A Gathering Place: Microsoft Glossary of Terms 54

~T~

T1 ~ ToggleKeys

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

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or T-1 n. A T-carrier that can handle 1.544 Mbps or 24 voice channels. Although originally designed by AT&T to carry voice calls, this high-bandwidth telephone line can also transmit text and images. T1 lines are commonly used by larger organizations for Internet connectivity. See also T-carrier. Compare fractional T1, T2, T3, T4.

T.120 standard

n. A family of International Telecommunications Union (ITU) specifications for multipoint data communications services within computer applications, such as conferencing and multipoint file transfer.

or T-2 n. A T-carrier that can handle 6.312 Mbps or 96 voice channels. See also T-carrier. Compare T1, T3, T4.

or T-3 n. A T-carrier that can handle 44.736 Mbps or 672 voice channels. See also T-carrier. Compare T1, T2, T4.

or T-4 n. A T-carrier that can handle 274.176 Mbps or 4032 voice channels. See also T-carrier. Compare T1, T2, T3.

tab character

n. A character used to align lines and columns on screen and in print. Although a tab is visually indistinguishable from a series of blank spaces in most programs, the tab character and the space character are different to a computer. A tab is a single character and therefore can be added, deleted, or overtyped with a single keystroke. The ASCII coding scheme includes two codes for tab characters: a horizontal tab for spacing across the screen or page and a vertical tab for spacing down the screen or page. See also Tab key.

Tab key

n. A key, often labeled with both a left-pointing and a right-pointing arrow, that traditionally (as in word processing) is used to insert tab characters into a document. In other applications, such as menu-driven programs, the Tab key is often used to move the on-screen highlight from place to place. Many database and spreadsheet programs allow the user to press the Tab key to move around within a record or between cells. The word tab is short for "tabulator," which was the name given to this key on typewriters, where it was used in creating tables. See also tab character.

tag

n. 1. In programming, one or more characters containing information about a file, record type, or other structure. 2. In certain types of data files, a key or an address that identifies a record and its storage location in another file. See also tag sort. 3. In markup languages such as SGML and HTML, a code that identifies an element in a document, such as a heading or a paragraph, for the purposes of formatting, indexing, and linking information in the document. In both SGML and HTML, a tag is generally a pair of angle brackets that contain one or more letters and numbers. Usually one pair of angle brackets is placed before an element, and another pair is placed after, to indicate where the element begins and ends. For example, in HTML, hello world indicates that the phrase "hello world" should be italicized. See also <>, element, emotag, HTML, SGML.

talker

n. An Internet-based synchronous communication mechanism most commonly used to support multiuser chat functions. Such systems typically provide specific commands for movement through separate rooms, or chat areas, and allow users to communicate with other users in real time through text messages, indicate simple gestures, use a bulletin board system (BBS) for posting comments, and send internal e-mail. See also BBS (definition 1), chat1 (definition 1).

talk. newsgroups

n. Usenet newsgroups that are part of the talk. hierarchy and have the prefix talk. as part of their names. These newsgroups are devoted to debate and discussion of controversial topics. Talk. newsgroups are one of the seven original Usenet newsgroup hierarchies. The other six are comp. misc., news., rec., sci., and soc. See also newsgroup, traditional newsgroup hierarchy, Usenet.

TANSTAAFL

Acronym for "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch." An expression used on the Internet in e-mail, chat sessions, mailing lists, newsgroups, and other online forums. See also chat1 (definition 1), e-mail1 (definition 1), mailing list, newsgroup.

tap

n. A device that can be attached to an Ethernet bus to enable a computer to be connected.

tape

n. 1. A thin strip of polyester film coated with magnetic material that permits the recording of data. Because tape is a continuous length of data storage material and because the read/write head cannot "jump" to a desired point on the tape without the tape first being advanced to that point, tape must be read or written sequentially, not randomly (as can be done on a floppy disk or a hard disk). 2. A storage medium consisting of a thin strip of paper used to store information in the form of sequences of punched holes, chemical impregnation, or magnetic ink imprinting.

tape drive

n. A device for reading and writing tapes. See also tape (definition 1).

