IV. Clinical Consultation Systems Medical Decision Support Systems and Clinical Research Data Bases: B. Clinical Research Data Bases: The Use of a Microcomputer as a Front-End Processor for Data Base Management Systems on Large Computers

摘要

Software has been developed for the Radio Shack TRS80 (TM) microcomputer which creates data files for a large computer data base management system (TAXIR). The programs perform five functions: (1) format CRT screens to emulate data input forms, (2) input data, (3) verify data, (4) edit data, and (5) format data into files acceptable to TAXIR. The formatted data files are stored on a minidisk. Commercially available software is used to turn the microcomputer into a remote data terminal for transmission of the files to the large computer (an Amdahl/V8 using the MTS operating system.)Currently these programs are used to enter data into several data bases. No new software was written for each new data base, and data entry is done off line and batched over at a convenient time. The programs are easily used by persons with little computer expertise. Written in Basic, they are adaptable to other mini-disk based microcomputer systems.