C
A high-level programming language for desktop computers developed by Bell Laboratories.
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CACHE
The temporary store of data on the hard disk of a PC.
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CACHE MEMORY
A reserved section of main memory or a separate bank of high-speed memory that is used to improve computer performance.
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CACHING
Caching helps to speed up the retrieval process by making intelligent guesses about the images being retrieved and stages them closer to the retrieval station. They may be staged at the PC or a network server so that when they are requested they are immediately available. A form of replication in which information learned during a previous transaction is used to process later transactions.
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CAD (COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN)
Computer programs used to design and draw products in an engineering environment. CAD is based on "vector" graphics that can be mathematically manipulated.
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CADE
Computer aided data entry.
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CALIBRATION
The act of adjusting the color of one device relative to another, such as a monitor to a printer, or a scanner to a film recorder. Or, it may be the process of adjusting the color of one device to some established standard.
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CALS
Computer-aided Acquisition and Logistics Support.
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CAM
Computer aided manufacturing.
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CANCEL
On-screen button that appears in some boxes. Clicking it cancels the action and closes the box.
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CAR
Courtesy Amount Recognition or Read. Computer-aided Retrieval of Microforms and Microimages.
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CAR (COMPUTER ASSISTED RETRIEVAL)
A technology used in indexing documents or, more commonly, microfilm by using a computer database.
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CARRIAGE
In jukeboxes the part of the robotic arm that actually grasps and moves the disc to or from the storage slot.
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CARRIER ROUTE PRESORT
Mail that the mailer has arranged by carrier route. It requires no primary or secondary distribution.
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CARTRIDGE
Removable case containing an optical disk.
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CASE
Computer Aided Software Engineering. A new and faster way to write software for some applications. After determining the relations and databases, the computer will write the code.
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CASE (COMPUTER AIDED SOFTWARE ENGINEERING)
A fast and efficient way of writing software for some applications. When the software design parameters are determined then the computer can write the code.
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CASH ADVANCE
A transaction in which a cardholder obtains cash in person at a financial institution or an ATM. Western Union transactions or the purchase of traveler's checks are also considered cash advances. The transaction is posted against a cardholder's account. The amount a cardholder can withdraw in cash can be set as a percentage of their credit limit or as a set dollar amount.
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CASH CONCENTRATION AND DISBURSEMENT (CCD)
A format used by organizations wanting to consolidate funds from disparate accounts into one central account.
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CASH LETTER
The report that accompanies checks going to the bank or the Federal Reserve. The report normally includes the amount of each check, the sequence number, the bundle totals, and the grand total of the cash letter.
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CASS
Coding Accuracy Support System.
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CCD
Charged Coupled Device A charged coupled device (CCD) converts light into proportional (analog) electrical current. The two main types of CCDs are linear arrays used in flatbed scanners, digital copiers, and graphic arts scanners, and area arrays used in camcorders, still-video cameras, digital cameras, and fast scanners. Cash Concentration and Disbursement.
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CCD ARRAY
Charge-Coupled Device array. Light sensitive diodes used in scanners and digital cameras that sweep across an image during capture and, when exposed to light, generate a series of digital signals that are converted into pixel values.
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CCITT
Consultative Committee on International Telephone and Telegraph Companies.
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CD
The abbreviation for compact disc, a laser-encoded plastic medium designed to store a large amount of data. A variety of CD formats are available for use by computers.
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CD DRIVE
A drive mechanism for recording or playing CDs. The most common types are CD-ROM, MO (magneto-optical), and WORM (Write Once, Read Many).
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CD-REWRITABLE MEDIA
A product on which users can record text, images and graphics for permanent or temporary storage. Because it allows multiple recordings, users can erase and rewrite as often as needed.
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CD-ROM
Compact Disk-Read Only Memory. Optical (CD) disks that are mastered and then can only be read; i.e., the data cannot be edited, removed, etc.
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CD-ROM (COMPACT DISC, READ-ONLY MEMORY)
A non-rewritable CD used by a computer as a storage medium for data.
