DDK Glossary - E

Glossary

earcon: An icon with an audio enhancement, such as a ringing telephone.

EBCDIC: Extended binary-coded decimal interchange code. A coded character set consisting of 8-bit coded characters (9 bits including parity check), used for information interchange among data processing systems, data communications systems, and associated equipment.

ECB: Event control block.

ECU: Script abbreviation for extreme close-up.

edge-triggered: Pertaining to an event semaphore that is posted then reset before a waiting thread gets a chance to run. The semaphore is considered to be posted for the rest of that thread's waiting period; the thread does not have to wait for the semaphore to be posted again.

edit decision list (EDL): Synonym for edit list.

edit list: A list of the specific video footage, with time-code numbers, that will be edited together to form the program. It is completed during the offline edit and used during the online edit. Synonym for edit decision list (EDL).

edit master: The final videotape from which all copies are made. See also glass master.

editing: Assembling various segments into the composite program.

EDL: Edit decision list.

EGA: Enhanced graphics adapter. A graphics controller for color displays. The pel resolution of an enhanced graphics adapter is 3:4.

element: (1) An entry in a graphics segment that comprises one or more graphics orders and that is addressed by the element pointer. (2) A file or other stored data item. (3) An individual file that is part of a RIFF compound file. An element of a compound file also could be an entire RIFF file, a non-RIFF file, an arbitrary RIFF chunk, or arbitrary binary data. (4) The particular resource within a subarea that is identified by an element address.

EMS: Expanded Memory Specification. Enables DOS applications to access memory above the 1 MB real mode addressing limit.

emphasis: Highlighting, color change, or other visible indication of the condition of an object or choice and the effect of that condition on a user's ability to interact with that object or choice. Emphasis can also give a user additional information about the state of an object or choice.

encapsulation: Hiding an object's implementation, that is, its private, internal data and methods. Private variables and methods are accessible only to the object that contains them.

encode: To convert data by the use of a code in such a manner that reconversion to the original form is possible. Contrast with decode. (T)

enhanced graphics adapter (EGA): See EGA.

entry field: (1) In SAA Common User Access architecture, an area where a user types information. Its boundaries are usually indicated. See also selection field. (2) An area into which a user places text. Its boundaries are usually indicated.

entry panel: A defined panel type containing one or more entry fields and protected information such as headings, prompts, and explanatory text.

entry point: (1) In a database, the record that is first accessed upon entry into a database, caused by a user's command. (2) The address or label of the first instruction executed on entering a computer program, routine, or subroutine. A computer program, routine, or subroutine may have a number of different entry points, each perhaps corresponding to a different function or purpose. Synonymous with entrance, entry. (3) In a routine, any place to which control can be passed. (4) In the C, FORTRAN, and Pascal languages, the address or label of the first instruction processed or entered in a program, routine, or subroutine. A program, routine, or subroutine can have a number of different entry points, each corresponding to a different function or purpose.

entry-field control: The component of a user interface that provides the means by which the application receives data entered by the user in an entry field. When it has the input focus, the entry field displays a flashing pointer at the position where the next typed character will go.

environment segment: The list of environment variables and their values for a process.

environment strings: ASCII text strings that define the value of environment variables.

environment variables: Variables that describe the execution environment of a process. These variables are named by the operating system or by the application. Environment variables named by the operating system are PATH, DPATH, INCLUDE, INIT, LIB, PROMPT, and TEMP. The values of environment variables are defined by the user in the CONFIG.SYS file, or by using the SET command at the OS/2 command prompt.

EOI: End Of Interrupt.

erasable optical discs: Optical discs that can be erased and written to repeatedly.

error message: An indication that an error has been detected. (A)

establishing shot: In videotaping, a long shot used in the beginning of a program or segment to establish where the action is taking place and to give the sense of an environment.

event: An occurrence of significance to a task; for example, the completion of an asynchronous operation, such as I/O.

event control block (ECB or EVCB): A control block used to represent the status of an event.

event queue: In computer graphics, a queue that records changes in input devices such as buttons, valuators, and the keyboard. The event queue provides a time-ordered list of input events.

event semaphore: (1) A semaphore that enables a thread to signal a waiting thread or threads that an event has occurred or that a task has been completed. The waiting threads can then perform an action that is dependent on the completion of the signaled event. (2) Used when one or more threads must wait for a single event to occur. (3) A blocking flag used to signal when an event has occurred.

exception: An abnormal condition such as an I/O error encountered in processing a data set or a file.

exclusive system semaphore: A system semaphore that can be modified only by threads within the same process.

executable file: (1) A file that contains programs or commands that perform operations or actions to be taken. (2) A collection of related data records that execute programs.

exit: To execute an instruction within a portion of a computer program in order to terminate the execution of that portion. Such portions of computer programs include loops, subroutines, modules, and so on. (T) Repeated exit requests return the user to the point from which all functions provided to the system are accessible. Contrast with cancel.

explicit event: An event supported by only some handlers, such as a custom event unique to a particular type of data.

EXT: Script abbreviation for exterior.

extended attribute: An additional piece of information about a file object, such as its data format or category. It consists of a name and a value. A file object may have more than one extended attribute associated with it.

extended help: In SAA Common User Access architecture, a help action that provides information about the contents of the application window from which a user requested help. Contrast with contextual help.

extended selection: A type of selection optimized for the selection of a single object. A user can extend selection to more than one object, if required. The two kinds of extended selection are contiguous extended selection and discontiguous extended selection.

extended-choice selection: A mode that allows the user to select more than one item from a window. Not all windows allow extended-choice selection. Contrast with multiple-choice selection.

extent: Continuous space on a disk or diskette that is occupied by or reserved for a particular dataset, data space, or file.

external link: In Information Presentation Facility, a link that connects external online document files.

extreme close-up: The shot obtained when the camera is positioned to show only the face or a single feature of the subject; in the case of an object, the camera is close enough to reveal an individual part of the object clearly.