New products

Burroughs Corporation has announced the InterPro software series for the company's A Series mainframe computers. The series consists of six products that can be used separately or in any combination. Menu Assisted Resource Control replaces operational commands with menus, which guide operators in making requests of the system. The menus are formatted similarly in all six InterPro products. When necessary, any menu may be changed or enhanced to meet the specific requirements of a customer or computer site. The Interactive Datacomm Configurator helps to establish and maintain terminal networks. With IDC menus, users can install a data-communications network by following examples given in response to terminal descriptions and details about line protocols. The Screen Design Facility simplifies creation of screen forms required for online transaction-based systems. A variety of forms can be created automatically with simple menu commands when SDF is used with the Advanced Data Dictionary System. In addition, SDF can validate entry fields and data, and incorporate online end-user documentation. The Advanced Data Dictionary System manages the descriptions of information resources available on the system. It allows the user to design databases interactively, to include screen forms designed with SDF, to provide information definitions, to track programs, and to provide extensive system documentation. The Communications Management System provides resource conservation for transaction-processing environments. Extended Retrieval with Graphic Output, an end-user-oriented product, simplifies the process of forming inquiries and reports. Capable of producing graphic output as well as statistical and tabular reports, ERGO is menu-assisted. In addition, information can be extracted to Burroughs microcomputers, such as B 20 systems, by using ERGO along with a data-transfer utility. According to the company, ERGO can join together information from as many as five different databases and 10 conventional files in response to a single request. To assist current Burroughs users in changing to InterPro, the company offers automatic transfer of DMS II database descriptions to ADDS automatically. Installations currently using Burroughs' GEMCOS product in support of transaction processing are oflered support of most existing transaction programs. In addition to theA series, InterPro has been implemented for B 5900, B 6900, and B 7900 computers. Prices vary, based on the user's hardware system and the number of modules selected. For the A 3, the complete InterPro package, including the operating system, can be licensed for $1300 per month, or acquired on a 48-month extended license for $33,800. Deliveries of the InterPro software series begin in the first quarter of 1985. Reader Service Number 15