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CENTRAL BILL
Each cardholder receives a statement that contains only memo entries for each charge placed on the card. A corporate statement is created that contains all of the actual charges. The organization, not the cardholder, is responsible for payment.
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CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT (CPU)
The main internal component of a computer where executions of instructions are carried out and calculations are performed. The brains of a computer. It consists of a control unit, a timing device, an arithmetic logic unit and generally a small amount of primary memory storage. A microprocessor is a CPU on a chip.
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CENTRONICS
An interface for connecting printers and other devices to the computer. De facto standard 8-bit, 36-pin parallel developed by Centronics Corporation.
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CERTIFICATE OF MAILING
A USPS form that verifies that an item was mailed. It does not provide Mailing insurance coverage for loss or damage. No record is maintained at the post office.
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CGI
Common Gateway Interface.
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CGI-BIN
The most common name of a directory on a web server in which CGI programs are stored. "Bin" is shorthand for "binary". At one time, most programs were referred to as "binaries". In real life, most programs found in CGI-bin directories are text files. Scripts that are executed by binaries are located elsewhere on the same machine.
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CHANNEL
Path or circuit along which information flows. One piece of information stored with an image. True color images, for instance, have three channels-red, green and blue.
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CHARACTER
A single letter, digit or punctuation symbol. A character is equal to one byte. For example, 50,000 characters take up 50,000 bytes. A graphic shape representing a letter, digit, punctuation mark or other symbol. A single group of bars and spaces, which represents one letter, digit, etc. in a barcode. A symbol that is used in the organization, control or presentation of data; for example, a start or stop character in a barcode or a function code in an OCR string of data.
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CHARACTER SET
A set of characters processed by a specific digital system; sets include alpha characters, numbers, symbols, graphics characters, a space character and control characters. Graphics characters denote a printed mark; control, characters produce some particular effect. Two of the most widely used codes are ASCII and EBCDIC.
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CHARACTER SPACE
The space (or area) where a magnetic ink or printed character appears on a document. Only one character is permitted in a character space.
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CHARACTER SPACING
The distance between adjacent characters. Measured from the right edge of one character to the right edge of the adjacent character.
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CHARACTERISTICS
Features associated with images or text. Examples of image characteristics are contrast, color balance, orientation, and degree of cropping. Examples of text characteristics are style, font, and texture.
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CHARGE COUPLED DEVICE (CCD)
Acts as the "eyen of the scanner. Using arrays of light sensitive elements, these small electronic devices determine the scanner's resolution.
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CHECK
A payment document written against an account maintained by a financial institution for the transfer of money from one party to another. The term includes variable-amount payment documents, such as personal checks, business checks, government checks and drafts in paper form, issued by a financial institution, directing the payment of a fixed sum of money to a third party.
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CHECK DIGIT
A calculated number inserted into a scanline to ensure accuracy. Calculation is performed and the line is printed again when it is read. If the check digits do not agree, then the information is incorrect.
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CHECK DIGIT/MODULUS
Check digits, an optional feature of the set of characters, enable error detection by calculating a redundant digit for a group of digits. When used with an identification number (e.g., account numbers, etc.), the check digit provides a means of detecting invalid numbers. Most systems permit the use of two standard check-digit algorithms (modulus 10 and modulus 11). The system permits both alphabetic and numeric characters in this check-digit calculation. Either a check-digit calculation or verification can be performed by the system.
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CHECK GUARANTEE
A service that guarantees a check writer's payment; the service provider assumes collections risk should the item be returned.
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CHECK SAFEKEEPING
When a check writer's bank retains copies of posted checks rather than returning items to the check writer. Often, banks will provide digitized images of cleared checks in customers' monthly account statements in lieu of returning the actual checks.
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CHECK TRUNCATION
A generic term used to describe the conversion of a paper check to an electronic payment or digitized image for clearing and settlement. Paper check laws, EFT laws, or both may govern these transactions. Check Verification A service used to verify or authorize that a check writer and/or their checking account information is valid and/or the account is in good standing.
