OCCASION
This publication has been made available to the public on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation.
DISCLAIMER
This document has been produced without formal United Nations editing. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this document do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries, or its economic system or degree of development. Designations such as “developed”, “industrialized” and “developing” are intended for statistical convenience and do not necessarily express a judgment about the stage reached by a particular country or area in the development process. Mention of firm names or commercial products does not constitute an endorsement by UNIDO.
FAIR USE POLICY
Any part of this publication may be quoted and referenced for educational and research purposes without additional permission from UNIDO. However, those who make use of quoting and referencing this publication are requested to follow the Fair Use Policy of giving due credit to UNIDO.
CONTACT
Please contact [email protected] for further information concerning UNIDO publications.
For more information about UNIDO, please visit us at www.unido.org
UNITED NATIONS INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION Vienna International Centre, P.O. Box 300, 1400 Vienna, Austria Tel: (+43-1) 26026-0 · www.unido.org · [email protected]
8 I 2 5
' 12.2
1.25 RESTRICTED \ o m 20 June 1981 English
Establishment of a Sectoral Fertilizer Documentation and Information Unit for the Arab Region at AFCFP in Kuwait DP/RAB/78/021/11—01/B
Technical report and final mission report
Prepared for the Government of Arab States by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, executing agency for the United Nations Development Programme
Based on the work of Horst G. Koeraer, consultant for industrial information and documentation services
United Nations Industrial Development Organization Vienna
This report has not been cleared with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization which does not, therefore, necessarily share the views presented. - 2 -
Explanatory notes
Currency
One Kuwaiti Dinar (KD) was equivalent to US $ 3.63 In May 1981.
Abbreviations and Organizations
AFCFP Arab Federation of Chemical Fertilizer Producers, Kuwait, establ. 1975. AI DO Arab Industrial Development Organization, Baghdad, (the Specialized Agency of the Arab League in charge of promoting ind. dev. in the Arab countries.) formerly IDCAS, establ. 1969. AO AD Arab Organization of Agricultural Development, Khartoum. BSC The British Sulphur Corp. Ltd., London. CPU Central processing unit (of a computer). FAO Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome. FERTECON Fertilizer Economic Studies Ltd., London. GOIC Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting, Doha, Qatar. IFDC International Fertilizer Development Center, Alabama, U.S.A. ISMA Originally "International Phosphate Industry Association", Paris. KISR Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait. NSTIC National Scientific and Technical Information Centre, Kuwait (a division of KISR). OAPEC Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporters Companies, Kuwait. PIC Petrochemical Industries Company, Kuwait. QAFCO Qatar Fertilizer Company, Umm Said, Qatar. (40 km from Doha). UNDP United Nations Development Programme. UNIDO United Nations Industrial Development Organization, Vienna. VIC Vienna International Centre.
Commercial names
The mention of firm names and commercial products does not imply endorsement by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
1
- 4- -
Contents
Explanatory notes 2 Abstract 3 INTRODUCTION 6 Project background, and objectives Consultancy services Official arrangements 7 RECOMMENDATIONS 8
I. PRESENT INFORMATION F L 0 S 10 A. Numerical data B. Literature 1. Newspapers 11 2. Journals 3- Books 4. Reports and other documents C. Inquiries 12 II. DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMATION USE 13 A. Attractive information services B. 'Types of services 1. Current awareness services 1.1 Group profile services 1.2 Individual current awareness proiiles 14 2. On-demand services 2.1 Retrospective searches 2.2 Ordering services for specified journal articles 15 C. User potential and información marketing 16 III. CO MF U T ER I Z AT 10 N 17 A. Reauirements 1 . Processing of Arabic 2. Local computer companies 18 3. Photocomposition compatibility 19 4. Versatility 3. Arabrite and ISC 20 1. Common features 2. Differences 2.1 CPU and main memory 2.2 Additional terminals 2.3 Keyboard 21 2.4 Function keys 2.5 Screen capacity 2.6 Colour display 2.7 Word processor 2.3 Diskette drives 22 2.9 Price 2.10 Warranty 2.11 Maintenance and support 3. Trial installation 4. Consultant's choice 23 C. Suggestions for first applications 24 1. Adresses 2. Statistics 3* Fertilizer dictionary, thesaurus, classification 4. List of journal holdings 25 5. Alphabetical subject indexes and other indexes 26 6. Linkage to data banks 27 D. Future computer applications 28 IV. 0 T H EH EQUIPMENT 29 A. Sorter with associated photocopier B. Library Equipment - 6 -
INTRODUCTION
Project background and objectives
In late 1979 a 4-year regional co-operation programme for the development and promotion of fertilizer production and utilization In Arab countries (Regional Fertilizer Programme) was started, together by AIDO (formerly IDCAS), AFCFP and UNDP/UNIDO/FAO.
One of the aims of the project is to "develop an information and documentation system to serve the government's decision making bodies, the fertilizer producers and users" (page 2 of the UNDP Project Document, 27.2.1980).
Taking into account the ongoing activities initiated by AIDO and/or AFCFP, one of the immediate objectives of the project was formulated as follows : "to assist in the establishment of a specialized fertilizer documentation unit at AFCFP as a sectoral focal point to be part of the AIDO Industrial Documentation and Information Network." (UNDP Proj. Doc. p. 3)
In 1979 - 1980 AIDO worked on a feasibility study on the establishment of an Industrial Documentation and Information Network for the Arab Region. The network's section dealing with fertilizer ought to become operational as soon as the focal point at AFCFP will be functioning. (UNDP Proj. Doc. p. 7)
Consultancy services
Within the framework of technical assistance by UNIDO, 2 man/months of consultancy services were envisaged to produce a report on the organization of the Sectoral Fertilizer Documentation and Information Unit at AFCFP. The report is supposed to serve as the basic document for the establishment of the unit and to provide the terms of reference for follow-up work. The linkage of the AFCFP information unit and the AIDO network is to be considered. (UNDP Proj. Doc. I E c 2, p.12). Advice on computerization is expected. Equipment
To strengthen AFCFP and AIDO In their efforts to make the system fully operational in short time, UNIDO agreed to supply selected items of equipment for the AFCFP Unit. Specifying the equipment needed is part of the consultant's duties. US $ 50,000 are allocated in the project budget for equipment for the AFCFP Sectoral Documentation and Information Unit (Hardware). (UNDP Proj. doc. p. 15, 17)
Official arrangements
The 2 man/months consultancy services were requested by AIDO in October 1980 and approved by UNIDO in February 1981. The mission being reported on began in Kuwait on 15 April 1981 and lasted 2 months and a few days.
The consultant asked UNDP Kuwait to arrange for his visits to AIDO, Baghdad, and GOIC, Doha in Qatar, the first day he was in Kuwait and followed this up in short intervals. On 29 April he wrote and personally delivered a letter to UNDP Kuwait repeating his request and asking UNDP to request formal travel authorization from UNIDO, Vienna, for the month of May, exact dates of travel depending on UNDP's arrangements with UNDP's offices in Baghdad and Qatar, and visa formalities. Due to unforeseeable formal difficulties, the visit to GOIC did not materialize till 3 - 4 June and the visit to AIDO had to be postponed to the end of the mission.
On 2 occasions staff members of AFCFP visited AIDO in early May and spoke with Dr. Hilmi about the consultant's intended visit. An Invitation of AIDO was received but could not be accepted because the reentry visa to Kuwait was not obtainable.
The occasion was taken in Qatar on June 3 to also visit QAFCO's library in Umm Said, and UNDP, Doha, was very helpful in providing transportation etc.
AFCFP was very helpful in arranging visits to the Kuwait Institute of Scientific Research (KISR), to the Director of the University Library, to local computer companies, etc., and also in gathering required information, by telex, telephone, and correspondence. - 8 -
RECOMMENDATIONS
1 AFCFP's existing Information and Documentation Section should be developed and staffed to become the Sectoral Fertilizer Documentation and Information Unit for the Arab Region.
2 The Unit should organizationally remain within AFCFP, equipped with a special status as against other AFCFP departments. This status should reflect, besides the strong binding to fertilizer manufacturers, - the Unit's linkage to AIDO's Industrial Information and Documentation
Centre - its service to non-members of AFCFP, e.g. governments, consumers of fertilizer, fertilizer trade, researchers, students, etc.
3 The Unit should have a certain degree of financial independence, e.g. a fixed budget within AFCFP.
4 The Unit should be capable of making legal agreements, e.g. on exchange of data files with other Information centres, commercial and non-commercial, especially in developed countries.
5 The Unit should make use of existing information retrieval services, e.g. IFDC's World Fertilizer Information System, Lockheed's DIALOG, EURONET etc., on-line and in other ways.
6 The Unit should have a staff of at least four, two more than AFCFP's present Library and Documentation Section has.
7 One or two of the staff members should be prepared to travel extensively within the Arab Region, to offer and publicize the services of the Unit, to establish close contacts with the member companies' library and documentation departments, with offices of AIDO's network in all Arab states and with other Arab League computerized information and documentation centres. Such centres could have the function of information brokers for users not within the member companies. The Unit should get a microcomputer from UNIDO with at least the following features: - Arabic and Latin - communications link (modem) - expandable main memory, preferably beyond 6d kilo-bytes - possibility of adding hard disc storage of high capacity (peripheral memory) - possibility of adding additional terminals to the initial one - satisfactory local support and maintenance.
The Unit should get a photoeopier-sorter for better hand ling of its large and increasing information dissemination output. The quality of the copying should be improved.
UNIDO should send an expert in microcomputer programming for information and documentation applications to the Unit. Before his mission he should find out which suitable pro gram packages already exist and are available, and bring them with him.
UNIDO should send an expert in information and documentation work to the Unit (with some travel to library and docu mentation departments of the fertilizer industry etc. in the Arab region) , familiar with querrying overseas data banks by terminal, witn designing and maintaining a compu terized thesaurus and associated classification system, and with other activities of an information and documentation unit. He should collect information on fertilizer thesauri and classification systems before his mission and brinm this material with him. - 10 -
Main part of the report:
I. PRESENT INFORMATION FLOW
A. Numerical data
Data on fertilizer production, consumption, trade, etc. is obtained by AFCFP from member companies, governments, organizations like ISMA, and published sources. Some of this data is of confidential nature and available only to members. In compounded form, however, it can be made more generally available e.g. in AFCFP's Annual Statistical Report (bilingual) which appears every June. It is produced by photocopying, initially 100 copies, but additional copies, e.g. for an AFCFP conference, can be made on demand (1979: 350 copies of 40 pages each).
Up to 1977 the publication was in the form of a Statistical Yearbook, but only about 500 copies of the 1000 printed were distributed or sold. It included reports on the member companies (in Arabic) and had about 160 pages.
About 5-10 times per year, members ask for specific numerical data. Most of these requests can be fulfilled from information held at AFCFP, for the rest other sources are asked, e.g. ISMA, Fertecon, British Sulphur.
B. Literature
All incoming library materials, viz. newspapers, journals, books, reports, are looked through by Mrs. Olfat and Mrs. Lamis, who select articles and abstracts of interest to AFCFP staff and the 28 active members companies. The selected material is disseminated through - the Documentation Bulletin (monthly, since May 1981, over 100 p., nearly half English). - AFCFP Abstracts (monthly, since April 1981, 10 - 20 p., English only) both of which are produced in-house by photocopying, 50 pieces each. - 11 - 1
1. Newspapers
Only Arabic newspapers are scanned. Five of them appear In Kuwait and four are provided by the Embassies of Iraq, Qatar, Libya, and the Peoples Rep. of Yemen. All nine are dailies. About SO newspaper articles per month are clipped and pasted for photocopying.
