Skip to main content

Software  > Globalization > Terminology > 

IBM Terminology


A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #


Please send any feedback about the terms and definitions on this site to terms@ca.ibm.com

C
 
 C++
An enhancement of the C language that adds features supporting object-oriented programming.
 C2
A level of security defined in the Trusted Computer System Evaluation Criteria (TCSEC) published by the United States Government. To meet C2 requirements, a system must perform discretionary access control, authentication and verification, object reuse protection, and auditing of security-relevant events.
 C2A
See Click-to-Action.
 C/370
A programming language designed for a wide range of system and commercial applications.
 C/370 common anchor area (C-CAA)
A common anchor area (CAA), specific to the C/370, in the runtime environment.
 CA
(1) See channel adapter.
(2) See control area.
(3) See change accumulation.
(4) See certificate authority.
 CAA
See common anchor area.
 cable path
A series of cables connected in sequence.
 cable segment
A section of cable between components or devices on a network. A segment may consist of a single patch cable, multiple patch cables that are connected to one another, or a combination of building cable and patch cables that are connected to one another.
 cable-through
Pertaining to a function or feature of a display station that allows multiple work stations to be attached to one cable path.
 CA certificate
See certificate authority certificate.
 cache
(1) A special-purpose buffer storage, smaller and faster than main storage, used to hold a copy of instructions and data obtained from main storage and likely to be needed next by the processor.
(2) A buffer that contains frequently accessed instructions and data; it is used to reduce access time.
(3) Memory used to improve access times to instructions, data, or both. Data that resides in cache memory is normally a copy of data that resides elsewhere in slower, less expensive storage, such as on a disk or on another network node.
(4) To place, hide, or store frequently used information locally for quick retrieval.
 cache fast write
A storage control capability in which data is written directly to cache without using nonvolatile storage. Cache fast write is useful for temporary data or data that is readily re-created. See also DASD fast write.
 cache hit
An event that satisfies a read operation by retrieving data from cache instead of retrieving it from the intended storage or a lower level of cache. See also cache miss.
 cache instance resource
A location where any Java Platform, Enterprise Edition (Java EE) application can store, distribute, and share data.
 cache line
A record that contains relevant information about the user data that is currently in the subsystem cache memory. Examples of this information include the current state of the data and the intended location of the data on one or more disks.
 cache miss
An event that satisfies a read operation by retrieving data from the intended storage or a lower level of cache because the requested data is not available in the only level or a higher level of cache. See also cache hit.
 cache replication
The sharing of cache IDs, cache entries, and cache invalidations with other servers in the same replication domain.
 cache set
A storage-class parameter, defined in the base configuration information, that maps a logical name to cache structure names in a coupling facility (CF).
 cache structure
A coupling facility structure that stores data that can be available to all members of a Sysplex. A DB2 data sharing group uses cache structures as group buffer pools. See also group buffer pool.
 cache table
In a federated system, a logical table object that is used to cache data from a data source table. A cache table comprises a nickname that identifies the data source table, one or more materialized query tables, and a schedule for replicating the data in each materialized query table.
 cache timeout
The length of time that is allowed to pass before the cache is updated.
 caching
The process of storing frequently used results from a request to memory for quick retrieval, until it is time to refresh the information. The DB2 database manager provides many forms of caching, such as directory caching, package caching, file system caching, and LDAP caching.
 caching proxy server
A proxy server that stores the documents that it retrieves from other servers in a local cache. The caching proxy server can then respond to subsequent requests for these documents without retrieving them from the other servers. This can improve response time.
 cadence
The modulated and rhythmic recurrence of an audio signal. For example, a series of beeps or a series of rings.
 CAF
See call attachment facility.
 CA key
See command attention key.
 calculation code
A code associated with order items, catalog entries, or catalog groups to specify how discounts, shipping charges, sales or use taxes, and shipping taxes should be calculated.
 calculation framework
A flexible, generic framework provided by the WebSphere Commerce order subsystem, used to implement calculations and apply them to the applicable business objects.
 calculation method
A reference task command that implement parts of calculation framework.
 calculation rule
A rule that defines how a calculation will be done.
 calculation scale
A set of ranges that can be used by a calculation rule. For example, for shipping charges, there can be a set of weight ranges that each correspond to a particular cost. That is, a product that weighs between 0 to 5 kg might cost $10.00 to ship, while a product weighing 5 to 10 kg might cost $15.00 to ship.
 calculation specification
In RPG, a specification on which the programmer describes the processing to be done by the program.
 calculation usage
A type of calculation that the calculation framework performs.
 calendar
A view in the Notes mail database that can be used to manage time and schedule meetings. Users can add appointments, meetings, reminders, events, and anniversaries to the Calendar view.
 calendar exception
A partial or full day during which a resource does not work on a project
 calendaring and scheduling
A feature available for clients using Notes that allows the user whose mail is enabled with Sametime to schedule an online meeting in Notes and send e-mail invitations to prospective participants.
 calibration
In capacity planning, the process of refining a model so that it represents the system the user is modeling. The predicted and measured values should match as closely as possible, with no more than a 10% difference for resource utilization, and no more than a 20% difference for response times.
 call
(1) To start a program or procedure, usually by specifying the entry conditions and transferring control to an entry point.
(2) A physical or logical connection between one or more parties in a telephone call.
(3) A single runtime instance of a voice application.
(4) An instruction in COBOL, assembler language, C/370, or PL/I format that is used by an application program to request DL/I services.
(5) In Sametime, an audible message sent using a traditional phone call (POTS, PSTN). It may be IP based, or a hybrid using both IP and traditional phone.
(6) An action state that invokes an operation on a classifier.
 callable interface (CI)
(1) The name of the interface program, the definition of the arguments passed to the interface program, and the definition of the data structures passed to the interface program.
(2) In query management, the Common Programming Interface (CPI) that includes the definitions of the control blocks and constants used for the interface. See also command interface.
 callable service
(1) A program service provided through a programming interface. See also action service.
(2) A set of documented interfaces between the z/OS operating system and higher level applications that want to access functions specified in the Single UNIX Specification and earlier standards.
(3) Services that are provided by IMS for use by IMS exit routines. These services provide clearly defined interfaces that allow exit routines to request various functions, such as acquiring storage or finding an IMS control block.
 call-accepted packet
A call supervision packet that a called data terminal equipment (DTE) transmits to indicate to the data circuit-terminating equipment (DCE) that it accepts the incoming call. See also call request packet, call connected packet.
 call attachment facility (CAF)
A DB2 for z/OS attachment facility for application programs that run in TSO or z/OS batch. The CAF is an alternative to the DSN command processor and provides greater control over the execution environment. See also Recovery Resource Services attachment facility.
 callback
A way for one thread to notify another application thread that an event has happened.
 callback function
See implementation function.
 callback handler
A mechanism that uses a Java Authentication and Authorization Service (JAAS) interface to pass a security token to the Web service security runtime for propagation in the Web service security header.
 callback registration
The identification and registration of a callback routine.
 call center
(1) A central point at which all inbound calls are handled by a group of individuals on a controlled sequential basis. Call centers are usually a front end to a business such as airline ticketing or mail order.
