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abstracting To describe key features or characteristics in summary form. access The ability to log on to the Internet, an online service, an intranet, or another network. ADB Apple Desktop Bus. The Macintosh plug-in port where the keyboard, mouse, trackball, graphics tablet, etc. are connected. analog 1. A way of transmitting or measuring data in terms of continuously varying physical qualities (e.g. the shifting hands of a clock). APR Automatic Picture Replacement: Allows the creation of totally electronic files with art and photos in place. The high-res file is stored on an image server while the low-res version (the APR) is used as the electronic FPO during production. The high-res file is only accessed when high-res output is required for either film, IRIS proofs, or color-separated laser proofs. The low-res file is what appears on screen and in low-res color lasers. applet A small Java program that can be embedded in an HTML page, and downloaded and executed by a Java-compatible web browser. Applets differ from full-fledged Java applications in that they are not allowed access to certain resources on a local computer, such as files and serial devices (modems, printers, etc.) and are prohibited from communicating with most other computers across a network. The current rule is that an applet can only make an Internet connection to the computer from which the applet was sent. ASCII Pronounced AS-key American Standard Code for Information Interchange. It’s the most popular method used by small computers for converting letters, numbers, punctuation and control codes into digital form. Once defined, ASCII characters can be recognized and understood by other computers and by communication devices. ASCII represents characters, numbers, punctuation marks or signals in seven binary bits. asset group Groups of assets can contain different categories of assets (e.g. a video and a document asset can be contained within the same asset group). assets A media component that includes digitized images, audio, video and text files, as well as non-digitized assets (e.g. drawings, sculptures, plans). Assets are the basic elements from which products such as books, web sites, kiosks, or CD-ROMs are developed. authenticate To verify the identity of a user or person sending an email. Also used as a participle: authenticated web sites require surfers to register their name and email address before entering. The related noun, authentication, refers to the technology that guarantees the recipient of an electronic message that the email came from a certain person, much in the same way a written signature indelibly identifies the sender.
back end That part of the database management system (DBMS) that interacts directly with the database. backbone The main pathway (a high-speed line or series of connections) of a computer network, to which all other users and networks connect. The ARPAnet and later the NSFNet once served as backbones to the Internet, though now there are many others. bandwidth Amount of data that can be sent through a connection, or capacity of a network to carry data. Measured in bits per second (bps). A full page of English text is about 16,000 bits. A fast modem can move about 15,000 bps. Full-motion, full-screen video requires approximately 10,000,000 bps, depending on compression. baud In common usage the baud rate of a modem is how many bits it can send or receive per second. Technically, baud is the number of times per second that the carrier signal shifts value. For example a 1200 bit-per-second modem actually runs at 300 baud, but it moves 4 bits per band (4 x 300 = 1200 bits per second). BBS Bulletin Board System: A computerized meeting and announcement system that allows people to carry on discussions, upload and download files, and make announcements without the people being connected to the computer at the same time. There are many thousands (millions?) of BBS’s around the world, most are very small, running on a single IBM clone PC with 1 or 2 phone lines. Some are very large and the line between a BBS and a system like CompuServe gets crossed at some point, but it is not clearly drawn. BGP Border Gateway Protocol: Used instead of “hop count” to determine how many “autonomous system hops” would be required when routing a packet. A large autonomous network (such as UUNET or MCI) would count as only onehop, since