2. Journals
About 90 Journals are received, a few of them on exchange basis or free. Languages represented are: about 40 English about 40 Arabic about 7 English and Arabic 2 French 1 Cover-to-cover English translation of the Russian journal,
The Soviet Chemical Industry (KHIM PROM). Several of the English language journals are from ether developing countries, e.g. India and Southeast Asia. About 15 abstracts and 13 complete articles were selected from journals for the second issue of the Documentation Bulletin.
3. Books
The library has about 1300 books, about 702 in English ar.d about 30% in Arabic. About 100 books are added yearly. It is felt that this number is too smali. However, starting next year, the Unit will have an allocated budget.
4. Reports & other documents
Some of the report literature is of special value, e.g. fertilizer market reports, special studies on industry and market trends. Some of these reports are extremely expensive and only a part of them can be acquired. On the other hand, many reports and other documents are received free.
Two file cabinets of documents are almost full, thicker reports are shelved with the books. - 12 -
C. Inquiries
Ac present, there are only a few inquiries from outside addressed directly to AFCFP's library, or visitors to the library. However, much of AFCFP's incoming mail (over 1500 letters/year) as well as many telephone calls and telexes are inquiries from member companies, ministries and other organizations. They are routed to AFCFP's departments, which fully utilize the library to answer inquiries and to accomplish their day-to-day work.
Some of the inquiries, especially those handled by the Technical and Training Department and by the Economics, Marketing, and Agriculture Department, require much work, as they are not simple requests for literature. Sometimes studies or reports have to be written and visits may be necessary. Seminars are prepared and followed up, etc.
The Economics, Marketing, and Agriculture Department handles in the order of 50 inquiries per year. In the Technical and Training Department the number is about 100 - 150. - 13 -
II. development of information use
No doubt the recent two new AFCFP documentation publications have increased the dissemination of the fertilizer information received at AFCFP. Further development possibilities of information use will now be outlined, with special consideration of computerization and of linkage of information centres.
A. Attractive information services
The best way to attract users is by offering services of high standard in various respects. The user's costs in terms of effort, time, and money spent should give him satisfactory benefits.
B. Types of services
1. Current awareness services
1.1 Group profile services
The AFCFP Abstracts and the Documentation Bulletin are services to a whole group of users whose interest profile might be formulated as "Fertilizers, especially production and consumption of chemical fertilizers, with emphasis on information of interest in the Arab Region."
As far as the Arabic news items are concerned, the Documentation Bulletin probably fulfils this profile for the newspapers covered quite well. The selection of journal articles and abstracts, however, depends very much on the personal knowledge of what is of current interest to the member companies. The selection, especially for the AFCFP Abstracts, is determined more by the limited capacity of the small staff than by an effort to offer nearly complete coverage. As abstracts usually come with the publication, these available ones are utilized. If necessary, abstracts could be written by AFCFP staff members or outside abstractors in the Arab Region.
With more staff and with the help of computer methods, it would probably be possible to give a better coverage. As there is not much sense in duplicating - 14 -
large parts of "Fertilizer Abstracts" (issued monthly by TVA, Muscle Shoals, Alabama, USA) the Unit's group profile services could be made more selective by addressing narrower groups of users, e.g. petrochemical-based fertilizers, fertilizer production from phosphate rock, fertilizer use etc. A general section could be added to all services.
1.2 Individual current awareness profiles.
Commercial and non-profit information centres in USA and Europe offer current awareness services for individual profiles. The Unit could act as an Information broker to make these possibilities better known, help in formulating profiles, add Arabic Information to the output, etc. Such services, using a larger computer, may be envisaged by AIDO at a later date, when there will be substantial updating of information files. For the Unit, the broker function would make it possible to gain experience with this kind of service.
2. On-demand services
2.1 Retrospective searches.
At the National Scientific and Technical Information Centre (at KISR) in Kuwait and at GOIC in Qatar, retrospective searches are conducted mainly in the data bases of Lockheed's DIALOG.
In Kuwait, the Ministry of Communication has had ITALCABLE of Rome establish a data communications node linking Kuwait with networks in Europe and North America. To get a connection, you only have to dial a local telephone number. KISR uses three Texas Instruments Silent 700 (model 745) portable data terminals with acoustic couplers, which were bought directly from the exporter, Texas Instruments in France, at about KD 600 or US $ 1980 each. The telephone handset is inserted into the terminal. Servicing, if at all necessary, is done in KISR's own electronics laboratory. Otherwise, portable terminals could easily be sent to Europe for servicing. According to Texas Instruments, Austria, five such portable terminals are in use at the Vienna International Centre.
At GOIC, besides a Texas Instruments portable terminal, a more comfortable 15 -
terminal with modem coupling (Modulator-Demodulator) and display screen was Installed by Cable and Wireless. The data communications connections used take another route: Through the Bahrain satellite station and via the Indian Ocean satellite to New York and into Tymnet or Telenet.
The Information services that can be used in this way offer several data bases that can be of interest in respect to fertilizers, e.g. - Chemical industry notes, 1974-, 294 000 records, biweekly updates (American Chemical Society) $60/hour Online Connect Time - PTSD International Forecasts, 323 000 citations, monthly updates (Predlcasts, Inc., Cleveland, OH) $90/hour, 20c per full record printed offline - CAB Abstracts, 1973-, 966 000 records (The Commonwealth Agricultural
Bureaux, England) $35/hour - Services of FAO, etc.
Most services, like Lockheed DIALOG, do not require a subscription. Payments are only necessary if the system is used. A trial search on "methods of upgrading low-grade phosphate rock" in a DS Patents Abstracts Database ($95/hour) cost about US $6.37 plus $0.54 Tymnet charges. KISR uses the Lockheed services about 5 - 6 hours per week.
As far as could be found out, services of the World Fertilizer Information System of IFDC are only available through the General Electric Mark III time-sharing system, which is an expensive service requiring subscription. The consultant sent an air-mail inquiry to IFDC on April 19, but no reply had been received by June 17. However, Dr. Abu-Khader of AFCFP will be visiting IFDC shortly, and will discuss linkage with IFDC's system.
2.2 Ordering services for specified journal articles
The Unit should send photocopies of requested articles and reports to users. If the journals or documents are not in the library, efforts should be made to satisfy the user from other sources, e.g. - through other libraries in Kuwait, e.g. KISR, 0APEC - by ordering photocopies from quick and comprehensive international services, e.g. British Library Lending Division, Boston Spa, U.K. (By telex. Maintain an account there!) or through Lockheed DIALOG, or EURONET. - 16 -
The Regional Union List of Scientific Periodicals in the Gulf Area (English and Arabic editions), computer-produced by KISR, is useful in this connection. The Unit should include its journals in the next edition of this list.
C. User potential ar.d information marketing
There is probably a big potential of possible user» who are net using AFCFP's information resources yet. When capabilities of handling more inquiries have been built up, advertising the Unit's services will certainly increase information use and help to overcome any barriers that may exist.
Factors specific to the region that may contribute to low usage levels observed by the consultant are
- There is a tendency l - hesitate to send an inquiry to some-one you don't know personally, e.g. just to an institution. At least one should have a letter of Introduction from someone having personal contacts. - There is a tendency to ask "What is the official channel by which to send an inquiry to AFCFP's library?" instead of just writing directly. If one or two of the Unit's staff could travel to the member company's libraries, personal relations could also be built up. A meeting of the Unit's users could also be organized, with demonstrations of on-line computer services.
User studies and use f are one way of finding out how information services can be made nu „ffcocive. Results of such studies in developed countries probably have to be revised in the Arab region. Such studies might be undertaken after the Unit has been operating for one or two years. - 17
III. COMPUTERIZATION
Kuwait has a relatively high degree of computerization, even when compared with developed countries (see the special feature "Computers in Kuwait" in the monthly magazine "Arab Oil, April 1981, p. 34-61). From 11 to 13 May 1981 there was a "Micros and word processors exhibition" at the University, sponsored by the Mathematics Society, with eight computer companies represented.
A. Requirements
The expected computer workload of the Unit does not justify a minicomputer for the next few years, so the available microcomputers were looked at. The German microcomputer of Nixdorf, especially equipped for information and documentation centres (with emulators for different command languages) costing around US $ 30 000 with a high capacity disc stack and with an information and documentation software package available at about US $ 10 000, is not sold to the Gulf region, as no local support can be made available. None of the locally offered microcomputers is available with comparable software. The only retrieval system software used in Kuwait, to our knowledge, is IBM's STAIRS system. It is installed on a large IBM computer at KISR. Possibly an agreement could be reached between AFCFP and KISR to participate in its use, if such a requirement arises. KISR is storing Arabic and local documents with this system, while it uses existing overseas data banks for searching the generally available English language publications.
1. Processing of Arabic
Processing of written Arabic has been available on large computers for a number of years, e.g. IBM, Siemens and others. The printout is not always satisfactory, e.g. KISR had to retype the print-chain output of its Arabic Union list of serials on a typewriter, which produces a much better writing. But improvemnts are being made by computer companies. Computerized Arabic photo-typesetting, e.g., is available from Interpart, P. 0. Box 200 435, D-7022 Leinfelden-Echterdingen 2, West Germany (near Stuttgart). Acceptable output Is produced by printwheel (daisy-wheel), ball head (e.g. IBM Composer) and ink jet printers. Laser printers are also used In big installations (IBM, Siemens). Dot matrix printers print the lowest quality Arabic and should only - 18 -
be considered for transient applications like proofreading. Since a few months, Arabic keyboards, displays and printers are also available with microcomputers, in addition to the standard Latin alphabet, numerals, etc.
A feature required by the Unit is writing Arabic and English together in one text, e.g. English names of chemicals, publications, companies, etc. in Arabic texts, or bilingual tables. This can be done easily with the new dual printwheel printers of Qume and of Diablo (Wang), which work with two printwheels, one of which can be Arabic (or have scientific symbols, like small numerals for chemical sub-scripts). Changing the printwheel during printing is not practical, as it cannot be done as easily as changing the ball head in ball head typewriters. The prices for Qume printersare about: single head printer KD 1530 US $ 5500 - dual head printer KD 2430 US $ 8800
2. Local computer companies
It is essential that good local support is available for the Unit's computer. Contacts were taken up with the following companies in Kuwait:
Computer Company Systems Dedicated Arabic offered word processor? DHL DHL 1000 yes IBM IBM yes KCS Kuwait Computer Services Wang yes NCS National Computer Services Ltd. Digital (minicomputer) Vydec 1800 yes soon PACC Pan Arab Computer Centre Philips P5002 yes soon Apple (too small) yes others (minicomputer) Rakan International Enterprises Arabrite yes TASK Technology Aided Systems Ku AES (Montreal) yes yes wait Microstar no W.J. Towell Computer Services ISC 8963 yes Perkin-Elmer (minicomputer) 19 -
The IBM systems that are marketed in Kuwait and which were shown to us are either too large and expensive or not versatile enough (IBM Composer with Arabic only and no external storage). Some IBM systems are available in Saudi
Arabia, but not in other Gulf states.
PACC wanted to look into the matter of offering us a larger Philips Microcomputer, but no offer reached AFCFP by 17 June.
KCS's offer of an upwards compatible range of Wang systems, requested on 16 May and mailed on 7 June, reached AFCFP on 17 June, too late for consideration (Annex 4). We learned then that there are about 20 Wang installations in
Kuwait.
3. Photocomposition compatibility
Wang offers a compatible Photocomposition System for about KD 6500, but none is Installed in Kuwait yet. If the Unit could make use of an outside photocomposition system, it would improve the quality of AFCFP's publications very much. KCS has plans of installing a Wang Photocomposing System in their
Kuwait office.
According to the article on PACC in Arab Oil, April 1981, p.47, the Electronic Photocomposing Center is a subsidiary of PACC based in Lebanon. It provides
photo-typesetting using a Linotype VIP station.
Photocomposition compatibility is not an essential feature, but it would be practical if the necessary conversion of data on diskettes could be done
without problems.