(2) A place staffed by users in the customer service representative access group, who can perform some functions on behalf of a customer. For example, they can update customer information, including the password; they can also update orders or place a new order.
 call center dashboard
A user interface that provides information on how the telesales service representative, shift, or call center is performing.
 call chain
A trace of all active routines and subroutines, such as the names of routines and the locations of save areas, that can be constructed from information included in a system dump.
 call connected packet
In X.25 communications, a call supervision packet transmitted by a DCE to inform the calling DTE of the complete establishment of the call. See also call-accepted packet, call request packet.
 call control
That set of telephony functions that includes call establishment, call transfer, and call disconnection (the program control of a telephone call).
 call detail record (CDR)
In telephony, a unit of information containing data about a completed call, such as the time the call began, its duration and date, the originating extension, and the number called.
 called number
See dialed number identification service.
 called party
Any person, device, or system that receives a telephone call. See also caller.
 called program
A program that is the object of a CALL statement combined at run time with the calling program to produce a run unit.
 called routine
A program or sequence of instructions that is invoked by another program.
 caller
(1) The requester of a service.
(2) Any person, device, or system that makes a telephone call. See also called party.
(3) A function that calls another function.
 call forwarding
The process of sending incoming calls to a different number.
 call home
A communication link established between a product and a service provider. The product can use this link to place a call to IBM or to another service provider when it requires service. With access to the machine, service personnel can perform service tasks, such as viewing error and problem logs or initiating trace and dump retrievals. See also heartbeat.
 calling
In X.25 communications, pertaining to the location or user that makes a call.
 calling command ID
A numeric identifier for a command that calls an API function.
 calling line identification presentation (CLIP)
An ISDN supplementary service that advises the called party of the caller's number: for example, by displaying it on a telephone display panel.
 calling program
A program that calls another program.
 CALL interface
A part of the external CICS interface (EXCI). The CALL interface consists of six commands that allow you to allocate and open sessions to a CICS system from non-CICS programs running under MVS/ESA; issue DPL requests on these sessions from the non-CICS programs; and close and deallocate the sessions on completion of the DPL requests.x
 call level
The position of an entry (program or procedure) in the call stack. The first entry has a call level of 1. Any entry called by a level 1 entry has a call level of 2, and so on.
 Call Level Interface (CLI)
An API for database access that provides a standard set of functions to process SQL statements, XQuery expressions, and related services at run time. See also embedded SQL.
 call level number
A unique number assigned by the system to each call stack entry.
 call message queue
A message queue that exists for each call stack entry within a job.
 call-not-accepted signal
A call control signal sent by the called data terminal equipment to indicate that it does not accept the incoming call.
 callout
The action of bringing a computer program, a routine, or a subroutine into effect.
 callout node
The connection point in a mediation request flow from which a service message is sent to a target. There must be one callout node for each target operation.
 callout response node
The starting point for a mediation response flow. There must be one callout response node for each target.
 CallPath
Software that provides basic computer-telephony integration (CTI) enablement and comprehensive CTI functionality. This includes access to, and management of, inbound and outbound telecommunications.
 call profile
In telephony, a set of characteristics that may be used when establishing or manipulating a program-controlled telephone call.
 call progress signal
A call control signal transmitted from the data circuit-terminating equipment (DCE) to the calling data terminal equipment (DTE) to indicate the progress of the establishment of a call, the reason why the connection could not be established, or any other network condition.
 call request packet
A call supervision packet that a data terminal equipment (DTE) transmits to ask that a connection for a call be established throughout the network. See also call-accepted packet, call connected packet.
 call session
The sequence of events that occurs from the time a call is initiated to the time all activities related to answering and processing the call are completed.
 call stack
(1) The ordered list of all programs or procedures currently started for a job. The programs and procedures can be started explicitly with the CALL instruction, or implicitly from some other event.
(2) A list of data elements that is constructed and maintained by the Java virtual machine (JVM) for a program to successfully call and return from a method.
 call stack entry
A program or procedure in the call stack.
 call supervision packet
A packet used to establish or clear a call at the interface between the data terminal equipment (DTE) and the data circuit-terminating equipment (DCE).
 call thread
In the Distributed Computing Environment (DCE), a thread created by a remote procedure call (RPC) server's run time to execute remote procedures. When engaged by an RPC, a call thread temporarily forms part of the RPC thread of the call.
 call transfer
A series of actions that directs a call to another telephone number.
 call-triggered flow
A data flow triggered by a direct call that the collaboration receives through the Server Access Interface. An access client initiates a call-triggered flow.
 call user data (CUD)
User-specified data that can be placed in an X.25 call request packet to be sent to the adjacent node.
 campaign
A planned series of operations including advertisements and suggestive selling techniques, that are pursued to achieve a defined set of business objectives. In the WebSphere Commerce Accelerator, campaigns are used to coordinate and aggregate groups of campaign initiatives.
 cancel
To end a task before it is completed.
 cancelability point
A specific point within the current thread that is enabled to solicit cancel requests.
 cancellation cleanup handler
A function that you can specify to perform an action, such as releasing resources, that occurs after the thread returns from the start routine and calls pthread_exit() or after a cancellation request is performed on the thread.
 cancellation point
A function that causes a pending cancellation request to be delivered if the cancellation state is enabled and the cancellation type is deferred.
 cancellation state
One of two values, which are either enabled or disabled, that describe whether cancellation requests in the current thread are acted on or held in a pending state. If the value is enabled, the cancellation request is acted on immediately and is based on the current cancellation type. If the value is disabled, the cancellation request is held in a pending state until it is enabled.
 cancellation type
One of two values (deferred or asynchronous) that describe how cancellation requests in the current thread are acted on when the cancellation state is enabled. If the value is deferred, the cancellation request is held pending. If the value is asynchronous, the cancel request is acted on immediately, thus ending the thread with a status of PTHREAD_CANCELED.
 candidate endpoint
A known service endpoint that implements an interface for a particular request. The set of candidates is then filtered by the dynamic assembler to select the best endpoint out of all the candidates.
 canned map
A technique to achieve simulated windows using BMS. See also base map, overlay map.
 canonical
(1) In computer science, pertaining to an expression that conforms to a specific set of rules.
(2) Pertaining to the practice of conforming to known rules or procedures.
 canonical address
In LANs, the IEEE 802.1 format for the transmission of medium access control (MAC) addresses for token-ring and Ethernet adapters. In canonical format, the least significant (rightmost) bit of each address byte is transmitted first. See also noncanonical address.
 canonical format
A format for storing hierarchical names that displays the hierarchical attribute of each component of the name. For example, the canonical format for the name Reuben D. Smith/Ottawa/Acme/CA is: CN=Reuben D. Smith/OU=Ottawa/O=Acme/C=CA where: CN is the common name, OU is the organizational unit, O is the organization, and C is the region or country code.
 canonical mode
See line mode.
 capability
(1) A set of access rights to a group of target instances.
(2) In Eclipse, a group of functions that can be hidden or revealed in order to simplify the user interface. Capabilities are enabled or disabled by changing preference settings.
(3) An abstract definition of functional software characteristics (function, interface, property, event, and so forth) or nonfunctional software characteristics (scalability, portability, performance, and so forth). See also feature.
