CON-through-copy
A/B Switch box ~ America On-line AMI BIOS ~ Arithmetic Operation ARP ~ AVI Backbone ~ Bit Image Bit Map ~ Boot Disk Boot Drive ~ Bytes Per Inch C++ ~ Carrier Frequency carrier system ~ certification CGI ~ Chooser extension cipher ~ Clipper Chip clock ~ color color bits ~ communications satellite communications server ~ computer security CON ~ copy copy program ~ cycle time daemon ~ defragmentation demand paging ~ digitize DikuMUD ~ disk disk buffer ~ Document Style Semantics and Specification Language document window ~ dynamic Web page Easter egg ~ erase erase head ~ ezine F2F ~ finger2 firewall ~ font suitcase footer ~ FYI Game Control Adapter ~ GUI HAL ~ hot key1 hot key2 ~ Hz i486DX ~ internal modem internet ~ ISO 9660 ISO/OSI model ~ just-in-time K1 ~ knowledge base L1 cache ~ LU luggable computer ~ LZW compression MAC ~ MILNET mime ~ msec MTBF ~ MYOB named anchor ~ network drive Network File System ~ number crunching object ~ overwrite mode P5 ~ PC/XT keyboard PDA ~ pipeline processing piracy ~ preventive maintenance preview ~ pwd quasi-language ~ QWERTY keyboard R&D ~ registration marks Registry ~ RFI RF shielding ~ run-time library SAA ~ server error server push-pull ~ soft return software ~ style sheet stylus ~ System T1 ~ ToggleKeys token ~ typography UART ~ uupc V.120 ~ view2 viewer ~ VxD w3 ~ WinG WINS ~ WWW X.25 ~ X Windows Yahoo! ~ yotta- Z39.50 standard ~ Zulu time
CON
n. The logical device name for console; reserved by the MS-DOS operating system for the keyboard and the screen. The input-only keyboard and the output-only screen together make up the console and represent the primary sources of input and output in an MS-DOS computer system.
concurrent
adj. Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a computer operation in which two or more processes (programs) have access to the microprocessor's time and are therefore carried out nearly simultaneously. Because a microprocessor can work with much smaller units of time than people can perceive, concurrent processes appear to be occurring simultaneously but in reality are not.
concurrent execution
n. The apparently simultaneous execution of two or more routines or programs. Concurrent execution can be accomplished on a single process or by using time- sharing techniques, such as dividing programs into different tasks or threads of execution, or by using multiple processors. Also called parallel execution. See also parallel algorithm, processor, sequential execution, task, thread (definition 1), time-sharing.
condensed
adj. Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a font style, supported in some applications, that reduces the width of each character and then sets the characters closer together than their normal spacing. Many dot-matrix printers have a feature that causes the printer to reduce the width of each character and print them closer together, resulting in more characters fitting on a single line. Compare expanded.
CONFIG.SYS
n. A special text file that controls certain aspects of operating-system behavior in MS-DOS and OS/2. Commands in the CONFIG.SYS file enable or disable system features, set limits on resources (for example, the maximum number of open files), and extend the operating system by loading device drivers that control hardware specific to an individual computer system.
configuration
n. 1. In reference to a single microcomputer, the sum of a system's internal and external components, including memory, disk drives, keyboard, video, and generally less critical add-on hardware, such as a mouse, modem, or printer. Software (the operating system and various device drivers), the user's choices established through configuration files such as the AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files on IBM PCs and compatibles, and sometimes hardware (switches and jumpers) are needed to "configure the configuration" to work correctly. Although system configuration can be changed, as by adding more memory or disk capacity, the basic structure of the system--its architecture--remains the same. See also AUTOEXEC.BAT, CONFIG.SYS. 2. In relation to networks, the entire interconnected set of hardware, or the way in which a network is laid out--the manner in which elements are connected.
configuration file
n. A file that contains machine-readable operating specifications for a piece of hardware or software or that contains information on another file or on a specific user, such as the user's logon ID.
connect charge
n. The amount of money a user must pay for connecting to a commercial communications system or service. Some services calculate the connect charge as a flat rate per billing period. Others charge a varying rate based on the type of service or the amount of information being accessed. Still others base their charges on the number of time units used, the time or distance involved per connection, the bandwidth of each connected session, or some combination of the preceding criteria. See also connect time.
connection
n. A physical link via wire, radio, fiber-optic cable, or other medium between two or more communications devices.
connectionless
adj. In communications, of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a method of data transmission that does not require a direct connection between two nodes on one or more networks. Connectionless communication is achieved by passing, or routing, data packets, each of which contains a source and destination address, through the nodes until the destination is reached. See also node (definition 2), packet (definition 2). Compare connection-oriented.
connection-oriented
adj. In communications, of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a method of data transmission that requires a direct connection between two nodes on one or more networks. Compare connectionless.
connectivity
n. 1. The nature of the connection between a user's computer and another computer, such as a server or a host computer on the Internet or a network. This may describe the quality of the circuit or telephone line, the degree of freedom from noise, or the bandwidth of the communications devices. 2. The ability of hardware devices or software packages to transmit data between other devices or packages. 3. The ability of hardware devices, software packages, or a computer itself to work with network devices or with other hardware devices, software packages, or a computer over a network connection.