TAPI

n. Acronym for Telephony Application Programming Interface. In the Windows Open Systems Architecture (WOSA), a programming interface that gives Windows client applications access to a server's voice services. TAPI facilitates interoperability between personal computers and telephone equipment. Also called Telephony API. See also application programming interface, WOSA. Compare TSAPI.

target

n. Loosely, the objective of a computer command or operation. Examples are a computer that is to run a program translated for its use, a "foreign" language (for another computer) into which a program is to be translated, or a group of people for whom a particular product is designed. In MS-DOS usage, the target is often the disk referred to by prompts in a copy operation (for example, "insert target diskette"). In terms of the SCSI (small computer system interface) connection, the target is the device that receives commands. See also SCSI, target computer, target disk, target language.

task

n. A stand-alone application or a subprogram that is run as an independent entity.

taskbar

n. A graphic toolbar used in Windows 95 to select, via the mouse, one of a number of active applications. See also task button, toolbar.

task button

n. In Windows 95, a button that appears on the taskbar on the screen when an application is run. By clicking on the button, the user can switch from another application to the application corresponding to the button. See also taskbar.

T-carrier

n. A long-distance, digital communications line provided by a common carrier. Multiplexers at either end merge several voice channels and digital data streams for transmission and separate them when received. T-carrier service, introduced by AT&T in 1993, is defined at several capacity levels: T1, T2, T3, T4. In addition to voice communication, T-carriers are used for Internet connectivity. See also T1, T2, T3, T4.

TCP

n. Acronym for Transmission Control Protocol. The protocol within TCP/IP that governs the breakup of data messages into packets to be sent via IP, and the reassembly and verification of the complete messages from packets received by IP. TCP corresponds to the transport layer in the ISO/OSI model. See also ISO/OSI model, packet, TCP/IP. Compare IP.

TCP/IP

n. Acronym for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. A protocol developed by the Department of Defense for communications between computers. It is built into the UNIX system and has become the de facto standard for data transmission over networks, including the Internet.

TCP/IP stack

n. The set of TCP/IP protocols. See also protocol stack, TCP/IP.

technical author

n. See tech writer.

technology

n. The application of science and engineering to the development of machines and procedures in order to enhance or improve human conditions, or at least to improve human efficiency in some respect. See also high tech.

technophile

n. One who is enthusiastic about emerging technology. Compare computerphile.

tech writer

n. Short for technical writer. One who writes the documentation material for a hardware or software product. Also called technical author. See also documentation.

telco

n. Short for telephone company. A term generally used in reference to a telephone company's provision of Internet services.

telecommunications

n. The transmission and reception of information of any type, including data, television pictures, sound, and facsimiles, using electrical or optical signals sent over wires or fibers or through the air.

telecommute

vb. To work in one location (often at home) and communicate with a main office at a different location through a personal computer equipped with a modem and communications software.

teleconferencing

n. The use of audio, video, or computer equipment linked through a communications system to enable geographically separated individuals to participate in a meeting or discussion. See also video conferencing.

telephony

n. Telephone technology; the conversion of sound into electrical signals, its transmission to another location, and its reconversion to sound, with or without the use of connecting wires.

telephony device

n. A mechanism designed to translate sound into electrical signals, transmit them, and then convert them back to sound.

telnet1

n. A client program that implements the Telnet protocol.

telnet2

vb. To access a remote computer over the Internet using the Telnet protocol. See also telnet1.

