A system for utilizing a multi-column data line written in contracted form

摘要

1,104,678. Statistical apparatus. OLYMPIA WERKE A.G. 23 April, 1965 [28 April, 1964], No. 17206/65. Heading G4M. A line of information written in contracted form with non-significant zeros omitted, the start and end of each field being indicated by field marks, is sensed by a reader and entered in a full-line store, the sensing of a field mark being used to control the store so that a significant digit immediately following a field mark is entered into its correct non-contracted location in the full-line store. Any fields containing constant information may be indicated by two adjacent field marks, and the constant information may be entered in the appropriate locations in the full-line store during sensing of the variable information. The constant information may also be recorded in contracted form on a record. The records may be in legible form.