4. Versatility
The Unit needs a versatile microcomputer, so that dedicated word processors like AES, Philips P 5002, and Vydec were not considered.
DHL has separate terminals for Arabic and for English, which is not suitable for mixed texts. (G0IC uses 3 DHL's for word processing only, without connection to their computer;. - 20 -
B. Arabrite and ISC
The remaining two systems, Arabrite and ISC 8963 are very comparable in most respects. The offers are appended in Annexes 2 and 3.
Arabrite is manufactured by Vector Graphic Inc. California and marketed by Gulf Data Inc., 9015 Fulbright Ave., Chatsworth, CA 91311, USA.
ISC 8963 comes from Intelligent Systems Corp., Intecolor Drive, 225 Technology Park/Atlanta, Norcross GA 30092, USA.
1. Common features
Both systems feature:
- Arablc/Engllsh keyboards - CP/M operating system - BASIC, COBOL, Fortran, and Assembly languages (Arabrite also APL, Pascal) - Possibilities of linkage to other computer centres - Possibilities of adding hard disk storage - Price includes English/Arabic word processing software
2. Differences
Some of the main differences are the following:
2.1 CPU and main memory.
Arabrite: Z80 based microprocessor, speed 4MHz with 1 microsecond memory cycle, 56k byte semiconductor memory, expandable to 8 x 64 k
ISC 8963: 8080A microprocessor, 2MHz, Memory of 48 k expandable to 64 k
byte.
2.2 Additional terminals
Arabrite: Up to five terminals (KD 1575 each) can be attached to one cpu/diskette unit (time-sharing). ISC 8963: A complete cpu/display/keyboard unit (KD 3350 less 5X) is required for a second workstation, which can share the printer and disc drives. A master and slave terminal combination is not suitable.
2.3 Keyboard
The Arabrite keyboard presents a clearer picture, with Arabic letters on the top of the keys and Latin letters on the front side. ISC has both on the top, which is somewhat confusing.
2.A Function keys
ISC uses a whole row of function keys whereas in Arabrite functions are expressed by depressing a control key and a letter (e.g. d for delete) or a delimit key and abbreviated commands (e.g. 1 for layout). Both methods have their pros and cons, so that this shouldn't be a decisive factor.
2.5 Screen capacity
Arabrite: 12 inch diagonal CRT 24 lines, 80 characters per line (1920 char.)
ISC 8963: 19 inch colour CRT 48 lines, 80 characters per line (3840 char.) or 24 lines, 80 char, when using option double size characters.
2.6 Colour display
ISC's colour screen is not necessary for the Unit's applications. There might be a few uses, e.g. for statistical bar graphs. Some users find the colours irritating. Colour or not should not be a decisive factor.
2.7 Word processor
Arabrite has a 30 000 word stored English dictionary, with which correct English spelling can be compared automatically. ISC does not have this feature. - 22 -
2.8 Diskette drives
The ISC offer includes a Dual 8 inch Floppy Disc (double density), whereas Arabrite has two 5 inch drives. As diskettes can be changed easily, this difference is not too significant. For larger applications, high capacity hard discs will be needed later anyhow.
2.9 Price
Prices as quoted in the offers (Annexes 2 and 3) are very close to each other. For a 2- or 3-terminal system, which would be ideal for AFCFP (the Publications Department could use the system too), Arabrite's price is markedly lower.
2.10 Warranty
ISC offers 12 months warranty, Arabrite 6 months. Six months of Arabrite maintenance cost KD "*60 = US $ 1297
2.11 Maintenance and support
The monthly maintenance and support prices are : Arabrite: KD 60 ISC : 10 Z of purchase price
3. Trial installation
An Arabrite system was installed on 24 May 1981 for a 4 week free trial. Prior to that Mrs Olfat took an Arabrite course in English for the word processing tx system Memorite III (5 half days) and Mrs. Lamis took course for Arabic. Dr. Abu-Khader and the consultant also attended some of the classes.
The change from Memorite II to Memorite III had just been effected, so that the instructors were learning themselves, manuals and training material were not as matured yet as they should be. But the company made the impression that they are capable of giving satisfactory local support.
j - 23 -
For a fair comparison, ISC would also have to be tested for a trial period. However, it is ndt possible for the library staff to do this beside their normal workload. A trial installation of ISC at the Government Computer Centre was visited and the impression was, that the computer company's instructor was having even more difficulties than those of Arabrite, especially with Arabic. Further reference installations should be visited or interviewed, of both microcomputers. The member company PIC of Kuwait is also interested in an Arabrite.
4. Consultant's choice
On the basis of the written information available on the two systems, and if the decision has to taken now, the consultant would choose Arabrite. The main reasons are - expandability (up to 8 x 64 k of main memory as against up to 64 k) - time sharing (additional terminals at low cost).
A minor reason is the availability of the programming language Pascal in addition to those available on both. But Pascal may become available on ISC too, at a later date.
On the basis of observations during the first 3 weeks of the Arabrite trial, and oral information from non-competitiors in Kuwait, the consultant would hesitate to recommend either system. Local support does not seam to be up to expectable standards . The shortage and high cost of well qualified and trained computer personell and instructors in Kuwait is a problem facing all companies (see Arab Oil, April 1981). One comment was: "Don't take XYZ, of the 20 systems installed, only 4 are working."
One of the offers (!) Included a sample of Arabic text with many typing errors. The comment was "We don't know Arabic” , and the company does not seem to have much support capabilities as far as Arabic is concerned.
In order to secure a high priority in a company's support efforts, rental or lease should be considered. The contract section on support should be carefully worded.
The consultant advises contacting the reference installations named by the - 24 -
companies, and also others where the systems don't seem to function. It would also be advlseable to look into KCS's offer of Wang systems as an alternative, and contact IBM again.
C. Suggestions for first applications
It is adviseable to gradually build up applications and gain experience with the microcomputer. The word processing software and other packages offer several opportunities.
1. Adresses
Addresses are part of a documentation unit's very useful information, especially if they can be categorized, e.g. "Suppliers of bagging equipment for fertilizers." Both microcomputers have "mailing list" software with which various fields and categories can be specified. Eventually, an "AFCFP Fertilizer Directory" could be published.
2. Statistics
Statistical data can be handled with the available Data Base Management software. Arabrite :CCA data mangement KD 95.- ISC :A price could not be quoted yet
For more sophisticated statistics Arabrite has a Statistical package for KD
295.-
3. Fertilizer dictionary, thesaurus, classification
The publisher of AFCFP's forthcoming four language Fertilizer Dictionary, British Sulphur, should be pursuaded to produce discettes or other machine-readable records in the course of typesetting. This could be used as a basis for a fertilizer thesaurus, which could be continously updated with the microcomputer / word processor. A thesaurus would supplement a classification system for Indexing documents for machine storage. - 25 -
AFCFP's current library and documentation classification system is reproduced in Annex 5. AFCFP would like to receive advice on improving their classification system and its notation. This was only possible to a very limited extent within the consultants 2-month mission. A first step would be to collect whatever other classification systems and thesauri exist in the fertilizer field. Not much could be found out. Secondly, the cooperation of the libraries of the member companies and other institutions should be sought. The QAFCO Library, e.g., wants to adapt the classification system supplied by Davy Powergas Ltd, London, for its many hundred plant equipment manuals, to library requirements. This classification, however, is of course very production equipment oriented.
4. List of journal holdings
The consultant spoke with Mr.Farooq A. Khalid, Head of Automated Information Systems, NSTIC, KISR, about adopting KISR's format for AFCFP's journal holdings and incorporating them in KISR's Union List for the Gulf Region, English as well as Arabic. (OAPEC's journals are also listed.) The format descriptions were given to Mrs. Olfat and the procedure discussed with her. Using the microcomputer and diskettes for this would give an opportunity to try data transfer between KISR's IBM computer and the microcomputer.
Such union lists of journals are badly needed. The consultant would have liked to use the journals "Which computer" and "Word processing and information systems". Both are not listed in KISR's union list. But one is held by QAFCO and the other by GOIC.
A union list of journals held in member's libraries and a few related institutions might be considered at a later date (Not only Gulf region). At present the unit should collect lists of journals subscribed to by the member companies. 5* Alphabetical subject indexes and other indexes
At present documents are filed by AFCFP's classification system and/or by institution and company names. A brochure "Complex Fertilizers" from Lurgi Chemie und Hiittentechnik, Frankfurt, describing processes under license from Fisons Ltd., Suffolk, U.K., is filed under class 116/2 Complex Fertilizers. (See Annex 5 - AFCFP's Classification System.) As two brochures are available for the library, a second one is filed under "Lurgi". In this exceptional case, a third cop:/ is kept in the files of the Technical and Training Department. (Current department files are later added to the library's files.)
Many of the documents would fit into several of the classes, or would require cross references. However, no card catalog or cross references are maintained. (But Mrs. Olfac and Mrs. Lamis will find almost everything, as far as the main topics on the title pages are concerned, from their personal memory!) This is another application, where the computer-s capabilities could be used.
A program should be obtained (e.g. written by a UNIDO expert - or he could brin., one with dim), that produces printed indexes to the document holdings and other material. As many index entries should be generated by the computer as are necessary to find the document under different points of view. Printed indexes would be easy to use ana not reauire being able to operate the terminal. However, the programs should also make searcnes per terminal possible.
Annex 6 gives an example of an index in the fertilizer field, taken from Fertilizer Abstracts. Programs for producing printed inaexes on a microcomputer were developed at Graz University, written in a BASIC version for a Vang computer. A book on the subject has appeared in 3aur Verlag, Munich. - 27 -
6. Linkage to aafca banks
Using the microcomputer as a terminal to access overseas data banks should be one of the first tasks of a UNIDO expert on a follow-up mission. It will take some time to familiarize AFCFP's staff with these search opportunities. Mrs. Olfat should be given the opportunity to attend the next Lockheed DIALOG course at KISR (2-5 days) or a similar course else where .
The modem and associated software should be ordered before the expert arrives. But it should be installed, checked and paid for only after his arrival. He should be in a position to make the vendor get the data communications additions to the microcomputer into a working status.
The following information on a modem was obtained: Nawasi Trading Co.', F.O. Box 5204 3afat, Kuwait, are the distributors for the modem MFS 5021 (]v!icro-nrocessor System) of Racal-udilgo Ltd., London (in Kuwait: Mr. Ricnard Deleny, Tel. 442 272), costing KD 250 plus KD 50 for installation. It provides a full duplex communication link and meets V21 specifications. It has the ITT approval. The ISC 8965 has a port for such a modem.
Rakan International Enterprises offers their Arablink (Modem + necessary software) for KD 585, minus 10% discount. (See letter of June 16 and n.8 of the additions to their proposal, Annex 2,0 The necessary specifications will have to be met. A link from one Arabrite to another is not sufficient.
In addition to the modem, a portable terminal might be bougnt, which could be used during visits within the region, and as a backup (price about KD 600). Linkage to the Unit's microcompu ter could be useful, once the Unit has its own database. - 28
D. Future computer applications
Gradually, all computer applications normally encountered in information and documentation centres should be developed. Typically, documents are indexed and abstracted, and typed only once, for - photocomposition of an abstracts journal - computer storage - distribution on magnetic media - production of printed indexes per journal - -production of cumulated indexes, cumulated per year or other period.
The vocabulary used in titles, abstracts, etc. is sorted and frequency counts are made. This helps when making the necessary decisions about additions to the structured tnesaurus,/ classi fication system. The thesaurus would be at least bilingual. For searching, free vocabulary and controlled vocabulary (thesaurus and classification system) can be used. The computer offers help when translating querries from Arabic to English and vice versa.