Telnet

n. A protocol that enables an Internet user to log on to and enter commands on a remote computer linked to the Internet, as if the user were using a text-based terminal directly attached to that computer. Telnet is part of the TCP/IP suite of protocols.

temp file

n. See temporary file.

template

n. 1. In an application package, an overlay for the keyboard that idenitfies special keys and key combinations. 2. In image processing, a pattern that can be used to identify or match a scanned image. 3. In spreadsheet programs, a predesigned spreadsheet that contains formulas, labels, and other elements. 4. In MS-DOS, a small portion of memory that holds the most recently typed MS-DOS command. 5. In word processing and desktop publishing programs, a predesigned document that contains formatting and, in many cases, generic text.

temporary file

n. A file created either in memory or on disk, by the operating system or some other program, to be used during a session and then discarded. Also called temp file. See also scratch1.

tera-

prefix A prefix meaning 1012: 1 trillion in the American numbering system, 1 million million in British numbering. Abbreviated T. See also terabyte.

terabyte

n. A measurement used for high-capacity data storage. One terabyte equals 240, or 1,099,511,627,776, bytes, although it is commonly interpreted as simply one trillion bytes. Abbreviated TB.

terminal

n. 1. A device consisting of a video adapter, a monitor, and a keyboard. The adapter and monitor and, sometimes, the keyboard are usually combined in one unit. A terminal does little or no computer processing on its own; instead, it is connected to a computer with a communications link over a cable. Terminals are used primarily in multiuser systems and today are not often found on single-user personal computers. See also dumb terminal, smart terminal, terminal emulation. 2. In electronics, a point that can be physically linked to something else, usually by a wire, to form an electrical connection.

terminal emulation

n. The imitation of a terminal by using software that conforms to a standard, such as the ANSI standard for terminal emulation. Terminal-emulation software is used to make a microcomputer act as if it were a particular type of terminal while it is communicating with another computer, such as a mainframe. See also VT-52, VT-100, VT-200.

terminal server

n. In a local area network, a computer or controller that allows terminals, microcomputers, and other devices to connect to a network or host computer or to devices attached to that computer. See also controller, LAN, microcomputer, terminal.

terminate

vb. 1. With reference to software, to end a process or program. Abnormal termination occurs in response to user intervention or because of a hardware or software error. 2. With reference to hardware, to install a plug, jack, or other connector at the end of a wire or cable.

terminate-and-stay-resident program

n. See TSR.

terminator

n. 1. A character that indicates the end of a string, such as the null character in an ASCIIZ string. See also ASCII, ASCIIZ string. 2. An item of hardware that must be installed in the last device in a daisy chain or bus network, such as Ethernet or SCSI. See also terminator cap.

terminator cap

n. A special connector that must be attached to each end of an Ethernet bus. If one or both terminator caps are missing, the Ethernet network will not work.

test

vb. To check program correctness by trying out various sequences and input values. See also debug, test data.

text

n. 1. Data that consists of characters representing the words and symbols of human speech; usually, characters coded according to the ASCII standard, which assigns numeric values to numbers, letters, and certain symbols. 2. In word processing and desktop publishing, the main portion of a document, as opposed to headlines, tables, figures, footnotes, and other elements.

text box

n. In a dialog box or HTML form, a box in which the user may enter text.

text editor

n. See editor.

text file

n. A file composed of text characters. A text file can be a word-processing file or a "plain" ASCII file encoded in a format practically all computers can use. See also ASCII file, text (definition 1).

text mode

n. A display mode in which the monitor can display letters, numbers, and other text characters but no graphical images or WYSIWYG ("what-you-see-is-what-you-get") character formatting (italics, superscript, and so on). Also called alphanumeric mode, character mode. Compare graphics mode.

text-only file

n. See ASCII file.

TGA

n. 1. Short for Targa. A raster graphics file format from Truevision, Inc., that handles 16-, 24-, and 32-bit color. See also 16-bit color, 24-bit color, 32-bit color, raster graphics, video graphics board. 2. The brand name of a series of high-resolution video graphics boards.

The Microsoft Network

n. Microsoft Corporation's feature-rich online service, launched with the introduction of Windows 95 in August 1995. Acronym: MSN.

