX. 910579-1288 1850 Frontage Road. Northbrook. lllmois 60082 ANAHEIM Telephone (312)-4982500 TWX 9106860855 801 E. Ball Road. Anaheim. California 92805 Telephone (714)-7768932/8730 TWX: 91MS1-1169 WEST LOS ANGELES Pmburgh. Pcwlvania 1953 1510 Cotner Avenue. Los Angeles. Californna 90025 Teleohone 14121-2458500. . TWX 710-797-3657 Telephone. (213-479-3791/4318 TWX: 910-342-6~98 CHICAGO SAN FRANCISCO 1850 Frontage Road. Northbrook. Illmom 60082 560 San Anton10 Road. Palo Alto. Callforn~a94306 Telephone 13121-4982500 TWX. 9106860855 CWm UM,Enold,Nraw Telephone (4151.3265640 TWX: 9109731268 Telephone. (201)871-4984. (212)-5944355, (212)-7360447 ANN ARBOR OAKLAND TWX 710-991-9721 230 Huron V~ewBoulevard. Ann Arbor. Mtchigan 48103 7850 Edgewater Drwe Telephone (3131-761-1154 TWX: 810-223-6053 Oakland. California 94621 NEW.-. . .IERSEY-. .- -. INDIANAPOLIS Telephone: (415)6355453/7830 TWX. 9103667238 1259 Route 46. Parsipparty. New lersey 07054 21 Beachway Drive Sulte G Telephone: (201)-3353300 TWX: 710.987-8319 - ALBUQUERQUE Ind~anapolls,Indiana 46224 6303 Indian School Road. N E PRINCETON Telephone Ki17)-24%8341 TWX 8103413438 Albuquerque. N.M 87110 US. Route 1 MINNEAPOLIS Telephone (sos>2985411/5r128 TWX: 910-989-0814 Princeton. New lersey OBYlO Sulte 111. BMO Cedar Avenue South. DENVER Telephone: (809)452-29U) TWX: 510685-2338 Mmneapol~s.Minnesota 55420 Telephone (612)-8&(-.1092 TWX. 91LL57€-2818 2905 South Colorado Blvd . Sulte #5 LONG-. ISLAND Denver. Colorado 80222 1919 iJdiie ~iuntryRoad CLEVELAND Telephone: (303)-757=/75glg56/7581658 Centereach. L.I.. New York lli20 Park H~llBldg .35104 Euclid Ave TWX 910-931-2650 Telephone: (516)5855410/5413 TWX: 510-P&8505 Willoughby. Ohio 44M SEATTLE Telephone (2161-94&6464 TWX 8104274808 PHILADELPHIA 1521 1Mh N.E.. Bellevue. Washington 98005 Station Square Three. Paoli. Pennsylvanm 1931 ST LOUIS Telephone: (208)4544%/4555404 TWX. 910.443.Po6 Telephone: (215W4749W/441O Telex: 5106688395 Sulte 110. 115 Progress Pky . Maryland He~ghts. SALT LAKE CITY WASHINGTON M~ssourl63043 431 South ird~ast.Salt Lake City. Utah &I111 Execut~veBu~ld~ng Telephone (314)472-7520 TWX: 910-78+0831 Telephone. (801-9838 TWX. 910.92- 6811 Kendworth Ave.. Riverdale. Matyland 2M140 DAYTON PHOENIX Telephone (301)-779-16W752-8797 TWX 710-8269BM 3101 Kettermg Blvd . Dayton. Ohlo 45498 307 E. Southern Ave.. Tempe. Arnona 85281 DURHAWCHAPEL HILL. Telephone (513)298-7377 TWX. 810459-1676 Telephone: (802>%7-1618 TWX: 91095M691 2704 Chapel Hlll Boulevard MILWAUKEE PORTLAND Durham. North Carolma 27707 Suite 107.2825 N. Mayfair Rd.. Milwaukee. Win. 5222 19015 Southwest Pac~hcHlghway. Tlgard. Ore. 97223 Telephone (919)489-3347 TWX 5109270912 Telephone: (503)63P8832/88&0 TWX: 9104S8792