their network can span a great distance. Regular hop count (as seen in traceroute) counts each router—which would skew the results. bit BInary DigiT. The smallest unit of data a computer can process. Represents one of two conditions: on or off; 1 or 0, mark or space; something or nothing. Bits are arranged into groups of eight called bytes. A byte is the equivalent of one character. bit depth When an image is described as “x bit” with x being some number or other, what’s being talked about is the number of colors. In bitplane or raster graphics, each pixel has its color described by a string of bits, and the more bits there are per pixel the more possible colors there are. The number of colors equals two to the power of the bit depth, so one bit (or “one bitplane”) files can have only two colors, two bit can have four colors, three bit has eight colors and so on. The most common depths are 8 bit (256 colors) and 24 bit (16.8 million colors). Bit depths higher than 24 provide a wider color “gamut”, so image manipulation software can pull otherwise invisible detail out of the image. bit map, bitmapped file Bitmapped files, also known as raster files, contain graphics information described as pixels, such as photographic images. The computer assigns a value to each pixel, from one bit of information (black or white), to as much as 24 bits per pixel for full color images. browser Software that lets you travel the World Wide Web. Brand names include HotJava, NCSA Mosaic, Netscape Navigator, and Microsoft Internet Explorer. BPS Bits Per Second: A measurement of how fast data is moved from one place to another. A 28.8 modem can move 28,800 bits per second. ISDN lines can move up to 128,000 bits per second. T1 lines can move up to 1,544,000 bits per second. byte In computers, a unit of digital information, equivalent to one character or 8 to 32 bits. (kilobyte, K or KB = 1024 bytes; megabyte, MB = 1,024 KB or 1,048,576 bytes; gigabyte, GB = 1 billion bytes)
CD Compact Disc. A standard medium for storage of digital data in machine-readable form, accessible with a laser-based reader. CDs are 4-3/4'' in diameter. CDs are faster and more accurate than magnetic tape for data storage. Faster, because even though data is generally written on a CD contiguously within each track, the tracks themselves are directly accessible. This means the tracks can be accessed and played back in any order. More accurate, because data is recorded directly into binary code; mag tape requires data to be translated into analog form. Also, extraneous noise (tape hiss) associated with mag tape is absent from CDs. CD-ROM Compact Disk-Read Only Memory: Optical storage medium. Capable of holding 600+ megabytes of data. CGI Common Gateway Interface: A set of rules that describe how a web server communicates with another piece of software on the same machine, and how the other piece of software (the “CGI program”) talks to the web server. Any piece of software can be a CGI program if it handles input and output according to the CGI standard. client Consists of a hardware and a software component. A software application that requests services from one or more servers. Each client program is designed to work with one or more specific kinds of server programs, and each server requires a specific kind of client. The user interface part of a DBMS that displays information on a screen and responds to user input (the front end). (See client, server) client/server architecture A form of LAN in which a central database server or engine performs all database commands sent to it from client workstations while the application programs on each client concentrate on user interface functions. The actual computer processing is distributed among many individual PCs (clients) and the more powerful, central computer (server) provides access to the database and accepts requests for resources. Clients can share files and access data stored on the server. (See client, LAN). CMYK Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black-subtractive primary colors color proofs Proofs made by photomechanical or digital means in less time and lower cost than press proofs. compression 1. A method to store text, data, or images in fewer bits. Rather than store every pixel of a blue square, the computer could store only one blue pixel and the dimensions of the square. Several compression standards exist: JPEG, JBIG, MPEG, GIF, TIFF, PICT, ZIP.
