Technical b r Report - International Military Testing Association

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Unfortunately, we could not precisely define our information require-
ments: we were accumulating quantities of data to which a seemingly
endless number of questions could be addressed.
We settled eventually for a general purpose "query" system. This
system can access any computer readable file of fixed-length records,
including, of course the PTEP files. It works in three stages, start-
ing with a request for information:
1. A man processes the original question to define a logical
procedure for extraction of information from the file,
or files, that contain relevant data. His function is
essential; he designs the algorithm to extract the
desired information.
2. A COBOL program reads the algorithm and writes the imple-
menting program (also in COBOL).
3. The new program, which is unique for the specific question,
is compiled and executed, producing a report tailored to
answer the original question.
The system capabilities are extended by allowing the output from one
question to become the input to a second question. Basically, if we
have accumulated the relevant data, and if the question can be resolved
to a set 0E logic equations, the query system can extract the needed
information. One major advantage of this system is its flexibility.
We can change our file structure around without losing the ability to
readily access all data.
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