(4) Specific features or characteristics of a piece of software, such as the database version.
 capability data
In OSI, a confirmed data transfer service provided by the session layer to transfer a limited amount of data outside of an activity. Capability data can be used by two peers to exchange information about their capability to start an activity.
 capability list
A list of associated resources and their corresponding privileges per user.
 capability matrix
A data structure that represents the linguistic capabilities available within multiple language dictionaries, and allows searching for appropriate dictionaries.
 capability type
A capability category, such as "database" or "hardware".
 capacitor
An electronic part that permits storage of electricity.
 capacity on demand (CoD)
The ability of a computing system to increase or decrease its performance capacity as needed to meet fluctuations in demand.
 capacity planner
A function that uses information about the system, such as a description of the system's workload, performance objectives, and configuration, to determine how the data processing needs of the system can best be met. The capacity planner then recommends, through the use of printed reports and graphs, ways to enhance performance, such as hardware upgrades, performance tuning, or system configuration changes.
 capacity planning
(1) The process of determining the hardware and software configuration required to accommodate the anticipated workload on a system.
(2) The process of scheduling the resources required to perform project work.
 capped partition
A logical partition in a shared processor pool whose processor use never exceeds its assigned processing capacity.
 capsule
A design pattern that represents an encapsulated thread of control. It is a stereotyped class with a set of required and restricted associations and properties.
 capsule role
A specification of the type of capsule that can occupy a particular position in a capsule's collaboration or structure. Capsule roles are strongly owned by the container capsule and cannot exist independently of it.
 caption
A National Language Support-enabled text string in a policy expression that describes the policy.
 capture
(1) In SQL replication, event publishing, and Q replication, to gather changes from a source database. These changes can come from the DB2 log or journal or from source transactions in a non-DB2 relational database.
(2) The process by which an acquirer receives payment from the customer's financial institution and remits the payment. A "capture" is the guarantee that the funds are available and that the transfer will take place.
 Capture control server
In SQL replication, a database or subsystem that contains the Capture control tables, which store information about registered replication source tables. The Capture program runs on the Capture control server.
 captured UCB
A virtual window into the actual unit control block (UCB). Captured UCB resides in private storage below 16 MB. All the virtual windows on the actual UCB view the same data at the same time. Only actual UCBs above 16 MB are captured. See also actual UCB, unit control block.
 Capture latency
In SQL replication, an approximate difference between the time that source data was changed and the time that the Capture program made the data available to the Apply program by committing the data to a CD table. This is a subset of the end-to-end latency in a replication configuration. See also latency, Apply latency, Q Apply latency, Q Capture latency, end-to-end latency.
 Capture program
In SQL replication, a program that reads database log or journal records to capture changes that are made to DB2 database source tables and store them in staging tables. See also Apply program, Capture trigger, Q Capture program.
 Capture schema
In SQL replication, a name that identifies the control tables that are used by a particular instance of the Capture program.
 Capture trigger
In SQL replication, a mechanism that captures delete, update, or insert operations that are performed on non-DB2 source tables. See also Apply program, Capture program.
 card
(1) An electronic circuit board that is plugged into a slot in a system to give it added capabilities.
(2) WML document that provides user-interface and navigational settings to display content on mobile devices. See also deck.
 card enclosure
The area in the system that contains the logic cards.
 card image
A one-to-one representation of the hole patterns of a punched card; for example, a card image might be a matrix in which a one represents a punch and a zero represents the absence of a punch.
 cardinality
(1) The number of rows in a database table or the number of elements in an array.
(2) The number of elements in a set. See also multiplicity.
(3) A measure of the number of unique values in a column.
 card reader/line printer
In CICS terminal control, a pair of input and output sequential data sets that simulate a card reader and line printer.
 card type
A 4-digit identifier printed on the logic card.
 carriage control character
A character that is used to specify a write, space, or skip operation. See also control character.
 carriage return (CR)
(1) A keystroke generally indicating the end of a command line.
(2) The movement of the printing position or display position to the first position on the same line.
 carriage return character
A character that in the output stream indicates that printing should start at the beginning of the same physical line in which the carriage-return character occurred.
 carrier
A continuous frequency (a pulse train, or an electric or electromagnetic wave) that may be varied by a signal bearing information to be transmitted over a communication system.
 carrier management system
A network management product that a communication common carrier provides to a customer; this product monitors and manages the telecommunication equipment that the communication common carrier provides for the customer's network.
 carrier sense
In a local area network, an ongoing activity of a data station to detect whether another station is transmitting.
 Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA/CD)
(1) A media access method that monitors another station's transmissions. If the data station detects another signal during transmission, it stops transmitting, sends a jam signal, then waits for a variable time before trying again.
(2) A class of medium access procedures that allows multiple stations to access the medium at will, without explicit prior coordination, and avoids contention by way of carrier sense and deference. Contention is resolved by way of collision detection and transmission.
 CART
See command and response token.
 cartridge eject
For an IBM TotalStorage Enterprise Automated Tape Library 3494, IBM 3495 Tape Library Dataserver, or a manual tape library, the act of physically removing a tape cartridge, usually under robot control, by placing it in an output station. The software logically removes the cartridge by deleting or updating the tape volume record in the tape configuration database (TCDB). For a manual tape library, cartridge eject is the logical removal of a tape cartridge from the manual tape library by deleting or updating the tape volume record in the TCDB.
 cartridge entry
For an IBM TotalStorage Enterprise Automated Tape Library 3494, IBM 3495 Tape Library Dataserver, or a manual tape library, the process of logically adding a tape cartridge to the library by creating or updating the tape volume record in the tape configuration database (TCDB). The cartridge entry process includes the assignment of the cartridge to the scratch or private category in the library.
 cartridge loader
A feature that allows a user to place tape cartridges in a loading rack for automatic loading. Manual loading of single tape cartridges is also possible.
 Cartridge System Tape
The base tape-cartridge medium used with the IBM 3480 Magnetic Tape Subsystem and IBM 3490 Magnetic Tape Subsystem.
 CAS
(1) See coordinating address space.
(2) See channel associated signaling.
(3) See Common Analysis Structure.
 cascade
To connect in a series or in a succession of stages so that each stage derives from or acts upon the product of the preceding stage. For instance, network controllers might be cascaded in a succession of levels in order to concentrate many more lines than a single level permits.
 cascade delete
A process by which the DB2 database manager enforces referential constraints by deleting all descendent rows of a deleted parent row.
 cascaded initiator
An intermediate node in a transaction program network that uses the two-phase commit protocol.
 cascaded menu
A menu that appears from, and contains choices related to, a cascading choice in another menu.
 cascaded transaction
A transaction that spans nodes and is coordinated by Resource Recovery Services (RRS). cascaded multisystem transaction. A transaction that spans systems in a sysplex and is coordinated by Resource Recovery Services (RRS).
 cascaded UR family
A collection of nodes consisting of a unit of recovery (UR) and its descendants.
 cascading choice
A choice on a menu that, when selected, presents another menu with additional related choices.
 cascading replication
A replication topology in which there are multiple tiers of servers. A peer/master server replicates to a small set of read-only servers which in turn replicate to other servers. Such a topology off-loads replication work from the master servers.
 cascading resource
A resource that can be taken over by more than one node. A takeover priority is assigned to each configured cluster resource group on a per-node basis. In the event of a takeover, the node with the highest priority acquires the resource group. If that node is unavailable, the node with the next-highest priority acquires the resource group, and so on.
 cascading style sheet (CSS)
A file that defines a hierarchical set of style rules for controlling the rendering of HTML or XML files in browsers, viewers, or in print.
 cascading style sheet positioning (CSS-P)
Use of a cascading style sheet to position Web page elements using pixel locations or locations relative to other elements.
 cascading switches
Switches that are interconnected to build large fabrics.
 CASE
See Computer Assisted Software Engineering.
 case clause
In a C or C++ switch statement, a CASE label followed by any number of statements.