connectoid
n. In Windows 95 and Windows NT, an icon representing a dial-up networking connection that will also execute a script for logging onto the network dialed.
connector
n. 1. In hardware, a coupler used to join cables or to join a cable to a device (for example, an RS-232-C connector used to join a modem cable to a computer). Most connector types are available in one of two genders--male or female. A male connector is characterized by one or more exposed pins; a female connector is characterized by one or more receptacles designed to accept the pins on the male connector. See also DB connector, DIN connector. 2. In programming, a circular symbol used in a flowchart to indicate a break, as to another page.
connect time
n. The amount of time during which a user is actively connected to a remote computer. On commercial systems, the connect time is one means of calculating how much money the user must pay for using the system. See also connect charge.
console
n. A control unit, such as a terminal, through which a user communicates with a computer. In microcomputers, the console is the cabinet that houses the main components and controls of the system, sometimes including the screen, the keyboard, or both. With the MS-DOS operating system, the console is the primary input (keyboard) and primary output (screen) device, as evidenced by the device name CON. See also CON, system console.
consultant
n. A computer professional who deals with client firms as an independent contractor rather than as an employee. Consultants are often engaged to analyze user needs and develop system specifications.
container
n. 1. In OLE terminology, a file containing linked or embedded objects. See also OLE. 2. In SGML, an element that has content as opposed to one consisting solely of the tag name and attributes. See also element (definition 2), SGML, tag (definition 3).
content
n. 1. The data that appears between the starting and ending tags of an element in an SGML or HTML document. The content of an element may consist of plain text or other elements. See also element (definition 2), HTML, SGML, tag (definition 3). 2. The message body of a newsgroup article or e-mail message.
contention
n. On a network, competition among stations for the opportunity to use a communications line or network resource. In one sense, contention applies to a situation in which two or more devices attempt to transmit at the same time, thus causing a collision on the line. In a somewhat different sense, contention also applies to a free-for-all method of controlling access to a communications line, in which the right to transmit is awarded to the station that wins control of the line. See also CSMA/CD. Compare token passing.
context-sensitive help
n. A form of assistance in which a program that provides on-screen help shows information to the user concerning the current command or operation being attempted.
context-sensitive menu
n. A menu that highlights options as available or unavailable depending on the context in which the option is called. The menus on Windows' menu bar, for example, are context sensitive; options such as "copy" are grayed out if nothing is selected.
context switching
n. A type of multitasking; the act of turning the central processor's "attention" from one task to another, rather than allocating increments of time to each task in turn. See also multitasking, time slice.
contextual search
n. A search operation in which the user can direct a program to search specified files for a particular set of text characters.
contiguous
adj. Having a shared boundary; being immediately adjacent. For example, contiguous sectors on a disk are data-storage segments physically located next to one another.
contiguous data structure
n. A data structure, such as an array, that is stored in a consecutive set of memory locations. See also data structure. Compare noncontiguous data structure.
continuous carrier
n. In communications, a carrier signal that remains on throughout the transmission, whether or not it is carrying information.
continuous processing
n. The processing of transactions as they are input to the system. Compare batch processing (definition 3).
contrast
n. 1. The degree of difference between light and dark extremes of color on a monitor or on printed output. 2. The control knob by which the contrast of a monitor is changed.
control
n. 1. Management of a computer and its processing abilities so as to maintain order as tasks and activities are carried out. Control applies to measures designed to ensure error-free actions carried out at the right time and in the right order relative to other data-handling or hardware-based activities. In reference to hardware, control of system operations can reside in a data pathway called a control bus. In reference to software, control refers to program instructions that manage data-handling tasks. 2. In a graphical user interface, an object on the screen that can be manipulated by the user to perform an action. The most common controls are buttons, which allow the user to select options, and scroll bars, which allow the user to move through a document or position text in a window.
control bus
n. The set of lines (conductors) within a computer that carry control signals between the central processing unit (CPU) and other devices. For example, a control bus line is used to indicate whether the CPU is attempting to read from memory or to write to it; another control bus line is used by memory to request an interrupt in case of a memory error.
control character
n. 1. Any of the first 32 characters in the ASCII character set (0 through 31 in decimal representation), each of which is defined as having a standard control function, such as carriage return, linefeed, or backspace. 2. Any of the 26 characters Control-A through Control-Z (1 through 26 in decimal representation) that can be typed at the keyboard by holding the Control key down and typing the appropriate letter. The six remaining characters with control functions, such as Escape (ASCII 27), cannot be typed using the Control key. Compare control code.
control code
n. One or more nonprinting characters used by a computer program to control the actions of a device, used in printing, communications, and management of display screens. Control codes are mainly employed by programmers or by users to control a printer when an application program does not support the printer or one of its specialized features. In video, control codes are sent from a computer to a display unit to manipulate the appearance of text or a cursor on the screen. Popular video control code sets are ANSI and VT-100. Also called escape sequence, setup string. See also control character.