The World--Public Access UNIX

n. One of the oldest public access Internet service providers, based in Boston. In 1990, The World began offering full dial-up Internet access to the public. Other services include World Wide Web access, Usenet, SLIP/PPP support, telnet, FTP, IRC, Gopher, and e-mail. In 1995, The World began supporting local dial-up access via UUNET. See also ISP.

thin client

n. In a client/server architecture, a client computer that performs little or no data processing. The processing is instead performed by the server. See also client/server architecture, fat server, thin server. Compare fat client.

thin server

n. A client/server architecture in which most of an application is run on the client machine, which is called a fat client, with occasional data operations on a remote server. Such a configuration yields good client performance, but complicates administrative tasks, such as software upgrades. See also client/server architecture, fat client, thin client. Compare fat server.

third party

n. A company that manufactures and sells accessories or peripherals for use with a major manufacturer's computer or peripheral, usually without any involvement from the major manufacturer. thrashing

n. The state of a virtual memory system that is spending almost all its time swapping pages in and out of memory rather than executing applications. See also swap (definition 2), virtual memory.

threaded discussion

n. In a newsgroup or other online forum, a series of messages or articles in which replies to an article are nested directly under it, instead of the articles being arranged in chronological or alphabetical order. See also newsgroup, thread (definition 3).

threaded newsreader

n. A newsreader that displays posts in newsgroups as threads. Replies to a post appear directly after the original post, rather than in chronological or any other order. See also newsreader, post, thread (definition 3).

three-tier client/server

n. A client/server architecture in which software systems are structured into three tiers or layers: the user interface layer, the business logic layer, and the database layer. Layers may have one or more components. For example, there can be one or more user interfaces in the top tier, each user interface may communicate with more than one application in the middle tier at the same time, and the applications in the middle tier may use more than one database at a time. Components in a tier may run on a computer that is separate from the other tiers, communicating with the other components over a network. See also client/server architecture. Compare two-tier client/server.

throttle control

n. A device that enables the user of a flight simulator or game to control simulated engine power. The throttle control is used along with a joystick (which controls the simulated ailerons and elevators) and possibly a rudder control.

throughput

n. A measure of the data transfer rate through a typically complex communications system or of the data processing rate in a computer system.

TIFF

or TIF n. Acronym for Tagged Image File Format or Tag Image File Format. A standard file format commonly used for scanning, storage, and interchange of gray-scale graphic images. TIFF may be the only format available for older programs (such as older versions of MacPaint), but most modern programs are able to save images in a variety of other formats, such as GIF or JPEG. See also gray scale. Compare GIF, JPEG.

time and date

n. In computing, the timekeeping and datekeeping functions maintained by the computer's operating system, used most visibly as a means of "stamping" files with the date and time of creation or last revision.

time out

or timeout or time-out n. An event that indicates that a predetermined amount of time has elapsed without some other expected event taking place. The time-out event is used to interrupt the process that had been waiting for the other expected event. For example, a dial-up remote system might allow the user 60 seconds to log in after making a connection. If the user fails to enter a valid login name and password within this time, the computer breaks the connection, thus protecting itself against crackers as well as freeing a phone line that may have gone dead.

TLA

n. Acronym for three-letter acronym. An ironic term, usually used in jest on the Internet in e-mail, newsgroups, and other online forums, referring to the large number of acronyms in computer terminology, particularly those consisting of three letters.

toggle2

vb. To switch back and forth between two states. For example, the Num Lock key on an IBM-style keyboard toggles the numeric keypad between numbers and cursor movement.

ToggleKeys

n. A feature of Windows 95 that sounds high and low beeps when one of the toggle keys (Caps Lock, Num Lock, or Scroll Lock) is turned on or off. See also typematic. Compare BounceKeys, FilterKeys, MouseKeys, ShowSounds, SoundSentry, StickyKeys, ToggleKeys.

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