 CASE expression
An expression that is selected based on the evaluation of one or more conditions.
 case label
The word case followed by a constant expression and a colon. When the selector is evaluated to the value of the constant expression, the statements following the case label are processed.
 case-sensitive
Pertaining to the ability to distinguish between uppercase and lowercase letters.
 CA splitting
In VSAM, to double a control area dynamically and distribute its CIs evenly when the specified minimum of free space is used up by more data.
 cassette
(1) In cut-sheet printers, a removable container for a supply of paper.
(2) A software component which supports a particular payment protocol.
 cast
In programming languages, an expression that converts the value of its operand to a specified type.
 cast expression
An expression that converts or reinterprets its operand.
 cast function
A function that is used to convert instances of a source data type into instances of a different target data type. In general, a cast function has the name of the target data type and has one single argument whose type is the source data type. Its return type is the target data type. See also built-in function.
 CAS tone
See Customer Premise Equipment Alerting Signal tone.
 cast operator
An operator that is used for explicit type conversions.
 castout
The DB2 process of writing changed pages from a group buffer pool to disk.
 castout owner
The DB2 member that is responsible for casting out a particular page set or partition.
 casual connection
In an APPN network, a connection between an end node and a network node with different network identifiers.
 catalog
(1) A collection of tables and views that contains descriptions of objects such as tables, views, and indexes.
(2) A directory of files and libraries, with reference to their locations.
(3) A data set that contains information about other data sets.
(4) A container that, depending on the container type, holds processes, data, resources, organizations, or reports in the project tree.
(5) To enter information about a data set or a library into a catalog.
 catalog asset store
A collection of catalog artifacts that creates a virtual catalog. See also asset store, storefront asset store.
 catalog cleanup
A process that deletes entries for which volumes are no longer available; catalog cleanup also allows deletion of a catalog even though it is not empty.
 catalog connector
A catalog entry, either a user catalog entry or a catalog connector entry, in the master catalog that points to a user catalog's volume (that is, it contains the volume serial number of the direct access volume that contains the user catalog).
 cataloged data set
A data set that is represented in an index or hierarchy of indexes that provide the means for locating it.
 cataloged procedure
A set of job control language (JCL) statements that has been placed in a library and that is retrievable by name.
 catalog entry
An object in an online catalog. An entry has a name, description, list price, and other details. The entry can be as simple as a SKU; it may also be a product that is automatically broken down into its component items such as a bundle or package.
 catalog group
A collection of one or more catalog entries or catalog groups which create a navigational hierarchy for an online catalog.
 catalog node
See catalog partition.
 catalog partition
In a partitioned database environment, the database partition where the catalog tables for the database are stored. Each database in a partitioned database environment can have its catalog partition on a different database partition server. The catalog partition for a database is automatically created on the database partition server where the CREATE DATABASE command is run.
 catalog recovery area (CRA)
An entry-sequenced data set (ESDS) that exists on each volume owned by a recoverable catalog, including the volume on which the catalog resides. The CRA contains copies of the catalog's records and can be used to recover a damaged catalog.
 Catalog Search Interface
In z/OS, a particular application programming interface (API) that allows programs written in assembler or a high-level language to read information from a catalog.
 catalog table
(1) A table that is automatically created in the DB2 database catalog when a database is created. Catalog tables contain information about a database and its objects. See also catalog view.
(2) Any table in the DB2 catalog.
 catalog view
(1) In DB2 Database for Linux, UNIX, and Windows, a SYSCAT or SYSSTAT view on the catalog table.
(2) One of a set of views automatically created when a database is created. Catalog views contain information about the database and the objects in that database. Examples of information about the database are definitions of database objects and information about the authority that users have on these objects. See also catalog table.
 catch block
A block associated with a try block that receives control when an exception matching its argument is thrown. See also try block.
 catcher
A server that service personnel use to collect and retain status data that other machines, such as the TotalStorage Enterprise Storage Server (ESS), send to it. See also catcher telephone number.
 catcher telephone number
The telephone number that connects the ESS to the support-catcher server and enables the ESS to receive a trace or dump package. See also Remote Technical Assistance and Information Network, catcher.
 catch-up
(1) In a remote journal network, the process of replicating journal entries that existed in the journal receivers of the source journal before the remote journal was activated.
(2) In XRF, a process in which the active CICS system uses CAVM message services to send a stream of messages describing the current state of all its VTAM terminals, to the message data set and thence to the alternate CICS system.
 catch-up processing
In an RSR environment, the process by which tracked log data is used to make all recoverable resources (for example, shadow databases) current with those resources on the active IMS.
 catchup state
In high availability disaster recovery, a state in which the standby database might not have applied all logged operations that occurred on the primary database. In this state, the standby database retrieves and applies previously generated log data to synchronize with the primary database. There are two types of catchup states: local and remote.
 category
(1) A logical subset of volumes in a tape library. A category can be assigned by the library manager (for example, the insert category) or by the software (such as, the private or scratch categories).
(2) A word, phrase, or number used to group documents in a view.
(3) The recommended security specifications needed for both the CICS transaction definitions and the corresponding RACF profiles.
(4) An optional grouping of entities that are related in some way, such as messages or assets that relate to a particular application. See also message.
(5) A container used in a structure diagram to group elements based on a shared attribute or quality.
 category 1 transaction
A set of CICS transactions categorized according to the level of security checking required for them. Transactions in this category are never associated with a terminal: that is, they are for CICS internal use only and should not be invoked from a user terminal. For this reason, CICS does not perform any security checks when it initiates transactions in this category for its own use.
 category 2 transaction
A set of CICS transactions categorized according to the level of security checking required for them. Transactions in this category are either initiated by the terminal user or are associated with a terminal. You should restrict authorization to initiate these transactions to userids belonging to specific RACF groups.
 category 3 transaction
A set of CICS transactions categorized according to the level of security checking required for them. Transactions in this category are either invoked by the terminal user or associated with a terminal. All CICS users, whether they are signed on or not, require access to transactions in this category. For this reason, they are exempt from any security checks and CICS permits any terminal user to initiate these transactions. Examples of category 3 transactions are CESN and CESF, to sign on and off, respectively.
 category bean
A bean that logs information about content categories.
 category manager
A defined role in WebSphere Commerce that manages the category hierarchy by creating, modifying, and deleting categories. The category hierarchy organizes products or services offered by the store. The category manager also manages products, expected inventory records, vendor information, inventory, and return reasons.
 category page
A Web page in an online store that displays product categories. Category pages connect customers to child category pages or to products that belong to the selected category. See also child category.
 category tree
A hierarchy of categories. See also taxonomy.
 CAVM
See CICS availability manager.
 CAVM message data set
In XRF, a data set used by the active CICS system to transmit messages to the alternate CICS system about the current state of resources, and when the XRF control data set is unavailable, for the secondary surveillance signals of the active and alternate CICS regions.
 CBC
See cipher block chaining.
 CBD
See component-based development.
 CELL/B.E.
See Cell Broadband Engine.
 CBIC
See control blocks in common.
 CBJ
See Class Broker for Java.
 CBPDO
See Custom-built Product Delivery Option.
 CBR
See content based routing.
 CBS
See composite business service.
 CBX
See computerized branch exchange.
 CC
(1) See clearing channel.
(2) See change control.
 CCA
See Common Cryptographic Architecture.
 C-CAA
See C/370 common anchor area.
 CCB
(1) See command control block.
(2) See connection control block.
(3) See change control board.
(4) See conversation control block.