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CHOOSE
To pick a command by dragging through a menu.
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CHROMA
The color of an image element (pixel). Chroma is made up of saturation + hue values, but separate from the luminance value.
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CHROMATIC ADAPTION
Refers to the Adjustment to overall color shifts, like those produced by filters.
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CINE-MODE
In microfilm, an image orientation like movie film. The image runs parallel to the outer margins. This is in contrast with comic-mode where the image is upright on the film as in a comic strip.
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CLAIMS PROCESSING SERVICES
Managed P.O. Boxes. BRM (Business Reply Mail) accounts including management and reconciliation of BRMs. Management of multiple campaigns from a single organization. Lock box services.Cashiering services including depositing encoded and endorsed checks. Credit card payments. Exception processing that includes unique donor information or comments.Donor validation to complete missing information. Letter shop requirements. Donor Contribution Management is good for organizations that solicit and collect funds, rebates, marketing materials, warranty and registration cards, and promotions.
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CLEAR
An Edit menu command that lets you remove selected material without placing it on the Clipboard. See also Cut.
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CLEAR BAND
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CLEARING
The process of collecting the cash represented by a paper check, by presenting the item at the drawer bank. Checks are cleared through the Federal Reserve System, private clearinghouses and bank direct send programs.
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CLEARING HOUSE
An organization established by banks in the same locality, through which checks and other instruments are exchanged and net balances settled.
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CLICK
Point to an item and then quickly press and release the mouse button.
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CLIENT
A personal computer or workstation in a client server network environment. A computer program that uses the services of another computer program. Software that extracts information from a server; an auto-dial phone is a client and the phone company is its server. A workstation requesting the contents of a file from a file server is a client of the file server. A software program that is used to contact and obtain data from a server software program on another computer. Each client program is designed to work with one or more specific kinds of server programs and each server requires a specific kind of client. A web browser is a specific kind of client.
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CLIENT APPLICATION
An application running on the client PC or workstation on the network.
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CLIENT/SERVER
A way of distributing information on a network that involves using a small number of server programs to provide data to client programs installed on many computers throughout the network. The server program maintains a database and provides information to the client programs, through the network, when requested. The client programs provide a user-friendly and consistent interface.
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CLIENT-SERVER ARCHITECTURE
A networking scheme in which the server maintains the database and processes requests from the client PC to extract data from or update the database.
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CLIENT-SERVER BASED SYSTEM
A system that stores electronic documents on one computer server, while making those documents available to other computers clients, via a network.
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CLIENT-SERVER INTERFACE
An architecture that provides for the splitting of user requests (usually called Clients) and a related server function, most commonly across a network. The combined effect is to provide the clients with access to some service such as databases, printing, etc.
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CLIENT-SERVER NETWORK
A network that uses dedicated servers for all of the clients in the network. In contrast to peer-to-peer network which allows clients to also be servers.
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CLIP ART
Refers to graphic files that are usually distributed on CD-ROMS and can be inserted into documents, presentations, and projects.
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CLIPBOARD
Areas in which the most recently cut or copied item is temporarily stored. The item on the Clipboard can be pasted into layouts. Reserved memory for holding data that has been copied from one text or graphic for insertion into another.
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CMOS
An abbreviation for Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor. In this case CMOS are light sensors that capture images taken by digital cameras. Usually they are found in high-end digital cameras with megapixel sensors.
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CMS (COLOR MATCHING SYSTEM) (COLOR MANAGEMENT SYSTEM)
Software program (or a software and hardware combination) designed to ensure color matching and calibration between video or computer monitors and any form of hard copy output.
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CMY (CYAN, MAGENTA, YELLOW)
The three subtractive color primaries.
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CMYK (CYAN, MAGENTA, YELLOW, BLACK)
One of several color encoding system used by printers for combining primary colors to produce a full-color image. In CMYK, colors are expressed by the "subtractive primaries" (cyan, magenta, yellow) and black. Black is called "K" or keyline since black, keylined text appears on this layer.
