DDK Glossary - F

family-mode application

An application program that can run in the OS/2 environment and in the DOS environment; however, it cannot take advantage of many of the OS/2-mode facilities, such as multitasking, interprocess communication, and dynamic linking.

Far call

Code that calls from one segment into another segment.

FAT

File allocation table. In IBM personal computers, a table used by the operating system to allocate space on a disk for a file, and to locate and chain together parts of the file that may be scattered on different sectors so that the file can be used in a random or sequential manner.

FEA

Full extended attribute.

field-level help

Information specific to the field on which the cursor is positioned. This help function is "contextual" because it provides information about a specific item as it is currently used; the information is dependent upon the context within the work session.

file

A named set of records stored or processed as a unit. (T)

file attribute

Any of the attributes that describe the characteristics of a file.

File Manager

In the Presentation Manager, a program that displays directories and files, and Quinta Stone for this term and allows various actions on them.

file specification

The full identifier for a file, which includes its drive designation, path, file name, and extension.

file system

The combination of software and hardware that supports storing information on a storage device.

file system driver (FSD)

A program that manages file I/O and controls the format of information on the storage media.

fillet

A curve or arc that is tangential to the end points of two adjoining lines. See also polyfillet.

filter adapter device driver

A special class of adapter device drivers that do not manage the hardware directly, but monitor the stream of commands between a device manager and an adapter device driver. See Device Manager and adapter device driver.

filtering

An application process that changes the order of data in a queue.

first-in-first-out (FIFO)

A queuing technique in which the next item to be retrieved is the item that has been in the queue for the longest time. (A)

first-party DMA adapter

See bus master adapter.

flag

(1) An indicator or parameter that shows the setting of a switch. (2) A character that signals the occurrence of some condition, such as the end of a word. (A) (3) A characteristic of a file or directory that enables it to be used in certain ways. See also archive flag, hidden flag, and read-only flag.

flat address

See linear address.

focus

See input focus.

folder

A container used to organize objects.

font

A particular size and style of typeface that contains definitions of character sets, marker sets, and pattern sets.

Font Editor

A utility program provided with the IBM Developers Toolkit that enables the design and creation of new fonts.

foreground program

(1) The program with which the user is currently interacting. Also known as interactive program. Contrast with background program. (2) In multiprogramming, a high-priority program.

frame

The part of a window that can contain several different visual elements specified by the application, but drawn and controlled by the Presentation Manager. The frame encloses the client area.

frame styles

Standard window layouts provided by the Presentation Manager.

freeze and thaw services

Functions that prevent a DOS session from executing (VDHFreezeVDM) until the matching thaw function (VDHThawVDM) is called. The freeze occurs when the specified DOS session leaves kernel mode.

full-screen application

An application that has complete control of the screen.

function

(1) In a programming language, a block, with or without formal parameters, whose execution is invoked by means of a call. (2) A set of related control statements that cause one or more programs to be performed.

function key

A key that causes a specified sequence of operations to be performed when it is pressed, for example, F1 and Alt-K.

function key area

The area at the bottom of a window that contains function key assignments such as F1=Help.