data 1. Facts relating to things such as people, objects, events. data redundancy Having the same data stored in more than one place in a database. database A shared collection of logically related data, designed to meet the information needs of multiple users in an organization. The term database is often erroneously referred to as a synonym for a “database management system (DBMS)”. They are not equivalent. A database is a store of data that describe entities and the relationships between the entities. A database management system is the software mechanism for managing that data. database engine (DBMS engine) The central component of a DBMS. Provides access to the repository and the database and coordinates all of the other functional elements of the DBMS (part of the back end). database server The (back end) portion of the client/server database system running on the server and providing database processing and shared access functions. DBMS DataBase Management System: A software application system that is used to create, maintain, and provide controlled access to user databases. The DBMS masks the physical details of the database storage, so that the application only has to know about the logical characteristics of the data, not how it is stored. Because of this, unlike a flat file, a database makes applications easily portable across (hardware and operating system) platforms. See also: flat file. digital Strictly speaking, digital refers to the way information is stored as a string of separate bits that represent on/off states. (The common belief that digital information is stored as a string of 1s and 0s is misleading, the bits could be any other pair of “on” and “off” symbols.) This is in contrast to analog, which represents data in a stream of continuous physical variables. Also refers to a wired, as opposed to an analog, state. digital repository See: repository, digital. dithering 1. A color bitmap with a limited color palette uses a gridwork of different color pixels that are perceived as additional colors. densitometer In photography, a photoelectric instrument which measures the density of photographic images, or of colors. In printing, a reflection densitometer is used to measure and control the density of color inks on the paper. developer In photography, the chemical agent and process used to render photographic images visible after exposure to light. In lithographic platemaking, the material used to remove the unexposed coating. doublecheck A proof made from the separate film in process work to show how the printed item will look with the colors together. download To copy a file or application from a network or BBS to a computer or to storage media. dpi The abbreviation for dots per inch. dylux A paper containing a blue element which is used for proofing -the images show in blue after the paper is exposed through film in a vacuum frame—manufactured by E.I. duPont de Nemours & Company, Inc.
EPS Encapsulated PostScript: A file format used to transfer PostScript image information from one program to another. EPS carries with it instructions and information about the usage within an application and is the only commonly used file format that supports the use of clipping paths, which allow you to create irregularly shaped images, as opposed to only rectangular and square ones. If your film output will be to a non-postscript printer, use TIFF or PICT formats instead. See also: TIFF, PICT, GIF, JPEG. (See Graphic File Formats) entity A thing (e.g., object, person, place, event, or concept) about which data is stored. extranet A collaborative network that uses Internet technology to link businesses with their suppliers, customers, or other businesses that share common goals.
FAQ Frequently Asked Questions: A reference document that is commonly maintained at Internet sites to answer recurring questions. FAQs list and answer the most common questions on a particular subject. FAQs are usually written to avoid having to answer the same question over and over. field A field contains one piece of data such as an author´s name, a book title, the creation date, or the file format. file server A device that manages file operations, and is shared by each of the client PCs that are attached to the LAN. Does not contain any database management software. See also: server, LAN. firewall A combination of hardware and software that keeps unauthorized users or intruders outside a network (LAN). Can also be configured to keep users on an internal network from browsing the Web. flat (in offset lithography) A composite of negatives or positives ready for plate-making, arranged in a certain order (imposition) for book or magazine printing. (In photography) A picture lacking in contrast. flat file A collection of data records having minimal structure. Unlike a database, it contains only data, no structural information (metadata) is stored. Therefore working on flat files can be very fast. On the other hand it requires the application program to include all the logic that manipulates the data in the file. Data manipulation can occur on only one file at a time. Files can share duplicate data but the only time the files interact is when data is copied from one file to another. See also: database, DBMS. FTP File Transfer Protocol: A basic method of moving files between two Internet sites. FTP is a special way to log in to another Internet site for the purpose of retrieving and/or sending files.
gateway A “translator” machine or router that links two dissimilar networks speaking different protocols. Email sent from AOL to the Internet passes through a mail gateway. GIF Graphics Interchange Format: A graphic file format that is used on the Internet for storing images because its file size is relatively small and allows files to transmit quickly. It is a poor choice for most other uses, because GIF files are limited to 256 colors. See also: TIFF, EPS, JPEG, PICT. see Graphic File Formats GUI Graphical User Interface: A graphical user interface provides a means for users to interact with their computers. Rather than requiring text commands, a GUI places icons (graphical representations of what will be accomplished by selecting them), menus and fill-in forms on the screen. With a pointing device, usually a mouse, trackball, or a pointer embedded in the keyboard, users simply point to and select the applications they want to initiate, the functions within the applications they want to perform, or the data they want to enter. Developed by Xerox PARC and SRI International and popularized by the Apple Macintosh.