All types of computer services are offered to the user, in cluding remote access. - 29 -
IV. OTHER E O U I P M E N T
A. Sorter with associated photocopier
One of the presently most urgent needs of AFCFP for maintaining: the recently introduced basic services of the Unit is a photo copier with sorter. The volume of work with the Documentation Bulletin etc. is getting too large to be sorted by hand.
The present duality of some of the photocopied publications is unsatisfactory. If recipients want to copy parts of such publications for further distribution, the second generation copies may not be readable. But this can be improved to an extent by returning to the prescribed paper quality, by correct servicing of the Nashua copiers, etc. (GOIC uses Nashua copiers instead of Canon because tne local Nashua service is not quite as bad as the Canon service. The reliability differences may also have something to do with the clogging of the dry powder used in the Canon process in the often humid climate. K.I3R is not satisfied with its Canon copier.)
Copier-sorters are available in Kuwait from Photo and Cine Equipment Co. (Canon) and A.M. Al-Khorafi (Nashua and IBM. which also uses the dry powder process). Xerox copiers are not available, Xerox is still on the list of companies boykotted in the Arab states.
Prices are: Canon NF6000 K.D.32CO M1 Sorter 195)0 Automatic Feeder 950 Total: E.P.61C0 = US Dollars 22,143.-
Nashua Plain Paper Electrostatic Model 1260 with Sorter K.D.46G0 = US ’'ollars 16,555.- minus 1C4, discount
IBM copiers are nearly twice the price of Nashua. - j o
lt was not possible to go into any details of the matter of which copier-sorter to recommend (or whether a seperate sorter would suffice). Various features, including copy quality, reduction possibilities (Canon), frquency of re quired servicihg, and cost per copy would have to be com pared.
B . Library equipment
Various items of library furniture will be needed for the Unit, including magazine and book shelves, file cabinets, etc. AFCFP will move to new premisses within the next few months, so that additional space for the Unit will become available.
I - 31 -
У. INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM G O I C, AIDO AND VIC
The visits to GOIC, Qatar, and AIDO,Baghdad, were planned for the beginning of the mission, but had to be postponed to the end because of the difficulty of obtaining a reentry visa to Kuwait. (A United Nations Laisser Passe would have alleviated these problems). Additional information was obtained on lU July in the Vienna International Centre and by a telephone call to Hewlett- Packard in Athens.
A. GOIC
GOIC has a PDP-ll/TO minicomputer of Digital Equipment Corp. with 512K bytes of main memory and a modem for remote access. Besides 6 normal interactive terminals there is an ARIT 1000 Arabic/English interactive terminal and a Transac Arabic/English matrix printer. This terminal is a Hewlett-Packard microcomputer equipped with special Arabic software from Compagnie Generale D'Automatiome (CGA) of France. The computer is not connected to the three DHL Word Processing Systems,two of which are for Arabic.
The computer is used primarily to store and retrieve socio-economic and industrial data. At present literature retrieval is not done on this computer. For literature retrieval in overseas data banks a seperate system is used: A Lear Siegler ADM 3A Visual Display Unit connected to a Racal Milgo ICC 300 bps asynchronous modem (s.a. p 11+-15 and p. 27) and a Teletype U3 ASR printer.
Linkage of a microcomputer in Kuwait, equipped with a modem and associated software, and the PDP - computer at GOIC would be possible over telephone lines. The GOIC library, which is well staffed and maintained, does not. use the computer for catalogs etc. However, the catalog cards are written on the word processors and the discettes are kept.
Mr. Dewachi, who established and heads the Industrial Data Bank Department, will leave GOIC in 2 months and take up an assignment with the Iraq government in Baghdad. AIDO plans to install a computer system in 1983, beginning with a Hewlett-Packard desk top computer series 9800 System 1+5, a. rather powerful microcomputer with between 5ÔK and 1+1+9K bytes of main memory and a 120K byte operating system having its own seperate memory. It is available with or without colour display and costs around US$ 30-1+0.000.
The next step will be a Hewlett-Packard 3000 series 1+1+ minicomputer, a system with virtual memory, mass storage disc and tape units, high speed printer, etc., costing several 100,000 US dollars.
Some points that are in favour of a Hewlett-Packard system are: - Hewlett-Packard has about 30 installations in Iraq, many of them in government ministries etc. (e.g. the Basra fertilizer plant has a Hewlett-Packard 3000 Series II). Servicing is satisfactory. - IBM computers are not available in Iraq. - An information retrieval software package, MINISIS, is available for Hewlett-Packard minicomputers. This package is used in several developing countries and international organizations including UNIDO, so that exchange of data will not be complicated by conversion problems.
- The Arab League, Tunis, selected a Hewlett-Packard minicomputer (financed by UNDP/UNESC0), also with a view to MINISIS. The AIDO Library is in a stage of building up its book, journal and report collections, having begun about the beginning of 1981. Some suggestions were made by the consultant. The problems, especially to adequately staff the library, are quite severe in Eagdad (At present there are only 2 staff members). The librarian (she is from Tunis) had spent 3 weeks at the VIC Library and had some computer printouts from Vienna with suggestions for selecting reference books etc. This was of great help.
AIDO's information and documentation services can only gradually be built up. However, the importance of attaining compatibility and linkage between the Unit in Kuwait and the planned network centered in Bagdad was stressed. - 33 -
Frca Baghdad it is presently also possible to access overseas data banks via telephone connection. The Lockheed Dialog system, e.g. is being used by the Rational Research Centre.
The consultant took the opportunity in Baghdad to visit the PAO office, to find out vhat use the fertilizer users, e.g. agricultural advisers, could make of the planned information system. In Iraq, all such matters would be dealt vith through the ministries.
C. MIRISIS and Hewlett-Packard
The information on MIRISIS was obtained from - Mr. J. Gillcrist, VIC Electronic Data Processing; - Mrs. M. Vespry, UNIDO Industrial Information Section; - Mr. H.A. Vespry, VIC Librarian; - Mr. P. Lasbo, Systems Analyst at the VIC Library and from a series of 9 manuals on ’HHISIS released by the International Development Research Centre, Ottawa, Canada, in November 1978 ("Requirements and Installation Guide”, etc.). MIRISIS evolved out of ISIS, which is used by the VIC Library and UNIDO in Vienna, running on a large IBM computer. UNESCO, Paris, also uses ISIS. MIRISIS was programmed for a Hewlett-Packard 3000 series II or H I minicomputer (minimum 256K bytes) by the International Development Research Centre, Canada. It is a modern full-fledged library and information retrieval system with inverted files, thesaurus maintenance, etc. There are quite a number of MIRISIS systems working worldwide, e.g. at the International Labour Organization, Geneva, at Singapore University, and several in Canada and South America. Hewlett-Packard 3000 minicomputers cost from US$100,000 upwards. There are rumours that a smaller MIRISIS version for smaller Hewlett-Packard computers is being developed, but they could not be confirmed. If such a software package that could run on a microcomputer costing less than US$50,000 were available, it would be the ideal system for the Unit at AFCFP. . 3U -
The information on Hevlett-Packard systems was obtained from the Hewlett-Packard office in Baghdad (A1 Nansoor district, Tel: 551^-973) and the Mediterranean and Middle East Office in Athens (35 Kblokotroni Street, Kifissia, Tel: 8o8l 7*»1, telex: 216588 HPAT GR, Mr. T. Andrews). Their agent in Kuwait is Photo and Cine Equipment Co., (s.a. p.29, Canon), however, minicomputers (HP3000 or HP1000, costing about US$1»0 - 50,000) are not marketed and serviced in Kuwait. These systems have or will have terminals for Arabic, whereas the smaller ones available in Kuwait (e.g. Series 9800 System U5 desktop computers for US$ 30-^0,000) do not. (Some of the older minicomputer installations in Iraq use the HP26U5R Arabic Display Station, the manual of which is dated February 1977. The printer is of the dot matrix type).
If a "Micro ISIS" software package should be available, the matter of finding another solution for the Arabic feature required by the Unit at AFCFP would have to be looked into. The French company mentioned on p.31 should be contacted, or their agent in Cairo (address not known to consultant). Annex 1
Organizational Chart of AFCFP
Secretary General Mr. Farouk A1 Ma'ayouf
Assistant Secretary General Dr. Ma'amoun Y.Abu-Khader
Adminstration and Accounting Dept. Mr. Nagdy Amer
Technical and Training Dept. Eng. Mahmoud Ezzat
Economics»Marketing and Agriculture Dept. Mr. Wadie Abboud Mr. Abdul Aziz Hussain
Publicity and Publication Dept. Mrs. Khalda El Sherbini Mrs. Zainab Morsi
Library and Documentation Dept. Mrs. Olfat Sidky
Qualifications and experience German Certificate "Abitur" from the German School in Cairo General Certificate Education "GCE" from London University 2 weeks training course in Library of OAPEC 2 weeks training course in Library of Kuwait University Advanced Training Seminar for Information Specialists, KISR, NSTIC, Kuwait
from 2-22/1/1978.
5 years experience in Library of AFCFP Mrs. Lamis Arnaout Qualifications and experience Secondary School from Kuwait 2 Years study in Commercial Institute, Kuwait (Banking and
Insurance)
13 months experience in Library of AFCFP
Secretariat Office Mrs. Samira Alassaf Mrs. Siham Nuse iba Mrs. Sabah Thahabi /J * h e. к Z 1
RAKAN INTERNATIONAL ENTERPRISES A KUWAIT BASED ORGANIZATION
RAKAN INTERNATIONAL ENTERPRISES
PROPOSAL FOR m
THE ARAB FEDERATION OF CHEMICAL FERTILIZER PRODUCERS
PREPARED BY
MAY A. TOMB
June 13, 1981
AJ Salehiah Suite 1400 PO Box 174294 82 Avenue de Bretcvil Commercial Complex 11503o. Olive Street Vestendstr 28 75015 Paris P О Box 25950 Safat, Kuwait Los Angeles. СЛ 90015 D 6000 Frankfun - Main 17 Tel: 783-6802 Tel: 440862. 64. 65 Tel: (213) 746-6226 Vest Germany Telex: 204869 FQuick Di T el« 4386 RAKO. KT Telex 67-'532 МсАТГУ Tel. 0611'20547 Telex 411050 GFG-D TABLE OP CONTENTS
1) TABLE OF CONTENTS
2) INTRODUCTION
3) ABOUT RAKAN INTERNATIONAL ENTERPRISES
4) ABOUT ARABRITE
a) Supplier b) Hardware c) Sof tware
5) WORD PROCESSING FEATURES
6) AFCFP'S OBJECTIVES
7) MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT
8 ) GENERAL TERMS
9) PROPOSED CONFIGURATION AND COST INTRODUCTION
Rakan International is pleased to have this opportunity to respond to your request for a proposal of our Arabrite equipment. In preparing this proposal, consideration was given to the main requirements you have established as criteria for implementation of a micro-processing system, first that you are most interested in a basic system that is cost effective, second that you can* increase your productivity and third that you can upgrade you system. A telex option and time-share for the present. A five megabyte and communication for the future. This proposal will demonstrate how Arabrite will meet your objectives.
page 2 of 12 ABOUT RAKAN INTERNATIONAL ENTERPRISES
Rakan International Enterprises is a business concern with interests in various aspects of marketing, trading, contracting, manufacturing, investment consulting and general services extended K throughout the Middle East and parts of the African continent.*4 *■- The RIE management's basic preference is in the activities whose aim is not solely to participate in the physical development of the Middle East but rather in the transfer of technology from the industrialized world through training of the Middle Eastern nationals.
Under the Chairmanship of Sheikh Naif Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, RIE will strive to offer the very best to its customers and clients. ABOUT ARABRITE
a) THE SUPPLIER
Arabrite is manufactured by Vector Graphic Incorporated, California, U.S.A. and is marketed by Gulf Data also of California, U.S.A..
The Arabrite is a result of a long and sophisticated research, and has been designed specifically to fulfil the needs and requirements of the Arab Business Community and the International Institutions working with the Arab World.