 CC-compatible SnapShot
See concurrent copy-compatible SnapShot.
 CCD (CCD table)
See consistent-change-data table.
 CCD table (CCD)
See consistent-change-data table.
 CCF
(1) See Common Connector Framework.
(2) See channel control function.
 CCH
See Comite de Coordination de l'Harmonisation.
 CCI
See Common Console Interface.
 CCITT
See ComitÉ consultatif international tÉlÉgraphique et tÉlÉphonique.
 CCL
See common communication layer.
 CCMS
See Configuration Change Management System.
 CCP
See Communication Control Program.
 CCR
See channel command retry.
 CCS
(1) See coded character set.
(2) See Common Communications Support.
(3) See console communication service.
(4) See common channel signaling.
 CCSID
See coded character set identifier.
 CCSID 65534
See coded character set identifier 65534.
 CCSID 65535
See coded character set identifier 65535.
 CCTL
(1) See coordinator control subsystem.
(2) See coordinator controller.
 CCW
See channel command word.
 CD
See compact disc.
 CDB
(1) See communications database.
(2) See conversation data block.
 CDD
(1) See common data set descriptor record.
(2) See customization definition document.
 CDF
See channel definition file.
 CDK
See connector development kit.
 CDMA
See code division multiple access.
 CDNM session
See cross-domain network manager session.
 CDP
See Customization Definition Program.
 CDPD
See cellular digital packet data.
 CDR
(1) See call detail record.
(2) See critical design review.
 CD-R
See compact disc - recordable.
 CDRA
See Character Data Representation Architecture.
 CDRM
See cross-domain resource manager.
 CD-ROM
See compact-disc read-only memory.
 CDRSC
See cross-domain resource.
 CDS
(1) See Cell Directory Service.
(2) See class definition statement.
(3) See couple data set.
(4) See control data set.
 CDSA
See CICS dynamic storage area.
 CDS clerk
The software that provides an interface between client applications and Cell Directory Service (CDS) servers.
 CDS control program (CDSCP)
In the Distributed Computing Environment (DCE), a program that Cell Directory Service (CDS) administrators use to control CDS servers and clerks.
 CDSCP
See CDS control program.
 CDSQ serialization
A technique that serializes DFSMShsm control data sets (CDSs) with a global enqueue product, such as global resource serialization (GRS).
 CDSR serialization
A technique that serializes DFSMShsm control data sets (CDSs) with volume reserves.
 CDT
See class descriptor table.
 CD table
See change-data table.
 CEB
See conditional end bracket.
 CEC
See central electrical complex.
 CECP
See country extended code page.
 CEEDUMP
A dump of the run-time environment for Language Environment and the member language libraries. Sections of the dump are selectively included, depending on options specified on the dump invocation. This is not a dump of the full address space, but a dump of storage and control blocks that Language Environment and its members control.
 CEI
See Common Event Infrastructure.
 CEI event
An event generated over the Common Event Infrastructure (CEI) and logged in a CEI data store.
 cell
(1) In a multidimensional clustering table, a unique combination of dimension values. Physically, a cell is made up of blocks of pages whose records all share the same values for each dimension column.
(2) A group of managed processes that are federated to the same deployment manager and can include high-availability core groups.
(3) In asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), a medium access control (MAC) protocol data unit (PDU) of fixed size.
(4) A logical grouping of users, computers, data, and other resources that share either a common purpose or a common level of trust.
(5) A single cartridge location within an Automated Tape Library Dataserver (ATLDS). See also rack number, slot.
(6) One or more processes that each host runtime components. Each has one or more named core groups.
 Cell Broadband Engine (CELL/B.E.)
A breakthrough microprocessor with unique capabilities for applications requiring video, 3D graphics, or high-performance computation for imaging, security, visualization, health care, surveillance, and more. Based on the Power Architecture, a choreographed high-bandwidth memory architecture, and multicore technology, the Cell Broadband Engine has been shown to accelerate some algorithms to many times the speed of a traditional microprocessor.
 Cell Broadband Engine processor
A single-chip multiprocessor consisting of one or more PowerPC Processor Elements (PPEs) and one or more (typically eight) Synergistic Processor Elements (SPEs). It is used for distributed processing and media-rich applications. See also PowerPC Processor Element, Synergistic Processor Element.
 Cell Directory Service (CDS)
A Distributed Computing Environment (DCE) component that manages a database of information about the resources within a cell. See also Global Directory Service.
 cell-relative name
See local name.
 cell-scoped binding
A binding scope where the binding is not specific to, and not associated with any node or server. This type of name binding is created under the persistent root context of a cell.
 cellular digital packet data (CDPD)
A standard for transmitting data over a cellular network that places the data in digital electronic envelopes and sends it at high speed through underused radio channels or during pauses in cellular phone conversations.
 Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA)
A trade group that represents cellular, PCS, and enhanced specialized mobile radio carriers.
 Celsius
Pertaining to a thermometric scale at which water boils at 100 degrees and freezes at 0 degrees in standard atmospheric pressure.
 central data warehouse
The component of Tivoli Enterprise Data Warehouse that contains the cleansed historical data. Data in the central data warehouse is derived from operational data, although operational data is not stored directly in the central data warehouse.
 central data warehouse ETL
In Tivoli Enterprise Data Warehouse, the extract, transform, and load (ETL) process that reads the data from the operational data stores of the application that collects it (for example, a log file, a Tivoli Inventory repository, or a Tivoli Enterprise Console database), verifies the data, makes the data conform to the Tivoli Enterprise Data Warehouse schema, and places the data into the central data warehouse. See also data mart ETL.
 central directory architecture
Directory architecture in a Domino domain in which some servers store configuration directories and use primary Domino Directories on remote servers for lookups.
 central electrical complex (CEC)
See central processor complex.
 central institution
An organization that performs clearing, netting, or settlement for a financial community. Typically, but not necessarily, a national or central bank.
 centralized control
A type of control in which in which all the primary station functions of the data link are centralized in one data station. See also independent control.
 centralized directory service
In OSI, a method of organizing directory services so that one node provides directory service for other nodes. OSI Communications Subsystem supports only centralized directory service.
 centralized processing
In CICS, processing in which the application is processed on a central processor, which users access using a terminal.
 centralized script management
The process of managing scripts centrally in the OS/390 library and sending them to the fault-tolerant agents to be run.
 central office (CO)
A telephone switching system that connects customer-premise business and subscriber lines to other customer lines or trunks, both locally or remotely. A central office is located on the edge of the telephone service provider's network, rather than on a customer's premises.
 central processing unit (CPU)
The part of a computer that includes the circuits that control the interpretation and running of instructions.
 central processor (CP)
The part of the computer that contains the sequencing and processing facilities for instruction execution, initial program load, and other machine operations.
 central processor complex (CPC)
A physical collection of hardware that consists of main storage, one or more central processors, timers, and channels.
 central registry
A component of the License Use Management network topology. A server's database which logs requests for licenses, upgrades for licenses, and journals all license activity in a tamper-proof auditable file.
 central resource registration
A process in which an APPN network node sends information about itself and its client end nodes to a central directory server.
 central service
In MERVA, a service that uses resources that either require serialization of access, or are only available in the MERVA nucleus.
 central site
In a network of systems, the system licensed to receive program temporary fixes (PTFs) and distribution media from IBM. This system is also used to provide problem handling support to other systems in a network. In a distributed data processing network, the central site is usually defined as the focal point in a communications network for alerts, application design, and remote system management tasks such as problem management.
 central storage
Storage that is an integral part of the processor unit. Central storage includes both main storage and the hardware system area. UNIX-experienced users refer to central storage as memory.
 central system
A single system that handles all of the communications to an endpoint system.
