COMPAIS: a computer assisted information system

Abstract

A computerized online interactive information storage and retrieval system that supports automation of library operations such as circulation control, serials control, docu ments acquisition, SDI, and production of union catalogues and authority lists, is briefly described. The data base con sists of a Master File (MF) of resource records, Encoding and Decoding Dictionaries, and Inverted Files. The MF consists of four subfiles: Document descriptions, Institution profiles, Ongoing research projects descriptions, and Specialists pro files. Fixed and variable fields are used. Similar data elements in different subfiles are assigned the same tag. Updating of files includes addition/deletion of whole records, addition/ deletion of fields, and changing the value of a field. Simul taneous access to one or more files and subfiles. Handles complex search expressions containing one or more Boolean operators and other relations. All data elements in the MF are accessible; frequently searched elements are inverted. Accepts input query with or without specification of field tag. A spe cial coding scheme for national and international organiza tions facilitates standardization of names of corporate bodies and hierarchical retrieval by code components. Choice from among four output/display formats for each subfile provided for. The action programs are in COBOL and the IMS/9Ø soft ware package interfaces with the UNIVAC computer on which the system is implemented.