The Arabrite System is a multifunction dual language microcomputer system. It incorporates all the features of the Vector Graphic System model B and has been further enhanced by new hardware and software developments to result in the most advanced multilingual system available on the market.
b) STANDARD HARDWARE
i) Arabrite is a multilingual system
ii) The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is an industry standard Z/80 based micro processor with 1 microsecond instruction cycle and 56K byte semiconductor memory. The computer electronics consists of the following:
* Storage media - based on mini diskettes of 315 K bytes each.
* No. of drives - each system can suppport 2 or 4 mini drives.
* Memory - there is a 64 K Dynamic RAM board expandable up to 8 boards.
* Speed - 4 MHZ microprocessor with 1 microsecond memory cycle. *
* Terminal Support - Each Arabrite system can support up to 4 additional terminals in full time sharing mode. Each terminal will have a dedicated 64K memory board. iii) Display unit
* 12 inch diagonal CRT * 24 lines with 80 characters per line (1920 character screen). * 8x10 dot matries * Refresh rate 60 HZ * Speed is 7200 BPS * Variable intensity * English and Arabic on the same screen iv) Manual Keyboard entry
* Standard Alphanumeric typewriter keyboard * Standard 12 key numeric pad * English and Arabic * Left, right, up, down and home cursor control * In addition to the standard RETURN, ESC, SPACE, and SHIFT keys there are 24 different function keys that give the user a full flexibility in entering, editing and formating a text. vi) Printer Features The standard printer with the system is a high quality Qume daisywheel printer with the following specifications:
* Speed - 55 characters per second plus an option of high speed matrix printers available at 150 characters per second
* Arabic/English facility
* Forms tractor
* Wide document Qume printer also available c) SOFTWARE
* The Arabrite Word Processing System (Arabic and English)
* The Memorite Word Processing System (English)
* A complete set of Accounting Packages including General Ledger, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Payroll and Inventory *
* The industry standard CP/M 2 operating system which enables you to write applications in Basic, Cobol, Fortran, APL, Pascal, or Assembly programming languages
page 5 of 12 WORD PROCESSING FEATURES
Entering and Editing Text
* Type anywhere on screen * Automatic carriage return * Variable tabs, evenly spaced or arbitrary * Tab ruler on screen * Cursor "arrow" key for cursor up, down, left, right * Cursor to top of screen, top of text, end of screen, end of text, beginning of line, end of line * Variable speed, variable directional scrolling, automatic or manual * Scrolling by pages under operator control, for proofreading & * Status report of memory usage * Count of words and characters in document * Character-oriented editing, no need to specify text to be changed, line number or page number * Overtype or insert modes * Insert line * Automatic realignment and repagination after insertion or deletion * Delete character, word, sentence, paragraph to end of line portion, to beginning of text * Backspace with or without automatic realignment * Cut and paste * Search, with wild card characters if desired * Global or partial search and replace, search and replace by pause. * Numerical Justification * Merge Phrase Library * Spelling Module, for proofreading (37,000 word dictionary)
Printing
* 55 characters per second, bidirectional, typewriter quality * Mid-text (changeable) stored format directives * Standard values for format variables can be used * Reset variables to standard by embedded directive or keyboard command * Variable margins * Automatic paragraph indentation * Automatic outline-style indentation * Automatic right-justification, using variable character, not word, spacing * Variable type density, vertical spacing, and page length * Different size pages may be mixed * Automatic bold face, double strike, underscore, and centering
page 6 of 12 1
* Sub-scripts and super-scripts * Automatic forward or backward paper rolling * Print and move columns * Automatic page numbering, right, left or center, top or bottom * Alternation of layout for both sides printing * Optional manual control of page and line number during printing * Automatic headers, footers, right or left justified or centered * Append text in mid-page at print time for document too long for memory * Line-by-line, page-by-page or continuous printing * Temporary stop for printwheel or ribbon change * Form feed from console * Printer test from console * Status of format variables on screen during printing or anytime desired i l * Type directly to printer * Merge sorted mailing list with letter * Create, modify, sort by size, zip code, sort by date, sort by name, and print mailing list
Disk Features
* View status of disk * Write-protect disk * Copy disk * Initialize disk * 160 pages typed text per disk * To reference document, move cursor to name in directory on screen, never need to type document name * 2-second document update on disk * No constant automatic update disk to slow system down * Recall and save document * Append document, fast boilerplate assembly Cl * Erase document * Protect, unprotect document * Copy document to order drive
Mail List Features in English and Arabic
* Enter, change delete members * 15 data items per member * 3700 members per list * Select by qualifiers * Sort by name, company name or zip * Print labels or list * Random - location merges into letters for personalized mass mailing * The possibility of creating your own prompts
page 7 of 12 AFCFP'S Objectives
1. Cost Effective
Our Arabrite is cost effective in many ways. The ability to save time in assembling documents and reports. The ability to add more terminals also makes it cost effective.
2. Increased Productivity
This can be achieved through better utilization of existing personnel both secretarial and management. Every retype of a document introduces the possiblity of new errors in material that has already been typed correctly. By eliminating the need for£.- retyping, we not only save the secretary's time but we also eliminate the necessity for the author to re-proofread the entire document. When the author receives the edited document they need only check the alterations and now, with our " Spelling Module ", you don't even have to proof-read. Word processing enables you to produce the highest quality documents thus providing the most professional presentation of your abilities. Word processing will also enable you to produce documents in a more timely fashion and avoid the last minute pressure of deadline situations.
3. Upgradabillty
Our Arabrite system is upgradable. You can add up to four terminals, provide more storage with a 5 megabyte hard disk, add a telex option, graphics and even communications. New software and hardware is continuously being developed which will be compatible with your system. MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT
Rakan International Enterprises is dedicated to the maintenance of their equipment and offers on site maintenance service provided by our highly trained field engineers who are permanently based in Kuwait.
To implement the microprocessing system described in the previous chapters, RIE is pleased to provide the following support services : a) To deliver, install and test the proposed hardware and system software. b) To provide the necessary documentation including:
- operations manual for the hardware - reference manual on the operating system in Arabic and English word processing. - reference manuals for the CPM and MDOS operating system - reference manuals for the business management system c) To provide both formal classroom training as well as follow up assistance on site d) To provide maintenance service for the hardware following the warranty period in either of two ways
- Maintenance contract - whereby repairs can be carried out under RIE's inclusive maintenance contract. The monthly maintenance fee for the basic hardware unit (CPU, VDU and standard printer) is K.D. 60 to be paid on a quarterly basis.
- On call service - whereby all required repairs conducted and invoiced on time and material basis at the then prevailing rates e) Only Rakan International's customers' engineers will be permitted to perform maintenance on the hardware system.
page 9 of 11 GENERAL TERMS
a) WARRANTY
All system components carry a three month warranty against manufacturer defects. Faults which are not due to negligence of the customer will be repaired free of charge.
Repairs after the warranty period can be made on a time and material basis when required or performed under Rakan International maintenance contract. & ^
b) DELIVERY
Delivery can be arranged within 15 to 30 days upon receipt of signed purchase order.
c) BACKUP SUPPORT
If the equipment cannot be repaired on site in a reasonable period of time, a backup system similar to the one proposed will be made available to the customer, at no cost. d) TERMS OF PAYMENT
Fifty percent (50%) of the complete system price is payable to Rakan International, upon signing a purchase order. The remaining fifty percent (50%) is payable upon delivery, installation and acceptance of the system. e) VALIDITY
This proposal is valid for a period of thirty (30) days.
page 10 of 12 CONFIGURATION AXD COST a) One basic system: @ KD 7,200 Total KD 7,200
i) - One Z/80 CPU each with 56K byte memory and dual disc drive Ü ) - One terminal (VDU) with CRT (80x24), typewriter keyboard and numeric keypad iii) - One daisywheel Qume printer with Arabic and English printwheels iv) - One forms tractors v) - One set of software diskettes which includes • Memo rite III diskette (English word processing) - Word Processing Demonstration diskette - Arabrite II diskette (Arabic word processing) - Peachtree Program diskette for General Ledger - Peachtree Program diskette for Accounts Payable - Peachtree Program diskette for Accounts Receivable - Peachtree Program diskette for Inventory - Peachtree Program diskette for Payroll - CPM operating diskette - MDOS basic commands diskette vi) - One set of Manual which include - Memorite III Users Manual - Arabrite II Users Manual - Operating System and Utilities Software Manual - Business Software Manual - MDOS operating Manual - Hardware Manual
We therefore, recommend for the Arab Federation of Chemical Fertilizer Producers:
An additional terminal KD 1,790 An Accoustic Sound Cover KD 250 A hard disk option KD 2,190 Telex option KD 1,500
Total Less 10% ■ KD 11,293
page 11 of 12 The following listed options are also available with the Arabrite:
- Additional dual disk drive - 5 megabyte hard disk - Telex option - Arab Link communications via modems - Graphics - Matrix Printers (150 cps) - Wide document printer - Single sheet feeder - Execuplan - Statistics package
In closing we would like to thank you for the opportunity of ^ submitting this proposal and hope that you find the Arabrite capable of meeting your specific needs. If there are any questions please do not hesitate to call RIE.
It is with confidence that we recommend our Arabrite equipment to the Arab Federation of Chemical Fertilizer Producers. We hope that this proposal meets your requirements and look forward to a beneficial association between the Arab Federation of Chemical Fertilizer Producers and Rakan International Enterprises.
page 12 of 12 /1 cA of ✓ f * o r\ £ H * t K 2.
Attention: Mr. Koerner
June 16, 1981
Please find below the informations you required.
References:
Air defense - Air Force Base Ahmad A1 Jaber - Air Force Base Ali A1 Salem - Air Force Base Ministry of Planning Ministry of Information Shoreline
Not forgetting that we only started in January 1981.*
Price list:
Basic System - Hardware - Qume Printer KD 1700/- - Terminal 1650/- - CPU 3950/-
- Software - Memorlte III 245/- - Arabrite II 145/- - Accounts Packages 295/- ea
Options - Time share terminal 1790/- - Matrix dot printer 940/- - Single Sheet Feeder 690/- - Twin track printer 2700/- - Arablink (Modem + necessary software) 385/- - Arablink (Acoustic Coupler + nec. software) 385/-
1 We have more machines on trial but will not be referenced. Software Programs - Execuplan 95/- - CCA data management 90/- - Statistic package 295/- - Arabic Inventory 535/-
Maintenance - Warranty for Six Months
Rent - The machine could be rented at KD 195/- per month for a period of two months, and can be deducted from the price.
KD 500/- can be deducted for advertising purposes.
Very Truly Tours For Rakan International Enterprises
y A. Tomb arketing Representative p[irMr\tK 3 1 Ш. J-Tokiieli Computer Services Gulf Agents PERKIN-ELMER DATA SYSTEMS ( INTEROATA )
Kuwait, 24th of May, 1981
Arab Federation of Chemical Fertiliser Producers Kuwait.
Attn:Dr. Abou Khadra
Our Ref: L81051 & Quotation ISC 81/29 Ref: Supply of Word-Processing System
Dear Sir,
Please find enclosed our best quotation for a Word-Processing J system.
Further to the required specifications, our equipment has 1 m a n y additional features including:
1. Full page of 48 lines on the screen. •1 2. Automatic Wrap-Around.
1 3. Bold and Underline facilities in both Upper and Lower Cases as well as Subscript and Superscript.
4. 32 Special Function Keys.
5. The 8 Foreground and 8 Background colours give the operator unmatched clarity on the resulting print out while typing on the screen.
6. The vertical and horizontal spacing of letters, as well as the thickness of the Bold characters, is also under the control of the operator.