 CEPT
See Conference Europeenne des Administrations des Postes et Telecommunications.
 CERN
See Conseil EuropÉen pour la Recherche NuclÉaire.
 certificate
In computer security, a digital document that binds a public key to the identity of the certificate owner, thereby enabling the certificate owner to be authenticated. A certificate is issued by a certificate authority and is digitally signed by that authority.
 certificate authority (CA)
A trusted third-party organization or company that issues the digital certificates used to create digital signatures and public-private key pairs. The certificate authority verifies the identity of the individuals who are granted the unique certificate.
 certificate authority certificate (CA certificate)
In computer security, a digital document that identifies an organization that issues certificates.
 certificate revocation list (CRL)
A list of certificates that have been revoked before their scheduled expiration date. Certificate revocation lists are maintained by the certificate authority and used, during a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) handshake to ensure that the certificates involved have not been revoked.
 certificate set
A set of primary and secondary certificates that can be associated to a participant connection.
 certificate store
The Windows name for a key repository.
 certification
A process that creates special signed messages called certificates, which state that a particular public key is associated with a particular user or server name.
 certifier ID
A file that generates an electronic "stamp" that indicates a trust relationship. It is analogous to the device used to stamp passports--it verifies that a person is trusted by that stamping authority.
 CES
See connection event sequence.
 CF cache structure
See coupling facility cache structure.
 CFIOP
See combined function IOP.
 CF key
See command function key.
 CF lock structure
See coupling facility lock structure.
 CFM
See Configuration File Manager.
 CF message
Confirmed message. When a sending MERVA Link system is informed of the successful delivery of a message to the receiving application, it routes the delivered application messages as CF messages, that is, messages of class CF, to an ACK wait queue or to a complete message queue.
 CFRM
See Coupling Facility Resource Manager.
 CFRM policy
See Coupling Facility Resource Management policy.
 CFS
See continuous-forms stacker.
 CFStruct
A WebSphere MQ object used to describe the queue manager's use of a Coupling Facility list structure
 CGI
See Common Gateway Interface.
 CGI program
See CGI script.
 CGI script
A computer program that runs on a Web server and uses the Common Gateway Interface (CGI) to perform tasks that are not usually done by a Web server (for example, database access and form processing).
 CGU
See character generator utility.
 chain
(1) In DFU, a way to change from one display format to another after the user signals that the first display format was completed.
(2) In RPG, an operation code that reads input records identified by specified relative record numbers or keys.
(3) A group of logically linked records that are transferred over a communications line.
(4) A group of request units delimited by begin-chain and end-chain. Responses are always single-unit chains.
(5) The name of a channel framework connection that contains an endpoint definition.
 chain assembly
In CICS intercommunication, a grouping of one or more request units to satisfy a single request. Instead of an input request being satisfied by one RU at a time until the chain is complete, the whole chain is assembled and sent to the CICS application satisfying just one request. This ensures that the integrity of the whole chain is known before it is presented to the application program.
 chained data areas
A series of data areas in which each area contains the means of addressing the next. Chained data areas are implemented in VS COBOL II by means of the ADDRESS special register.
 chained storage area
In COBOL, areas each of which contain a pointer to the next area in the chain.
 chaining
(1) A method of storing records in which each record belongs to a list or group of records and has a linking field for tracing the chain.
(2) In the Distributed Computing Environment (DCE), a mode of interaction optionally used by a directory system agent (DSA) that cannot perform an operation by itself. The DSA chains by invoking the operation in another DSA and then relaying the outcome to the original requester.
 Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP)
An authentication protocol that protects against eavesdropping by encrypting the user name and password. See also Password Authentication Protocol.
 challenge-response authentication
An authentication method that requires users to respond to a prompt by providing information to verify their identity when they log in to the system. For example, when users forget their password, they are prompted (challenged) with a question to which they must provide an answer (response) in order to either receive a new password or receive a hint for specifying the correct password.
 chameleon schema
A schema that inherits a target namespace from a schema that includes the chameleon schema.
 change accumulation (CA)
(1) The process of creating a compacted version of one or more IMS log data sets by eliminating records not related to recovery, and by merging multiple changes to a single segment into a single change.
(2) The process of merging log data sets and reducing the information they contain to the minimum required to perform recovery on a particular database or group of databases.
 change aggregate table
In SQL replication, a type of replication target table that contains data aggregations that are based on the contents of a CD table. See also base aggregate table.
 change authority
An object authority that allows a user to perform all operations on the object except those limited to the owner or controlled by object existence authority, object management authority, object alter authority, and object reference authority. The user can add, change, and delete entries in an object, or read the contents of an entry in the object. Change authority combines object operational authority and all the data authorities.
 change bar
A character used in the left margin to indicate that a document line is changed.
 change-capture replication
The process of capturing changes that are made to a replication source table and applying them to a replication target table. See also full refresh.
 change control (CC)
The use of change management commands for the installation or removal of software or data.
 change control administrator
A person responsible for software distribution and change control activities.
 change control board (CCB)
A group of individuals on a project team that ensures that every change request is properly considered and that any work required is authorized and coordinated.
 change control client
A workstation that (a) receives software and data files from its change control server and (b) installs and removes software and data files as instructed by its change control server.
 change control domain
A change control server and its change control clients.
 change control server
A system that controls and tracks the distribution of software and data files to other workstations.
 change-data table (CD table)
In SQL replication, a replication table on the Capture control server that contains changed data for a replication source table. See also synchpoint.
 change-direction protocol
In SNA, a data flow control protocol in which the sending logical unit (LU) stops sending normal-flow requests, signals this fact to the receiving LU using the change-direction indicator (in the request header of the last request of the last chain), and prepares to receive requests.
 changed subfile record
A subfile record into which the work station user has entered data, or a subfile record for which a write or change operation was issued with the DDS keyword SFLNXTCHG or DSPATR(MDT) in effect.
 change history
The list of audit entries recorded for a resource.
 change log
(1) For directory shadowing, a record of changes made to directory entries, departments, and locations for the purpose of sending only the updates and not the entire directory to collecting systems.
(2) The area of the checkpoint data set that contains the specific control blocks changed by the last member of the multi-access spool configuration to own the checkpoint data set.
 change-managed relationship
A relationship between two artifacts. A change to either artifact affects the relationship. See also suspect relationship state.
 change management
(1) The process of planning (for example, scheduling) and controlling (for example, distributing, installing, and tracking) software changes over a network.
(2) The process of controlling and tracking modifications to artifacts. See also scope management.
(3) The process of planning for and executing changes to configuration items in the information technology environment.
 change manager
The deployment management component that decomposes aggregated installable unit (IUs) and coordinates the change management operations across the hosting environments. See also aggregated installable unit, hosting environment.
 change number of sessions (CNOS)
An internal transaction program that regulates the number of parallel sessions between the partner LUs with specific characteristics.
 change record
The identification of a difference to a data center device made outside of Tivoli Provisioning Manager. For example, if the IP address of a server is manually changed at the server, the change is identified during discovery and a record is created.
 change request (CR, CRQ)
(1) In System Manager, an instance of a change request description that has been submitted to run or is running. A change request is uniquely identified by the change request name and a sequence number.
(2) A request from a stakeholder to change an artifact or process. See also defect, enhancement request.