Control key
n. A key that, when pressed in combination with another key, gives the other key an alternative meaning. In many application programs, Control (labeled CTRL or Ctrl on a PC keyboard) plus another key is used as a command for special functions. See also control character (definition 2).
controller
n. A device on which other devices rely for access to a computer subsystem. A disk controller, for example, controls access to one or more disk drives, managing physical and logical access to the drive or drives.
control panel
n. In Windows and Macintosh systems, a utility that allows the user to control aspects of the operating system or hardware, such as system time and date, keyboard characteristics, and networking parameters.
control unit
n. A device or circuit that performs an arbitrating or regulating function. For example, a memory controller chip controls access to a computer's memory and is the control unit for that memory.
conventional memory
n. The amount of RAM addressable by an IBM PC or compatible machine operating in real mode. This is typically 640 kilobytes (KB). Without the use of special techniques, conventional memory is the only kind of RAM accessible to MS-DOS programs. See also protected mode, real mode. Compare expanded memory, extended memory.
converter
n. Any device that changes electrical signals or computer data from one form to another. For example, an analog-to-digital converter translates analog signals to digital signals.
cookbook1
adj. Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a book or manual that presents information using a step-by-step approach. For example, a cookbook approach to programming might present a series of sample programs that the reader could analyze and adapt to his or her own needs.
cookbook2
n. A computer book or manual that presents information using a step-by-step approach. Most often, cookbook refers to a programming guide, but it can refer to a book that shows how to accomplish specialized tasks in an application.
cookie
n. 1. A block of data that a server returns to a client in response to a request from the client. 2. On the World Wide Web, a block of data that a Web server stores on a client system. When a user returns to the same Web site, the browser sends a copy of the cookie back to the server. Cookies are used to identify users, to instruct the server to send a customized version of the requested Web page, to submit account information for the user, and for other administrative purposes. 3. Originally an allusion to "fortune cookie," a UNIX program that outputs a different message, or "fortune," each time it is used. On some systems, the cookie program is run during user logon.
cookie filtering tool
n. A utility that prevents a cookie on a Web browser from relaying information about the user requesting access to a Web site. See also cookie (definition 2).
cooperative multitasking
n. A type of multitasking in which one or more background tasks are given processing time during idle times in the foreground task only if the foreground task allows it. This is the primary mode of multitasking in the Macintosh operating system. See also background1, context switching, foreground 1, multitasking, time slice. Compare preemptive multitasking.
cooperative processing
n. A mode of operation characteristic of distributed systems in which two or more computers, such as a mainframe and a microcomputer, can simultaneously carry out portions of the same program or work on the same data. Compare distributed processing.
coprocessor
n. A processor, distinct from the main microprocessor, that performs additional functions or assists the main microprocessor. The most common type of coprocessor is the floating-point coprocessor, also called a numeric or math coprocessor, which is designed to perform numeric calculations faster and better than the general-purpose microprocessors used in personal computers. See also floating-point processor.
copy
vb. To duplicate information and reproduce it in another part of a document, in a different file or memory location, or in a different medium. A copy operation can affect data ranging from a single character to large segments of text, a graphics image, or one to many data files. Text and graphics, for example, can be copied to another part of a document, to the computer's memory (by means of a temporary storage facility such as the Microsoft Windows or Apple Macintosh Clipboard), or to a different file. Similarly, files can be copied from one disk or directory to another, and data can be copied from the screen to a printer or to a data file. In most cases, a copy procedure leaves the original information in place. Compare cut and paste, move.
A/B Switch box ~ America On-line AMI BIOS ~ Arithmetic Operation ARP ~ AVI Backbone ~ Bit Image Bit Map ~ Boot Disk Boot Drive ~ Bytes Per Inch C++ ~ Carrier Frequency carrier system ~ certification CGI ~ Chooser extension cipher ~ Clipper Chip clock ~ color color bits ~ communications satellite communications server ~ computer security CON ~ copy copy program ~ cycle time daemon ~ defragmentation demand paging ~ digitize DikuMUD ~ disk disk buffer ~ Document Style Semantics and Specification Language document window ~ dynamic Web page Easter egg ~ erase erase head ~ ezine F2F ~ finger2 firewall ~ font suitcase footer ~ FYI Game Control Adapter ~ GUI HAL ~ hot key1 hot key2 ~ Hz i486DX ~ internal modem internet ~ ISO 9660 ISO/OSI model ~ just-in-time K1 ~ knowledge base L1 cache ~ LU luggable computer ~ LZW compression MAC ~ MILNET mime ~ msec MTBF ~ MYOB named anchor ~ network drive Network File System ~ number crunching object ~ overwrite mode P5 ~ PC/XT keyboard PDA ~ pipeline processing piracy ~ preventive maintenance preview ~ pwd quasi-language ~ QWERTY keyboard R&D ~ registration marks Registry ~ RFI RF shielding ~ run-time library SAA ~ server error server push-pull ~ soft return software ~ style sheet stylus ~ System T1 ~ ToggleKeys token ~ typography UART ~ uupc V.120 ~ view2 viewer ~ VxD w3 ~ WinG WINS ~ WWW X.25 ~ X Windows Yahoo! ~ yotta- Z39.50 standard ~ Zulu time