7. The Arabic is using a look-ahead processor feature which shapes the letter according to its position in the word and also automatically 'insert' the numerical digits in the correct sequence (from left to right) without any operator intervention.
u j v /aìo v/.l l
• i i
A DIVISION OF W.J.TOWELL & CO. AGENCIES (KUWAIT) W.L.L. P 0 BOX 75 SAFAT. KUWAIT - TEL 315535. 4381A" - TELEX 2096 KT TOWELL LU. J.Td u ie II Computer Services Gulf Agents PERKIN-ELMER DATA S Y S T E M S ( INTERDATA )
Cont/••■
We are at your disposal for a demonstration of our Word-Processor capabilities should you require it.
W.J.Towell Computer Services is a division of W.J.TOWELL & CO. AGENCIES (KUWAIT), operating in Kuwait under Commercial Registration No. 16.
Hoping that this proposal will meet with your approval, we look forward to seeing a successful Word-Processing system working on behalf of your company.
In the meantime, we wish to remain,
Yours sincerely,
W.J.TOWELL COMPUTER SERVICES
Enel
2
A DIVISION OF W.J.TOWELL & CO. AGENCIES (KUWAIT ) W.L.L. P 0 BOX 75 SAPAT, KUWAIT - TEL. 3155 3 5, 438180 - TELEX 2096 KT TOWELL W.J.TOWELL COMPUTER SERVICES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PARTS 1 - 5
1. Specifications:
1.1 Bilingual mode system
1.2 CPU
1.3 Display Unit
1.4 Manual KB entry
1.5 KB editing
1.6 Printer
1.7 Software facilities
2. Quotation
3. Hardware & Software Support
4. W.J.Towell Computer Services Resume & References
5. Documentation & Brochures
Page 1 W.J.TOWELL COMPUTER SERVICES
PART 1
1. Specifications:
1.1 Bilingual Mode System
The proposed Word Processing system has the capabilities of editing and printing both Arabic and/or English documents.
1.2 CPU
- Type: 8080A - Storage Media: 8" Dual Diskette Drive - Nò. of Drives: 2 Drives - Memory: 48K expandable to 64K - Speed: 110 - 9600 Baud (optional) - Terminals: As each Terminal has its own control unit there is no limitation in the number of stations.
1.3 Display Unit
- Display Technique CRT - Screen Capacity 3840 characters - Screen Format: 80ch./48 lines or 80ch./24 lines when using option double size characters - Character Generation: 5 x 7 or 7 x 9 (optional) - Refresh Rate (HZ): 50/sec. - Graphics: Yes - Colour: 8 foreground/8 background - Speed: Keyboard Selectable from 110 - 9600 - Field Accentuators: Variable Intensity (Colors)
1.4 Manual KB Entry
- Keyboard Layout: Typewriter KB - Function Key: 32 Function Keys - Key No. & Key Sets: Please refer to the enclosed drawing - Features: Cursor control key
W. ). ''y'v ;u 1 C0- '^.¡CiSS (iiül.'AlV) V'/.L
Page 2 W.J.TOWELL COMPUTER SERVICES
I.5 KB Editing
t Tabbing: Yes - Char. Insert/Delete: Yes - Line Insert/Delete: Yes - Paging Yes - Scrolling Yes - Text String Yes - Other features include: * English AND Arabic on same line (with dual head printer option) * Upper/Lower case (English only) * Automatic Wrapping * Automatic Centre Key * Swap Key * New Page Key * Bold * Underline (English only) * Bold/Underline * Subscript/Superscript * Function of Print Parameters * Selective Merging * Calculations * Mailing List For more detailed information please refer to the attached Intecolor Arabic/English Word Processor copy of user Manual.
1.6 Printer
- Speed: 55 CPS average - Arabic/English Fa lities: Arabic and/or English optional - Char./Line: 132 CPL at 10 Ch./inch 158 CPL at 12 ch./inch - Original and Copies No.: 1 Original and 3 Copies
1.7 Software Facilities: (CP/M operating system) " 73 - Complete File Control System including: * Deleting * Renaming * Duplication * Copy * Initialising the Soft-Disc * Etc...
- BASIC Language
- Calculations
f - Back-Up
Please refer to the attached copy of User Manual for additional information together with photocopies of the equipment specifications.
Page 3
W.J.TOWELL COMPUTER SERVICES
QUOTATION No. ISC 81/29
Arab Fed. of Chem. Fertlsr. Producers Date: 24th of May, 1981 Kuwait
Validity: One Month Attn: Dr. Abou Khadra
ITEM PRODUCT DESCRIPTION UNIT ,QTY TOTAL ONSITE NUMBER PRICE KD PRICE
1 8963 ISC English & Arabic Word- Processing System Including:
- 8080A CPU
- 19" Colour Data Display Unit Arabic/English
- Dual 8" Floppy Disc Drive (dual density)
- 48K RAM Memory
- BASIC & CP/M file management system
- Keyboard with Function Keys
- 220V 50HZ Operation 4,500.- 1 4,500.-
2 0pt.64A Dual Head Formed Character Printer (English and Arabic) 3,000.- 1 3,000
TOTAL ONSITE KD 7,500
NOTE
The above quoted prices include:
ON E Y E A R FU L L W A R R A N T Y covering parts, maintenance, emergency calls, air-freight, insurance, customs duties, and delivery and installation charges. J W.J.TOWELL COMPUTER SERVICES
] PART 3
]
]
]
J HARDWARE & SOFTWARE
J SUPPORT
]
]
1
*]
]
]
]
1
1
Page 5 W.J.TOWELL COMPUTER SERVICES
HARDWARE & SOFTWARE S U P P O R T
W.J.Towell Computer Services prides itself iir offering one of
the best and cost cocprehensive back-up and technical support
facilities in the area.
Out nornal working day is froa 3 a.a. to 8 p.c. Arrangenents
are cade to aeet any recuirenents outside those hours and we
have support engineers available at YOUR working hours.
To enable us to aeet these coanitaents and to keep our
custoners 100% supported at all tines, we have the following
technical support and backup:
H) W.J.TOWELL COMPUTER SERVICES
];
J A. HARDWARE SUPPORT.
J 1. Component Level
Our Se r v i c e D e p a r t m e n t is staffed by highly qualified and ] experienced personnel. We carry out most of our repairs
] (down to component level) locally which gives our customers a
guaranteed repair and reliable service locally.-
J This service is invisible to our customers, as normally our
customers only encounter service at board and unit levels. 1
] 2, Board Level This level is our normal customer service operational mode. 1 Any faulty board is immediately exchanged for a similar board from our stock. The customer system can then resume
»derations immediately.
Then, our engineers carry out their tests on the removed
board in our Repair Center and replace the board only after
all tests have been satisfactorily passed on our stand-by
machine using the very sophisticated test programs available
for all our equipment.
(2) W.J.TOWELL COMPUTER SERVICES
3. Unit Level
If our engineers encounter and intermittent■ problem or if,
for any reason, they feel chat further tests are needed to
guarantee full reliability ve have fully operational stand-by
units available at our Repair Center. We keep at least one
of each unit sold locally with which we can replace the
suspected unit. This unit can then be returned to our
Service Center for full tests and repairs with no
interruption in customer operation.
4. Backup System - (i)
We have at our Software Development Center a full.v
i operational system which we normally utilize for customer use
and training before their system is installed. This provides
a FULL BACKUP system in the event of a total svsten failure
ie: in case of fire, power failure etc ... * This system is ALWAYS available to our customers use for any
reason whatever.
(3; W.J.TOWELL COMPUTER SERVICES
5. Backup System - (ii)
Another system installation at V.J.Towell’Head Office, can
also be utilized by our customers as an additional backup to
level (i) if the meed should arise.
Backup facilities will include all Software and Hardware
necessary to ensure that the day to day work load can be
accomodated and satisfactorily handled.
6 . Warranty
Our equipment carries in Kuwait a CNE YEAR FULL WARRANTY
(including spare parts and preventive maintenance).
7. Maintenance
, First Year:
FREE OF CHARGE (including spare parts).
Subsequent Years:
Could be covered by a MAINTENANCE CONTRACT, details of which, t ve are willing to negociate in order to meet any special
requirements considered essential for the customer's
operation.
Regular PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE is normally carried out
monthly.
(-) W.J.TOWELL COMPUTER SERVICES
B. SOFTWARE SUPPORT
I. System Software
W.J.Towell Computer Services, after-sales support is provided
by a tean of highly qualified Software Specialists. This is
further supported by a mobile U.K. group of Perkin-Elmer
products Specialists, continually travelling and in
communication with Kuwait and other Middle East supported
countries.
This service is FREE OF CHARGE to our customers. It is not
néant, however, to replace training or substitute nornal
training procedures. Rather it -is intended to assist
customers in cases of abnormal problems arising.
Initial system generation and first tine implementation after
equipment delivery is also FREE OF CHARGE, as part of system
commisioning. W.J.TOWELL COMPUTER SERVICES
2. Software Packages
A. We offer complete "Turn-Key" packages,, designed locally
to neat our customer's specific needs as well as the special
requirements of the Gulf market.
We have in our library, ready made packages running
successfully in Kuwait for nany years.
We can also provide personally tailored solutions and
implement then in a very short period of tine, due to our
staff experience in all aspects of the commercial market in
the Gulf.
i
Further to the above mentioned packages, our team of System
Engineers, can provide our customers with : ♦
t * Consultancy
* Feasibility Studies
* Education and Training
* Etc ...
(6)
3:
W.J.TOVELL COMPUTER SERVICES ].
3 INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS'CORP.
3 .3 Since its incorporation in 1973, ISC has manufactured highly ] cost-effective Data Terainals and Desktop Conputers using color alphanumeric and graphics displays. 3
By combining inspired research and development with J aggressive narketing, ISC has accomplished soaething not even
the coanercial television industry has been able to manage -
bringing che price of color down to the level of black and
white. This has placed ISC in a unique marketing position: .
For the FIRST time OEMs and End-Users are able to purchase —
«3 at conventional black and whites prices - Intelligent
Terainals and Desktop Conputers with the extra advantages of
color graphics.
1 %
Among the first to benefit from ISC's low-cost color graphics
-'¿.s the process control industry. They saw that color
graphics could inprove comprehension and thus lower user 1 response time - an important factor to consider in critical
and often hazardous operations.
.1 3)
3 W.J.TOWELL COMPUTER SERVICES
Nov business of all sizes have discovered ISC color graphics.
Color is used to distinguished and highlight unique data from
less important data. Instead of drab black and white
alphanuaerics, ISC units can produce colorful charts and bar
graphs that give clarity and vitality to the overwhelming
amount of data encountered in business applications.
ISC Business-Oriented Intecolor 8063 is the first CP/M
compatible desktop computer with color graphics. An
abundance of low-cost CP/M software substantially reduces the
need for expensive custom software development.
H i g h - R e s o l u t i o n Color Graphics at low ISC prices provide
special applications with critical picture definition. Any
ISC 48-line unit can be ordered or upgraded with this
powerful high resolution package.
^ % Extende DISK BASIC is available on every ISC desktop. System
Software options include :
* Word Processing
* Microfoft Business BASIC
* FORTRAN IV
plus
(9)
W.J.TOWELL COMPUTER SERVT *Ce S
T H E TOWELL GROUP
The first Toweil Conpany was established in 1866 in Muscat by
Mr. W.J. Toweil who was the first USA Diplomatic
Representative to the Sultanate of Oman.
Since 1866, the group activities have increased and
diversified and the Toweil Group has become one of the most
successful and broad ranging corporation operating in the
Gulf.
At present the Group has a turnover in excess of US $ 600
million per annua. The companies are large scale comnodity
traders, agents and distributors, co-investors and bankers.
They also act as cajor consultants and advisers and as full
partners in major joint-ventures. The Group employs up to
•7 5,000 people.