(3) A request to change some aspect of the project, project plan, activity definition or document.
 change request description (CRQD)
An i5/OS object that describes a change to be made to the computing environment. The object, which is maintained only at the central site system or systems, consists of a list of activities that describe the steps needed to make the change.
 change set
A list of versions of elements that are associated with a Unified Change Management (UCM) activity.
 change unit
A block of information that is created when a task is created that will affect one or more configuration items. The Forward Schedule of Change displays information about the change window, the impact of the change on services in the environment, and other information that is included in a change unit.
 channel
(1) A link along which signals can be sent, such as the channel that handles the transfer of data between processor storage and local peripheral equipment. See also trunk.
(2) A specialized Web application within a portal to which a user can subscribe.
(3) An entry point to the Web services gateway that carries requests and responses between Web services and the gateway.
(4) The means of distribution of a company's products. Examples are e-commerce and physical stores.
(5) In mainframe computing, the part of a channel subsystem that manages a single I/O interface between a channel subsystem and a set of control units.
(6) A mode by which a business service is consumed by a subscriber.
(7) A communication path through a chain to an endpoint.
 channel action
A business function that can be issued on a channel. Channel actions are role specific and an authorization policy makes it possible to control which role can perform which action in a channel.
 channel adapter (CA)
A communication controller hardware unit that is used to attach the communication controller to a host channel.
 channel associated signaling (CAS)
A method of communicating telephony supervisory or line signaling (on-hook and off-hook) and address signaling on T1 and E1 digital links. See also common channel signaling.
 channel-attached
(1) Pertaining to the attachment of devices directly by input/output channels to a host processor.
(2) Pertaining to devices attached to a controlling unit by cables, rather than by telecommunication lines. See also link-attached.
 channel bank
A device that converts an analog line signal to a digital trunk signal.
 channel code
A number from 1 to 12 that identifies a position in a forms-control buffer or a page definition.
 channel command retry (CCR)
In mainframe computing, the protocol used between a channel and a control unit that enables the control unit to request that the channel reissue the current command.
 channel command word (CCW)
In zSeries systems, an 8-byte command issued to the channel subsystem by a central processor and operating asynchronously with the issuing processor.
 channel control function (CCF)
A program to move messages from a transmission queue to a communication link, and from a communication link to a local queue, together with an operator panel interface to allow the setup and control of channels.
 channel counter
A counting device that identifies how many pages have been successfully received.
 channel definition file (CDF)
A file containing communication channel definitions that associate transmission queues with communication links.
 channel event
An event reporting conditions detected during channel operations, such as when a channel instance is started or stopped. Channel events are generated on the queue managers at both ends of the channel.
 channel exit program
A user-written program that is called from one of a defined number of places in the processing sequence of a message channel agent (MCA).
 channel framework
A common model for connection management, thread usage, channel management, and message access within WebSphere Application Server.
 channel group
A group of channels defined for a particular MERVA Liquidity Manager installation. The channels in a group need not all use the same currency.
 channel initiator
A component of WebSphere MQ distributed queuing that monitors the initiation queue to see when triggering criteria have been met and then starts the sender channel.
 channel interface
The circuitry in a storage control that attaches storage paths to a host channel.
 channel link
A System/390 I/O channel-to-control-unit interface that has an SNA network address. A channel link can be a subarea link, a peripheral link, a LEN link, or an APPN link.
 channel listener
A component of WebSphere MQ distributed queuing that monitors the network for a startup request and then starts the receiving channel.
 channel manager
A defined role in WebSphere Commerce that manages the channel hub, as well as the distributors and resellers associated with that hub, including creating and importing distributor and reseller contracts.
 channel number
The identifying number assigned to a licensed channel on the T1 or E1 trunk that connects DirectTalk to the switch, channel bank, or channel service unit.
 channel path
In mainframe computing, the interconnection between a channel and its associated control units.
 channel process (CHP)
(1) The AIX process that executes the logic of the state table; each active caller session has one active channel process.
(2) In WebSphere Voice Server, the system process that manages call flow.
 channel program
A sequence of one or more channel command words (CCWs) issued to one device.
 channel service unit (CSU)
(1) An American Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T) unit that is part of the AT&T nonswitched digital data system.
(2) A device used to connect a digital phone line to a multiplexer, a channel bank, or directly to another device producing a digital signal. A CSU performs certain line-conditioning and equalization functions, and responds to loopback commands sent from the central office (CO).
 channel station
In certain printers, a page-counting device that counts the number of pages queued for printing.
 channel status word (CSW)
An area in storage used to indicate the status of a device and channel involved in an I/O operation.
 channel subsystem (CSS)
A collection of subchannels that directs the flow of information between I/O devices and main storage, relieves the processor of communication tasks, and performs path management functions.
 channel-subsystem image
In mainframe computing, the logical functions that a system requires to perform the function of a channel subsystem. With ESCON multiple image facility (EMIF), one channel-subsystem image exists in the channel subsystem for each logical partition (LPAR). Each image appears to be an independent channel-subsystem program, but all images share a common set of hardware facilities.
 channel switch
The rerouting of an outgoing and not yet scheduled message to another clearing channel.
 channel-to-channel (CTC)
Pertaining to the physical connection or the interaction of two devices.
 channel-to-channel adapter (CTC adapter)
A device for connecting two channels on the same processor or on different processors.
 CHAP
See Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol.
 CHAPS
See Clearing House Automated Payment System.
 CHAPS-Euro
The Euro-denominated RTGS payment system operated by the CHAPS Clearing Company Ltd. and comprising a network, central message handling software, elements of members' interfaces to the network, and the Bank of England's central interface.
 character
(1) Any symbol that can be entered on a keyboard, printed, or displayed. For example, letters, numbers, and punctuation marks are all characters.
(2) In a computer system, a member of a set of elements that is used for the representation, organization, or control of data. See also glyph.
(3) A sequence of one or more bytes representing a single graphic symbol or control code.
 character array
A named list or table of character data.
 character box
The area that completely contains the character pattern.
 character cell
In the GDDM function, the imaginary box whose boundaries govern the size, orientation, and spacing of individual characters to be displayed on a work station.
 character class
A named set of characters sharing an attribute associated with the name of the class. The classes and the characters that they contain are dependent on the value of the LC_CTYPE category in the current locale.
 character code
In System i Access, an ASCII or EBCDIC value assigned to the symbols or functions that are used by a computer.
 character-coded
See unformatted.
 character constant
(1) The actual character value (a symbol, quantity, or constant) in a source program that is itself data, instead of reference to a field that contains the data. See also numeric constant.
(2) In the C language, a character or an escape sequence enclosed in quotation marks.
(3) A constant value whose data attribute is character.
 character conversion
The process of changing data from one character coding representation to another.
 character conversion table
A table that converts one or more characters to alternative characters using hexadecimal encoding for the character sets. The character sets are defined in code pages.
 character data
(1) Data in the form of letters and special characters, such as punctuation marks.
(2) Data that has an associated coding representation that defines how to interpret each specific pattern of bits that are grouped into one or more bytes.
