HP 3000 Manuals HP 3000 Manuals
Lesson 2 Software
Lesson 2 presents the computer software (programs).
* the operating system
* other programs on the system
* the command interpreter
Software are the programs that control everything the computer does for
you. The software makes the computer run and determines whether the
computer acts as a text processor, graphic artist, office manager, or
performs any of the hundreds of tasks that a computer can do for you.
Operating system
All computers come with special software called an operating system that
oversees and directs the processing of all programs. The operating
system for the HP 3000 family of computers is called multiprogramming
executive (MPE).
* MPE/iX is the operating system for the 900 Series HP 3000 computer
systems, the system that you are working with, and the newest in
the HP 3000 family of computers.[REV BEG] The iX stands for
integrated POSIX. That means that your computer system is able to
work with many programs created for the UNIX* operating system,
through an enhancement that Hewlett-Packard calls POSIX.
*UNIX is a registered trademard of AT&T in the U.S.A. and in other
countries.[REV END]
* The parent version of the operating system is called MPE V. It
runs on earlier HP 3000 computer systems (Series 40 through 70).
The V refers to the fifth major revision of the software.
Sample programs
Some of the types of programs that can run on the HP 3000 are briefly
described here:
Electronic Mail Permits users of one or many systems to send and
receive messages online.
Word Processing Permits users to create, edit, arrange, and print
letters, memos, and other kinds of text that people
deal with in their day-to-day work.
Data Processing Permits users to store, retrieve, integrate, and
manage vast amounts of information. Keeping and
managing a payroll is one familiar sort of data
processing. Data processing might also involve
mathematical and statistical computations.
Form Creation Putting information into the database is made
easier if information is entered and retrieved by
filling in standard forms on the terminal screen.
There are programs just for designing the forms
that are used in data entry.
Games There are thousands of games that run on computers,
and more are being created every day.
The command interpreter program
The command interpreter, or CI, is a special program whose primary
purpose is to read what you enter on your terminal, determine whether you
have entered a valid command, and determine what to do about it.
* If you can log on, the CI is already at work, just waiting for you
to issue commands.
* The CI interprets your command and performs an action. If it
can't carry out your command, it gives you a message to that
effect.
* Simple commands are executed when you type the command name and
press Return.
* Some commands, however, are more involved and require more from
the user than just typing a command name and pressing Return.