The Toweil Group is involved in the following activities:
* Construction
* Consumer Goods Agencies
Building Industries
* Motor Industry
* Banking and Finance r
Building Materials
(ID 4 1 J ] W.J.TOWELL COMPUTER SERVICES
J * Real-Estate Лт Farning
] A Shipping
:к Travel Agencies 1 -J * Telecommunications Servicing J X Computer Services e activities of the Towell Group are carried
J a following:
::.J.t o w e l l & co. a g e n c i e s (Ku w a i t ) w .l .l . 1 j. W.J.TOWELL & CO. (L.L.C.) OMAN J * TAYLOR WOODROW-TOWELL OMAN TOWELL i GULF CO. LTD. LONDON
=;
___ GENERAL ELECTRIC TRADING CO. OMAN
1 6
rt MUTRAH COLD STORE OMAN 1 « J OMAN INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CO.
] , NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN’ 5Г KUWAIT INTERNATIONAL FINANCE CO.
KUANTAN BEACH HOTEL SDN.BHD. MALAYSIA. 4 ' V
]
1
1
1
1
1 W.J.TOviELL COMPUTER SERVICES
U.J. TOWELL COMPUTER SERVICES
The W.J.Towell Conputer Services is a division of W.J.Towell
1 Co. -Agencies (Kuwait) W.L.L., formed in 1978.
Gulf Agents for:
* PERKIN-ELMER DATA SYSTEMS (INTERDATA) USA ’
Also representing:
* INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS CORPORATION USA
J.Towell Conputer Services with a long tern commitment to
growth in this part of the world, backed by one of the
largest minicomputer manufacturers in the United States and
its worldwide organisation, is confident of offering
unmatched services in Kuwait and the Gulf area.
Its primary goal is to offer PERSONALISED computer services
to the leading companies in the Gulf. It is intended also to
fill the gap existing between snail accounting aachines and
very expensive large computers.
The Services:
Tj stress our concern in providing the best to our customers,
we are offering a full range of personalised services
including:
” Consultancy W.J.TOWELL COMPUTER SERVICES
* Feasibility Studies
* Hardware Equipment
* Maintenance
* Software and Packages
* Full Support
* Education and Training
* Etc ...
The People:
I- its preparations, W.J.Towell Computer Services has
gathered in its division a highly qualified team of computer
professionals. They are faniliar with all aspects of the
Ittr-st in computer technology and particularly, on-line
real-tine and connunication systems. They have made a long
term commitment to living in this part of the world, and are
to dealing with the problems inherent in the local
market area.
n i )
■sm*. J kiA ‘ - , «?fc - < v Æ?'V~ V 4 ■* " " J W.J.TOWELL COMPUTER SERVICES ] PART 5 ]
] J J J j DOCUMENTATION & BROCHURES
:]
j
*]
1
] •
j
.1
Page 7 LL1. J.ToweH Computer Services Gulf Agents PERKIN-ELMER DATA S Y S T E M S ( INTERQATA )
¿-'Lr*1 *UI
j**- ^1 s ' w rf>.Ql
■ W j 4 * > V " G •JL. f ItJJ WORD PROCESSOR jiil vj^.% . Jm^ll »IZJI J^#UZ)I ^ ur#_y^ùUI
W.J.TOWELL COMPUTER SERVICES .¿j m -JOI C j C ^ V * » ( C.rf>OI) fcJG ^ Zii\Sj 3 f > £_J , n f ij Jip-v l*t Ui > ¿ 4
j *j <> II 2fJL> U u i f Z^UJI - -ii 13 LW 1^3 V » l ^ l WI>JV INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS CORP. v « - 1 ó U : vai . tnó T- • j-Z Ì"Y ZZI*.) I J»> — (A ¿,* *Lli j » L _ l
. j a ji > j j ¿ ujui „cissii _ t J 54t ,y V.U1I .*>*-31 , > G V U 1 I C-V-l) jJ rr _ r . *AttiJI w.jjJI >IL- y *
FOREGROUND V U I jl> a j BACKGROUND L ULU j » > A _ .
• * J K J * J**» J J - ~ > Jj-I«D A-lJ J U->J jii-JI > " «, • J^*Le 6 1 ^Jly V IfrU) 1
A DIVISION OF W.J.TOWELL & CO. AGENCIES (KUWAIT) W.L.L. PO. SOX 75 SAFAT KUWAIT - TEL 315535. 438180 - TFLEX 209F KT TQWELL LU. J.TdüjeII Computer Services Gult Agents PERKIN-ELMER DATA S Y S T E M S ( INTERDATA )
j>..u vint c-.; i*ï;i , w û i — ji àji _■*
. u - Y I J >oJ îi-U I^ wWJI ^ U S
U h C l i c î*WU' ^ -V • J W » u > l ^ fS jM I ÂJÛI y«; jl J*., jl ^lo* ^ ( i p l j ^ J t - j jl^ I j ) H à i ^ > ^ 1
„ ZV~lj~ü v j 'L-VI ¿1 / .À J t+■ ) ^ l^Âif
J L^jOlCUJ WU M ^ jv^JV pû IL31*L3 ^ j lî^v ijj-ij £'■£■**
(.1 ^ 1 j J.CDI ¿ U tjIÜS j
’] 1 fUJI ^ J l
" 1
■ ]
i
1
i
i
A DIVISION OF W J.TOWELL & CO AGENCIESIKUWAIT) W.l.L. P O BOX 75 SAPAT, KUWAIT - TEL 315535. 430180 - TELEX 2096 KT TOWELL
H ill. J.Towell Computert Services Gull Ag«nts PERKIN-ELMER DATA S Y S T E M S C INTERDATA )
W.J. TOWELL COMPUTER SERVICES
P.O.BOX 75 SAFAT KUWAIT
Dea r Visitor,
We w o u l d like to introduce to you our word p r o c e s s o r system. This paragraph is an example where you can see automatic right and left margin control.
The features available on our system includes the following. 1. Screen siz e of A8 lines by 80 colunns.
2. Automatic w o r d wrap-around.
3. BOLD & UNDERLINE facilities in both upper and lower
c a s e as well as SUBSCRIPT and SUPERSCRIPT .
A. 32 Special function keys.
5. The 8 foreground and 8 Background colors give the operator unmatched clarity on the resulting printout while typing on the screen.
6 . The vertical and horizontal spacing of the letter is also under control of the operator as well as the thickness of the Bold character.
7. Mailing list.
8 . Arithmetic facilities.
Thanks for conning.
Sincerely yours,
W.J.TOWELL COMPUTER SERVICES
A OIVISION OF W.J. TOWELL & CO. AGENCIES (KUWAIT) W .LL. P 0 ecx 75 SAFAT. KUWAIT - TEL 315535, 438180 - T'iLEX 2096 KT TOWELL ^ 1 n
-■v- '-".i. rM - r Dfigaii flCfeic r a m ® s m * ] *■-..... '• ■ •...... "•'L--' ■■■ ; •■•-■■•-'■•" '• ifcitfSj
4 UR C IO T flM IC 'IO O ffiB W K ^fC i.^. ] SVSTQtynH.W MELUfiRS^x^X Ji4 t»/*L^tv,€-ui2it^£5^X . KEfflMffi BH m y W y y g ^ S f e w u №'■ .*« 5^tOP£iE;COLi$ VtLKIi G W 'lG iSi /. ** '■ ' Unretouched Photogi»phs of the Screen ] W: I Town LI i CO. AGENCIES (KUWAIT) '.: Intelligent Systems Corp., 5965 Peachtree Corners East, Norcross, Georgia 30071 U.S.A. - (404) 449-5961 ' |z63oi TWX 810-766-1581 ARABTEXT MOST ADVANCED COLOR GRAPHIC ARABIC WORD PROCESSERS AND MICRO COMPUTER SYSTEM • Complete Intermixing Between Arabic and • Intecolor Micro Computer System English. Manufactured by World’s Largest Color • DuiJ Language Letter Quality Printer. Graphic Computer Company, Intelligent • Minimum Storage 250 Pages of Text. Systems Corp. • Automatic WRAP and Margin Adjustment. • CPM English/Arabic Operating System. • Automatic Centering. • Automatic Context Analysis of Arabic Data • Abbreviation and Library Files. for Displaying the Correct Shape. • Selective Merging Allows a Single Letter To • Reduced Arabic Keyboard. Be Printed For Several Hundred Addresses • 64 K RAM. with Great Flexibility and Customization. • BASIC, FORTRAN, COBOL with Arabic • Cut and Paste. Interface. • Search. • Complete Color Graphic Package. • Document Merging. • 8 Foreground and 8 Background Color. • Math Package. • 48 Lines By 80 Character Format. • Underline, Bold, Super and Subscript. • High Resolution Tube. • Complete Accounting and In/entory • 1 Megabyte of Floppy Disk Package. • RS232 Interface. • Telex Interface For Paper Tape Punch. vi. f. u '.’/GLL >*. CO. /.G2i !CltS KUWAIT) INFORMATIC SCIENCES CORP. 3597 Clearview Place, N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30340 Phone: 404-458-1010/Telex. 261355 INFOR • Telex. 261350 ISCME W.J.TOWELL COMPUTER SERVICES QUOTATION No.ISC 81/32 Date: T\:ne 13th, 1981 Messrs. Arab Federation of chemical Fertiliser Producers Kuwait. Att. Mr. Koerner Validity: One month ITEM PRODUCT DESCRIPTION UNIT QTY TOTAL ONSITE NUMBER PRICE KD PRICE 1 8963 ISC English & Arabic Word-Processing System featuring: - 8C8uA CPU - 19’’ Color Data Display VDU Arabic/English - ',8K RAM Memory - BASIC & CP/M file management system - Keyboard with Function Keys - 220V 50Hz Operation...... 3,350,- 1 3,350.- 2 Dual 8" Floppy Disc Drive (dual density) ...... 1,150.- 1 1,150.- 3 0pt.64A Dual Head Formed Letter Quality Frincer (English/Arabic) 3,000.- 1 3,000.- T0TAL ON SITE KD... 7,500.- 4 Option Dual 5" Floppy Mini-Disk Drive 925. Note: The above quoted prices include: ONE YEAR FULL WARRANTY covering parts, maintenance, emergency calls, air-freight, insurance, customs duties, delivery and installation charges. U l J.Toweil Computer Services PERKIN-ELMER DATA SYSTEM S { INTERDATA ) Q intelligent Systems Corp. ISC SYSTEMS 1. LASER (BU KHAIISEEN BRAUCH) ONE * 2. MINISTRY OF PUBLIC HEALTH - STATISTIC DEPARTMENT TWO 3. MINISTRY OF PUBLIC HEALTH - RADIATION DEPARTMENT ONE i*. MINISTRY OF PUBLIC HEALTH - EDP CENTER (TERMINALS ONLY) TWO 5. GUTS COMPANY ONE 6. W. 3. TUWELL COMPUTER SERVICES TWO 7. W. 3. TOWELL it COMPANY ONE 8. G.C.C. ONE (ON TRIAL) ON ORDER : 5 SYSTEMS A DIVISION OF W J.TOWELL & CO AGENCIES (KUWAIT) W.L.L TC'SV W.f YT rru»lCl I A'?™*/-. *+ Mutual C cn p ie r Services o U a i - S T Tin m — : 41T7M • ®7 • 417MA » M • t7 * COM* : C O O W M » TTV«* «o T m : Me« m o k t # p o. stx »m. sprat. ku~«* Ref: 276/81 25 June, 1981 Arab Federation of Chemical and Fertilizer Producers P. 0. Box 23696 Safat, Kuwait Dear Ms. 01 fat: Further to our recent meetings, we have the pleasure in confirming the points discussed and submiting our revised proposal to meet your word processing requirements. 1. Delivery lead time of the systems proposed is 3 months from the date of order. It may be possible to supply a loan ma* chine prior to the delivery date. 2. Full Arabic/English Keyboard' Display and Printing will be available with the purchased equipment. 