CANADA GERMANY (cont.) SWITZERLAND D~gitalEquipment of Canada. Ltd. MUNICH Digital Equ~pmentCorporetlon S A. CANADIAN HEADQUARTERS 8 Muenchen 13, Wallensteinplak 2. Germany GENEVA 150 Rosamond Street. Carleton Place. Ontario Telephone: 0811358011-15 Telex: 811-%WMl 81 Route De L'Aire Telephone: 16131-257-2615 TWX. 610-561-1651 HANOVER 1227 Cerouge / Geneva. Switzerland OTTAWA D~~IGIEquipment Corporation GmbH Telephone: 42 79 50/58/99 Telex. 22 883 120 Holland Street. Ottawa 3. Ontario 3 Hannover. Germany. Podblelskiatrass. 102 ZURICH Telephone 16131-W2193 TWX 610-5Mgg07 Telephone: 0511BO70-95 Telex 922-952 Frelgutstrasse26, aMYL Zurlch. Switzerland Telephone (51) 36 76 23 TORONTO ENGLAND 230 Lakeshore Road East. Pon Credit. Ontario ITALY Telephone: i416l-278-6111 TWX: 610.4924326 Dlgital Equipment Co.. Ltd Dlgltal Equipment S.p.A MONTREAL READING MILAN 9675 Cote de Llesse Road 8 Tessa Road, Readlng. Berkshire. England Dowal. Quebec. Canada 760 Telephone. 073+S89ga/4/5/6 Telex: &(327 Corso Garlbaldi. 49. 20121 Milano. Italy elephone: 5148389393 TWX: 6104224124 Telephone 872 748. 872 894. 872 394 Telex: MANCHESTER 6 Upper Precinct. Worsley AUSTRALIA Manchester. England M25AZ Digital Equipment Australia Ply. Ltd Edmonton. Alberta. Canada Telephone. 081-7WE4ll Telex 888868 SYDNEY Telephone: (4W)43Wm TWX: 610891-2248 75 Alexander St.. Crows Nest. N.S.W. 2065 Australla VANCOUVER LONDON B~ltonHouse. Uxbr~dgeRoad. Ealing. London W.5 Telephone: 43925BB Telex. Am740 Dtgital Equ~pmentof Canada. Ltd Cable. Dialtal. Svdnev. . WO West 12th Avenue Telephone 01-679.2781 Telex 22171 MELBOURNE Vancouver 9. Br~tishColumb~a, Canada FRANCE 60 Park Street. South Melbourne. Victoria. 3205 Telephone (604)73g5616 61aEM9-2W6 TWX Equipement Dlg~tal Telephone: M142 Telex: AA307CU SOUTH AMERICA PARIS WESTERN AUSTRALIA . COASIN S A. 327 Rue de Charenton. 75 Par@ 12 "I=. France W3 Murray Street Vmy del Pmo 4071 Buenos Alres. Argentina Telephone: 3VFE-07 Telex: 21339 West Perth. Western Australla 6W5 Telephone: 52.3165 Telex 012-2284 Telephone: 21-4893 TeleB A.492140 BENELUX EUROPEAN HEADQUARTERS BRlSBANE THE HAGUE 139 Merwale Street. South Br~sbane Dlg~talEqu~pment Corporation Internat~onalIurope D~gitalEquipment N.V. Queensland. Australia 4101 81 Route De L'Adre Sir Wlnston Churchillaan 370 Telephone. 44047 Telex: AA4K616 1227 Carouge / Geneva. Switzerland Rllswllk (2-H). Netherlands Telephone: 42 79 50/58/59 Telex. 22 B83 Telephone: i'O-S95180 Telex: 32533 JAPAN GERMANY BRUSSELS TOKYO Rikel Trading Co Ltd (sales only) Dig~talEquipment GmbH Digital Equlpment N.V.S.A ' 106 Rue D'Arlon Kozato-Kaakan Bldg COLOGNE 1040 Brussels. Belgium Telephone: 02-139256 No 1814. N~sh~sMmbashi1-chome 5 Koeln. Bismarckstrasse 7. West Germany Mlnato-Ku. Tokyo. Japan Telephone: 52 21 81 Telex 888-2269 SWEDEN Telephone: 5915246 Telex 781-4208 Telegram: Fhp Chip Koeln Dlgltal Equipment Aktiebolag D~gttalEquipment Corporetlon International FRANKFURT STOCKHOLM Kowa Bullding No. 17. Second Floor A M Forsthaus 57 Vretenvagen 2. 5-171 54 Solna. Sweden 2-7 N~sht-Azabu1-Chome 8078 Neu-laenburg-Gravenbruch.Germany Telephone, 98 13 SO Telex lmSO Mmato-Ku. Tokyo. lapan Telephone: 08102-5526/5529 Cable Dag~talStockholm Telephone: 40C5894/6 Telex. TK8428