Host Any computer on a network that is a repository for services available to other computers on the network. It is quite common to have one host machine provide several services, such as WWW, FTP, or email. HTML HyperText Markup Language: The SGML-derived markup language used to create Web pages. Not quite a programming language, HTML nevertheless provides a rich lexicon and syntax for designing and creating useful hypertext documents for the Web. See also: SGML
imposition The exact position for negatives to be placed so that the page numbers will be in the correct order when the printed sheet is folded then cut. indexing In data storage and retrieval, the creation and use of a list that inventories and cross-references data. In database operations, a method to find data more efficiently by indexing on primary key fields of the database tables. information Data that have been processed and presented in a form suitable for human interpretation, often with the purpose of revealing trends or patterns. internet A network of interconnected computers running TCP/IP. A generic term, distinct from the Internet; though, as the Internet subsumes every physical network in sight, the distinction is disappearing. Internet, The The vast collection of interconnected networks that all use the TCP/IP protocols and that evolved from the ARPAnet of the late ´60s and early ´70s. Tens of thousands of independent networks are connected into a vast global internet. intranet A private network inside a company or organization that uses the same kinds of software that you would find on the public Internet, but that is for internal use only. Firewalls keep unauthorized Internet traffic off an intranet. As the Internet has become more popular, many of the tools used on the Internet are being used in private networks. For example, many companies have web servers that are available only to employees. Note that an intranet may not actually be an internet, it may simply be a network. IP Internet Protocol: The language that allows computers to communicate over the Internet, addressing the small data packets so that routers know where to send them. ISDN Integrated Services Digital Network: A set of communication standards that enable a single phone line or optical cable to carry voice, digital, and video. ISDN is rapidly becoming available in much of the USA and in most markets is priced very comparably to standard phone circuits. It can provide speeds of roughly 128,000 bits per second over regular phone lines. In practice, people will be limited by the speed of their modem. ISP Internet Service Provider: A name used to describe commercial organizations that provide Internet services. Not to be confused with commercial online services such as AOL, CompuServe, and Prodigy which do not simply patch you into the Net but provide chat rooms, databases, and other pay-as-you-go services.
Java A programming language used to produce small programs called applets that are distributed on the Web along with HTML documents. See also: applet.
key A value used to identify a record in a database, often simply on the fields. The set of keys for all records is the index.
LAN Local Area Network: A system that permits computing devices to communicate with one another over distances that range from a few feet to several miles. See also: client/server architecture, file server. link As a noun, a hypertext jump or connection between one file and another, tangential file. As a verb, to attach computers via a network. lossy compression see compression
matchprint A color proofing system by 3M using colored acetate layers combined to replicate the final product metadata The data about the structure of a database that describes the relationships between entities. metafiles These are files that may contain either bitmapped or vector graphics data. modem MOdulator, DEModulator: A communication device connected between phone line and computer that allows the computer to talk to other computers. MPEG Moving Picture Experts Group: An audio and video compression standard used in applications that require extensive bandwidth (e.g., videoconferencing).
nearline A term that refers to the storage of assets offline, but available in a relatively short time when requested for online use. Network Any time you connect two or more computers together so that they can share resources, you have a computer network. Connect two or more networks together and you have an internet.
object-oriented art A type of drawing that defines an image mathematically rather than as pixels in a bitmap. object-oriented database model A database model in which data attributes and methods that operate on those attributes are encapsulated in structures called objects. ODBC Open DataBase Connectivity: A de facto standard programming interface developed by Microsoft for accessing database data. Because it is a standard applied across DBMS and applications, theoretically, communications between different platforms and DBMSs are transparent using this interface. In fact, some special considerations apply. offline Not connected to a network or computer. online Connected to a network or computer.
palette The number of colors on screen is not necessarily the same as its palette. The palette is used in the same sense as a painter’s palette; it holds all the colors that can be used, from which the ones that actually are used are chosen. A given video card might, for example, allow you to display 256 colors at a time from a palette of 32,768. parse To resolve into components and describe separately. PDF Portable Document File: A file format (usually associated with Adobe Acrobat) that describes documents containing any combination of text, images, and/or graphics in a device-independent and resolution-independent format. PostScript A page description programming language designed to convey a description of virtually any desired page to a printer. protocol Language(s) computers use to communicate with other computers, printers, modems, etc. (TCP/IP, PPP, SLIP, HTTP)
query A question you ask about the data in a database.