3. Currently, both English and Arabic characters and symbols are engraved on the top of the keys. KCS will investigate the possibilities of keys which carry the Arabic characters/ symbols on the front side. 4. At present, standard width and wide carriage width printers are available. In the future, dual print head, wide carriage printers will be available and we will be pleased to quote you at that time. 5. The proposal includes both Word Processing System 20 and 25. If a System 20 is initially purchased, this may at any time in the future, be upgraded to the System 25 (and in fact, to any of the larger WANG Word Processing Systems). This upgrade can be performed in the field and does not render any of the existing units redundant. The cost being the current list price differential between the systems plus a cost for the usage of the System 20 for that period. - 2 - 6. We will be pleased to supply a system for trial purposes and will, prior to installation, discuss and agree with you a sample of applications that system will be measured by, so as to clearly define the acceptability of the Word Processing System to your satisfaction. We hope the above clarifies the outstanding points, but should you have any further queries, please do not hesitate in contacting us. Dieter H. Thresh Marketing Executive ¿ y y « 4 - 1 v V G ..oro PROCESS I.NG SYSTEMS WANG Office Systems and Word Processors continued to account for a major snare of the war ul Word Processor market. WANG Word Processor is unique in its expandability and capability. It starts with System 5 with single terminal to System 20, 25 and 30, with multi-terminal capaoility up to 14 workstations and peripherals. It can store up to 4,000 pages. When enhanced by the appropriate peripheral devices and software packages, they perform more specialized operations including photocomposition, tele communication and mathematical calculations. Designed for end-user opera tional simplicity and total compatabiiity, WANG Word Processing Systems are easily upgraded. The Office Information System (OI3) comes after the Word Processor System 30. It has been introduced in 1979, reinforcing WANG's leadership position in the industry. The OIS links between Wbrd Processing and Data Processing, using the BASIC Programming Language. It can store more than 330,000 pages and acconmodates up to 32 peripheral devices. The WANG Word Processor System 20 is part of WANG Wbrd Processing family. It is an electronically controlled CRT/Dual Diskette-based text processor designed for small,clustered work groups. Flexible diskettes are used foe storing and accessing documents. The system diskette may contain up to -it , CO characters (up to 30 pages of text) and each archive diskette may cuntain up to V. ,' cnaracters (up to 120 pages of text). The WAIG WP System 25 pro/1 Vs the user with tremendous cost/ performance capabilities, and a hijh performance hard system disk. It consists of a Master CPU with L4 ports, an Archive Diskette Drive, CRT/Keyboard, and a 5 Megabyte Disk. Some of the concept that makes this system unique are: aacd Disk Storage (>•&) which can store up to 2,000 pages, with rapid acess co doc ircene. Multi-s-.ati »i and peripherals expansion (up to 14) Document oriented richer than page oriented System security with protection from unauthorized personnel Appropriate software packages. Math, Sort, etc. Many additional programming and functional keys (described on the attached Data Sheet) SORT Option MATH Option System Security Wide range of printers with different speed Twin Sheet Feeder which can load 400 pages in 2 bins Snvelop Feeder ?e.-codinunication facility with other WANG systems in remote sice Optical Character Recognition interf «ce '•'¿jnecii’ 'ard Reader Tape Punch -or Telex and TWX InfonnacLon processing capabil.iy Phototypesetting Option - Paper Tape Interface 3i Jireccionai Forms Tractor .vUt'O PROCESSOR SYSTEM 20 PRICS QLOTATION MONTHLY MODEL NO. PESCAIPTICN QTY PRIC5 (X.D.) MAINTENANCE 5520 WP System 20, Master CPU, 1 1,910.000 23.000 and Dual Floppy Diskette Drive 5536-1 L6X CRT Xeyooard Workstation 1 1,791.000 21.000 with .tocizontal SccoLl iArabic/Tjatin) 6581W 35 CP3 DaLsy Wheel Printer 1 2,387.000 28.000 (Arabic/Latin) >rr-i System Desk 1 199.000 1 XVA Stabilizer 1 169.000 2.000 TOTAL PRICE 6,456.000 74.000 .vVÄJ NORD PROCESSOR SYSTEM 25 PRICE QUOTATION PRICE MONTHLY MODEL ¡N¡0. De s c r i p t i o n QTY (K.D.) MAINTENANCE 5525-3 .IP System 25, '•îoiel 1 5,212.000 61.000 III Master, 5 MB Disk and single Diskette 5536-1 16X3 CRT/Keyboacd 1 1,591.000 19.000 with horizontal Scroll 6531W 35 CPS Daisy Wheel 1 2,387.000 28.000 Pr inter MT-1 WP System Table 1 199.000 2 XVA Stabilizer 1 281.000 4.000 TOTAL PRICE----- — K.D. 9,670.000 112.0C0 1 SPCCi-FLCAl' DNS OF WP SYSTEM 25 3ilinqual Word Processing System Yes CPU Stor age Med ¡.a Floppy Diskette Disk Drive 5 MB Hard Disk Memory 48K Speed Display Unit Display Technique CRT Screen Capacity 1920 Characters Screen Format 24 Lines,80 Char/Line Character Generation 5 X 7 Dot Matrix Refresn Rata 50 Hz. Manual 1-3 Entry Keyboard Layout English/Arabic Type writer Keytoard Function Keys 4 Cursor Control Keys 21 Special Operation al Keys KB Editiiiq Tubcirg Yes Char. Cn.:ert/Delete Yes Line Insort/Delete Yes 'r.s-*rt/Del»r.5 Yes ‘ - } • 3 Yes - Sc' > 1 e g Ye ; Other Featuf?s Please reiLit to Data S.sa-’t ?rinter S-joeU 35 Characters per Se cond Average Rate Arabic/Eirjliah Facilit/ Yes Character Cine 132 Chars/Line Form Feed Single & Continuous Carriage Size 15 inches Original 4 Copies No. Six Part Paper KCS SERVICES KCS is pLeased to provide tne following suppart services: 1. Deliver, install and test the proposed hardware. 2. Provide the necessary documentation including: - Operations Manual for tne hardware - Reference Manual on the Operating System 3. Provide sufficient training on hardware operations. 4. After Sale Services Following the wamn'cy period, KCS can provide maintenance service of hardware. Two options are available: Maintenance Contract Repairs van he made under KCS’s conçrehenrive maintenance contract. On-Call Service Any required repairs ■viLl be oerformed and invoiced on a time and material basis. GENERAL TERMS 1 . W A R R A N T Y A I . computer .-opponents carry a six (6) months warrant/ against manu facturing defects. Daring this period, maintenance and repairs to countecicc decocts will be performed at no charge to the Customec. Fo.Lowing the warranty period, maintenance can be performed according to our comprîhensive maintenance contract (please refer to Monthly Maintenance Fee as contained in the Hardware Price Quotation). 2. DELIVERY Deliver/ of the Word Processing Systems can be made three months after the receipt of the purchase order. 3. P A Y M E N T S C H E D U L E - Fifty percent (50%) of the total price to be paid upon signing the contract. - Fife/ percent (501) of the total price to be paid upon delivery of the System. i \ Annex 5 AFCPF ' 3 Documentation and Library Classification 100 Fertilizers General 101 Fertilizer Technology 102 Standard Specification of Raw Materials 102/1 Standard Specification of Finished Products 103 Co rros ion 104 Pollution 105 Packaging & Storage 106 Production & Consumption 107 Marketing 108 New Fertilizers 109 Phophate and Phosphoric Acid 110 Sulphur & Sulpl iric Acid 111 Potash 112 Natural Gas & Naphca 113 Phosphatic Fertilizers 113/1 Single Superphosphate 113/2 Triple Superphosphate 113/3 Monoammonium Phosphate 113/4 Diammonium Phosphate 113/5 Polyphosphate 113/6 Nitrophosphate 113/7 Gypsum/CaO/Cement 114 Nitrogenous Fertilizers 114/1 Urea L14/2 ■Ammonia 114/3 ■Ammonium Sulphate 114/4 Ammonium Nitrate 114/5 ■Ammonium Chloride 114/6 Ammonium Sulphate Nitrate 114/7 Calcium Sulphate Nitrate 115 Potash Fertilizers 115/1 Potassium Chloride 115/2 Potassium Sulphate 115/3 Potassium Nitrate 116 Compound Fertilizers 116/1 Mixed Fertilizers (Bulk. Blending) 116/2 Complex Fertilizers (Liquid Fertilizers 200 Chemical Industry 201 Pesticides 202 Quality Control 203 Petrochemicals 203/1 Tankers 203/2 Petrol 203/3 Energy 300 Science, Technology, Engineering 301 Various Industries 302 Operation of Various Industries. Projects 303 Industrial Development 400 Agriculture & Nutrition 401 Soil 402 Irrigation 403 Crops 404 Soil Reforming 405 Farm Mechanisation 406 Fort illzer Use 407 Agricultural Statistics 500 Management 501 Product ion 502 Technical Training 502/1 Training 503 Saf e ty 504 Economics 504/1 Economic development 504/1/1 Statistics of Arab Organizations 504/1/2 Statistics of Interantional Organizations 504/1/3 Annual Reports 505 Accounting 506 Documentation 507 Library 508 Labour L a w 600 Public Relation 600/1 Kuwait 600/2 Saudi-Arabia 600/3 Iraq 600/4 Jordan 600/5 Syria 600/6 Lebanon 600/7 Egypt 600/8 Sudan 600/9 Tunis 600/10 Libya 600/11 Algeria 600/12 Morocco 600/13 Oms n 600/14 Yemen Arab Republic 600/15 Democratic Republic of Yemen 600/16 Somaliland 600/17 Mouri tania 600/18 Qatar 600/19 Bahrain 600/20 United Arab Emirates 601 Observer Member Companies 602 Arab Seminars/Мееtings/Conferences 603 Arab Organizations ч 603/1 League of Arab States 603/2 Council of Arab Economic Unity 603/3 Arab Industrial Development Organization AID0 603/4 OAPEC 603/5 Agricultural Development Organization 6 Fund 603/6 Arab Federations 603/6/1 Union of Arab Chambers 603/6/2 GOIC 603/7 ARFERPRO Activities 603/8 Phosphate Exporters Organization 603/9 Arab Company of Mining 603/1С Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation 603/11 Kuwait Fund 603/12 United Arab Shipping Co. 603/13 Arab Organization for Standardization 604 International Seminars/Meetings/Conferences 604/1 International-Arab Sem./Meet./Conf. 604/2 Arab-European Dialogue 6С5 International Organizations 605/1 OPEC 605/2 FAQ 605/2/1 FIAC 605/3 F AI 605/4 ISMA 605/5 UNIDO ь 605/5/1 ECWA 605/ç/2 ECWA de l'afrique 605/6 Co-operation between developed & developing countries щ 605/7 World Bank 605/8 The British Sulphur Corp. 606 Israel Boycotting i i Annex 6 Specifications i‘or a Small Computer for the Fertilizer Documentation and Information Unit at AFCFP in Kuwait. 1- Versatile microcomputer, programmable in SASIC, COBOL, PORTRAIT and ASSEMBLER (further languages such as Pascal optional). 2- Main memory: At least U8K bytes of memory available to the user. Must be expandable to 256K bytes. 3- Input, output and processing of Arabic, in addition to English, must be possible, also as mixed texts (dual printwheel printer'!. U- Typewriter quality printout, e.g. printwheel printer. 5- Software for handling statistical, tables and word processing (including address files), in English, Arabic and mixed. 6- Modem for linkage to larger computers. 7- 2 Floppy Disc drives, 5 or 9 inch. 3- Possibility of adding hard disc storage of at least 2 megabytes. 9- Maintenance and support in Kuwait. Desireable additional features (not mandatory). 10- Compatibility with photocomposition equipment accessible in Kuwait.