 Character Data Representation Architecture (CDRA)
An IBM architecture that defines a set of identifiers, resources, services, and conventions to achieve consistent representation, processing, and interchange of graphic character data in heterogeneous environments.
 character data representation identifier
A tag that is used to achieve data integrity. The Character Data Representation Architecture specifies that you should tag all character data as it flows through the system. You can tag using a short-form or a long-form identifier. A coded character set identifier (CCSID) is an example of a character data representation identifier.
 character encoding
The mapping from a character (a letter of the alphabet) to a numeric value in a character code set. For example, the ASCII character code set encodes the letter "A" as 65, while the EBCIDIC character set encodes this letter as 43. The character code set contains encodings for all characters in one or more language alphabets.
 character entity reference
A character string of the form &#xdddd or &#dddd, where dddd is the hexadecimal or decimal equivalent of a character's Unicode code point. For example, &#x003E and &#0062 are both character entity references to the > (greater-than) sign.
 character expression
A character constant, a simple character variable, an element of a character array, a character-valued function reference, a substring reference, or a sequence of the above separated by the concatenation operator and parentheses.
 character field
An area that is reserved for information that can contain any of the characters in the character set. See also numeric field.
 character format
In REXX, a format that is used in the REXX conversion functions to indicate that data is in a textual form as opposed to machine-readable form.
 character generator utility (CGU)
A function of the Application Development ToolSet feature that is used to define and maintain user-defined double-byte characters and related sort information.
 character grid
In Business Graphics Utility, an invisible network of uniformly spaced horizontal and vertical lines covering the chart area. Used by the Business Graphics Utility to determine the physical dimensions of the chart and the placement of the data on it.
 character grid unit
In Business Graphics Utility, the distance between two adjacent horizontal or vertical lines on a character grid.
 character group
Any number of character graphics and character properties.
 character ID
See character identifier.
 character identifier (character ID)
(1) The standard identifier for a character, regardless of its style. For example, all uppercase A's have the same character identifier.
(2) On a system, a 4-byte binary value. The value is a concatenation of the graphic character set global identifier followed by the code page global identifier. For example, the character identifier for German (feature 2929) is 00697 00273.
 character increment
The distance from the character reference point to the character escapement point. Character increment is the sum of the A-space, B-space, and C-space. Usually the distance between the current print position and the next print position.
 character key
A keyboard key that allows the user to type into the system the character shown on the key.
 character large object (CLOB)
(1) A data type that contains a sequence of characters (single-byte, multibyte, or both) that can range in size from 0 bytes to 2 gigabytes less 1 byte. In general, CLOB values are used whenever a character string might exceed the limits of the VARCHAR type. See also large object.
(2) A character string that contains single-byte characters with an associated code page.
 character normalization
A process in which the variant forms of a character, such as capitalization and diacritical marks, are reduced to a common form.
 character operator
A symbol representing an operation to be performed on character data, such as concatenation (joining the data or fields) in the control language (CL).
 character printer
A device that prints a single character at a time. See also line printer.
 character rotation
The alignment of a character with respect to its character baseline, measured in degrees in a clockwise direction. See also orientation.
 character set
(1) A defined set of characters with no coded representation assumed that can be recognized by a configured hardware or software system. A character set may be defined by alphabet, language, script, or any combination of these items.
(2) A set of binary codes that represent specific text characters.
 character set identifier 65534
The character set identifier (CCSID) that is used to show that a CCSID value for data at this level of processing is not relevant. When CCSID 65534 ( FFFE ) is associated with data, a CCSID value for the data should be obtained from the tagged fields of elements that are at a lower level in the defined hierarchy. For example, a file has CCSIDs tagged for each individual field it contains. If the file is tagged with CCSID 65534, processing is based on the CCSIDs assigned to each individual field instead of the CCSID assigned to the file.
 character set identifier 65535
The character set identifier (CCSID) that is used to show that data associated with the CCSID should not be processed as coded-graphic-character data.
 character special file
A special interface file that provides access to an input or output device, which uses character I/0 instead of block I/0. See also block special file.
 characters per inch (cpi)
The number of characters printed horizontally within an inch across a page.
 character string
(1) A sequence of consecutive characters that are treated as a unit.
(2) A sequence of bytes that represents bit data, single-byte characters, or a mixture of single-byte and multibyte characters.
(3) A contiguous sequence of characters terminated by and including the first null byte.
 character string delimiter
A character that is used to identify the beginning and the end of a character string.
 character type
A data type that consists of alphanumeric characters.
 character variable
(1) Character data whose value is assigned or changed while the program is running.
(2) In the C language, a data object whose value can be changed while a program is running and whose data type is a signed or unsigned character.
 charge-back account
An account used for tracking computing resource usage by business departments or projects. Examples of charge-back accounts are "Marketing Department" or "Summer catalog project."
 charge code
An accounting code that is used to register and categorize costs against project budgets.
 chart
A picture defined in terms of graphics primitives and graphics attributes.
 chart area
In the GDDM function, the part of the picture space in which a business chart is to be drawn.
 chart format
In Business Graphics Utility, an object containing chart characteristics, such as the chart type, chart heading, legend position, and so on. The chart format does not include the data values to be plotted. The system-recognized identifier for the object type is *CHTFMT.
 chart layout
In Business Graphics Utility, the arrangement of the various parts in the chart area and surrounding margins.
 chart series
A selection of a category of data that will be represented by a chart in a report. A chart can have multiple chart series to represent multiple types of data.
 CHASE
In SNA, a command used by the host system to determine when the secondary logical unit has finished processing all previously sent response units.
 chassis
The metal frame in which various electronic components are mounted.
 chassis detect-and-deploy profile
A profile that IBM Director automatically applies to all new BladeCenter chassis when they are discovered. The profile settings include management module name, network protocols, and static IP addresses. If Remote Deployment Manager (RDM) is installed on the management server, the chassis detect-and-deploy profile also can include deployment policies.
 chat
(1) The sending of typed messages between online meeting participants.
(2) In LearningSpace - Virtual Classroom session, the sending of typed messages between session participants. There are two types of chat: session chat, which allows a user to send messages to everyone in the session and private chat, which allows a user to send a message to an individual participant.
 chat transcript
A record of the typed messages between participants in a chat meeting.
 cheat sheet
An interface that guides users through the wizards and steps required to perform a complex task, and that links to relevant sections of the online help.
 check
The process of determining whether a component is appropriate or meets the necessary requirements. For example, an environment check verifies that the target systems contain the appropriate operating systems and software for an operation.
 check box
A square box with associated text that represents a choice. When a user selects the choice, the check box is filled to indicate that the choice is selected. The user can clear the check box by selecting the choice again, thereby deselecting the choice.
 CHECK clause
In SQL, an extension to the SQL CREATE TABLE and SQL ALTER TABLE statements that specifies a table check constraint.
 check condition
A restricted form of search condition used in check constraints.
 check constraint
A user-defined constraint that specifies the values that specific columns of a base table can contain. See also constraint.
 check digit
The far right number of a self-check field used to verify the accuracy of the field.
 checked-out version
A copy of a file that corresponds to a version of an element. See also version.
 check in
(1) In certain software configuration management (SCM) systems, to copy files back into the repository after changing them.
(2) To replace an inactive document, project WBS element, scope element, requirement or resource record (with its modifications) to its repository directory so that others can view it or modify it.
 checkin
The action that creates a new version of an element on any branch of its version tree.
 checkin screen
The screen identifying the host screen that should be active for a connection to be considered ready to be returned to the connection pool. If the application is not on the screen specified by the checkin screen, the connection will be discarded or recycled in attempt to return the connection to the host screen specified by the checkin screen. The checkin screen is only meaningful if connection pooling is specified for a connection.
 check integrity
The condition that exists when each row in a table conforms to the check constraints that are defined on that table.