RAM Random Access Memory: The memory a computer needs to store the information it is processing at any given time. It is short-term memory and is lost when the power is shut off. See also: ROM. RDBMS Relational DataBase Management System: A system that manages data as a collection of tables in which all data relationships are represented by common values in related tables. The tables are largely independent of each other; data in one table can be modified, deleted, or edited without affecting data in other tables. See also: relation. real-time No lag time, no processing time. The ability of a computer to process data so fast that the user perceives no delay between initiating a task and seeing the result. record A representation of some physical or conceptual object or entity. A record contains all of the data that describes one particular object or entity in the database. register Fitting two or more printing images in exact alignment with each other. relation A named, two-dimensional array of rows and columns (i.e., table of data). Each relation consists of a set of named columns and an arbitrary number of unnamed rows. Each cell in the array can have only one value (single-valued) and no two rows may be identical. See also: table, view, RDBMS. repository, digital A central location (virtual or physical) to store all ´content´ or ´assets´ owned by an organization, including text, still images, audio, and video. rip Abbreviation for Raster Image Processor: The part of an output device which rasterizes data to put on film or paper ROM Read Only Memory: Computer memory that contains special-purpose information (as a program) which cannot be altered. See also: RAM runsheet A holding place for files that are waiting for the output process.
scalability A DBMS that runs on platforms of multiple classes of machines (mini, mainframe, computer) is said to be scaleable. server A computer, workstation, or software application that “serves” stored data and files or processing power to other machines (clients) on a network. This part of the DBMS reads, interprets, and executes commands coming from the clients and translates them into database operations. SQL is the most common data sublanguage today. See also: file server, SQL SGML Standard Generalized Markup Language: An ISO standard document definition, specification, and creation mechanism that makes platform and display differences across multiple computers irrelevant to the delivery and rendering of documents. See also: HTML. SQL Structured Query Language: A specialized programming language for sending queries to databases. Most industrial-strength and many smaller database applications can be addressed using SQL. Each specific application will have its own version of SQL implementing features unique to that application, but all SQL-capable databases support a common subset of SQL.
T1 A high-speed network link that transmits data at 1.5 Mbps (1,544,000 bits). The T1 designation refers to the signaling speed rather than the medium of the network (copper, fiber). At maximum theoretical capacity, a T1 line could move a megabyte in less than 10 seconds. That is still not fast enough for full-screen, full-motion video, for which you need at least 10,000,000 bits per second. A T2 is a bundle of four T1s giving 6 Mbps, used mainly by cellular phone companies. A T3 is faster than either a T1 or a T2 line, transmitting data at 45 Mbps (44,736,000 bits); this is more than enough to do full-screen, full-motion video. table The data and relationships between the data are organized in tables. A table is a collection of records and each record in a table contains the same fields. Sometimes the term “relation” is used instead. See also: relation, view, RDBMS. TCP/IP Transmission ProtoCol/Internet Protocol: A group of communication protocols underlying Internet transmissions. It is also used for many communication architectures internal to organizations. Software originally designed for the UNIX operating system but now available for every major OS.
upload To transfer a file from storage media or a computer to another computer, a server, or onto the Net. URL Universal Resource Locator: The standard way to give the address of any resource on the Internet that is part of the World Wide Web (WWW).
view 1. A subset of a database.
WAN Wide Area Network: Any internet or network that covers an area larger than a single building or campus. wyniwyg “What You Need Is What You Get” if your database management system includes adequate workflow engineering. wysiwyg pronounced "wizzy-wig" stands for “What You See Is What You Get” and refers to whether or not what you see on the screen will be the same as what you see on the printed copy. |
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