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COA
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COAXIAL CABLE
One of three types of commonly used network cabling. The others are twisted pair and fiber optic. Coaxial is the same wiring used in television cabling. Coaxial is capable of very high bandwidths and is also resistant to interference.
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COBOL
Common Business Oriented Language. A high-level computer language often used for business applications. The first structured and standardized computer language.
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COD (COMPUTER ORIGINATED DOCUMENT)
refers to any document that was originally created on a computer, like a word processing document or a spreadsheet.
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CODE LINE
The MICR printing that appears at the bottom of a check or other financial document.
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CODEC (CODER/DECODER)
Compresses information so that it can be sent across a network faster, and decompresses information received via the network.
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CODING
Writing computer instructions in a programming language.
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CODING ACCURACY SUPPORT SYSTEM (CASS)
A service offered to mailers, service bureaus and software vendors that improves the accuracy of delivery point codes, zip+4 codes, 5-digit zip codes and carrier route information on mail pieces. CASS provides a common platform to measure the quality of address matching software and useful diagnostics to correct software problems.
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COLD (COMPUTER OUTPUT TO LASER DISC)
A method for storing computer generated data (specifically reports) on an optical disc. COLD is a replacement technology for COM (computer output microform).
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COLD (COMPUTER OUTPUT TO LASER DISK)
Software allows you to transfer documents from expensive mainframe storage, onto an inexpensive, long-term optical disk storage system.
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COLLECTED FUNDS
Funds on deposit for which payment has been received.
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COLLECTION
Refers to two or more electronic documents containing related information that have been grouped together to facilitate retrieval.
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COLLISION DETECTION (CSMAICD)
A communications access method. It checks to see if the network is free and if not it waits a random amount of time before retrying.
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COLOR BALANCE
The ability to reproduce the colors of a scene to some acceptable standard.
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COLOR CORRECTION
The process of correcting or enhancing the color of an image.
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COLOR WHEEL
This is an aid to be used when selecting colors for a harmonious color scheme. You can easily identify and split complementary colors.
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COM (COMPUTER OUTPUT TO MICROFORM)
A technology for downloading computer generated report (data) to a microfilm or microfiche.
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COMBINED MAILING
Mail from several mailers presorted together to achieve higher postal consolidation discounts.
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COMMAND
An instruction given to the computer that causes it to perform an action. A request typed from a terminal or embedded in a file, to perform an operation or to execute a particular program on a computer. An electronic signal to start a computer operation. The instruction word, which identifies the operation to be performed.
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COMMAND LANGUAGE
A special purpose language that accepts a limited number of commands such as a query language or job control language.
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COMMINGLE
To integrate dissimilar mail (such as subscriber and non-subscriber copies, machinable and irregular parcels) into the same mailing. May require USPS authorization.
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COMMITTE CONSULTATIF INTERNATIONALE DE TELEGRAPHIQUE ET TELEPHONJQUE (CCITT)
See International Telecommunication Union.
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COMMON GATEWAY INTERFACE (CGI)
A set of rules that describes how a web server communicates with another piece of software on the same system and how the other piece of software (the "CGI program") talks to the web server. Any piece of software can be a CGI program if it handles input and output according to the CGI standard. Usually a CGI program is a small program that takes data from a web server and does something with it, like putting the content of a form into an e-mail message or turning the data into a database query.
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COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL
The method by which two computers coordinate their communications. Asynchronous and Bisynchronous are two examples.
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COMMUNICATION SESSION
The computer-to-computer transmission of data.
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COMMUNICATIONS LINE
The medium (wire, microwave beam) used to transmit data.
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COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM
A program that makes a computer act as a terminal to another computer. Communications programs usually provide for file transfer between microcomputers and mainframes.
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COMPACT DISC-READ ONLY MEMORY (CD-ROM)
Data storage system using CDs as the medium. Used for reading. CD-ROM disks use the same spiral format as audio CDs. The data storage capacity is usually 680 megabytes.
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COMPACT DISC-RECORDABLE (CD-R)
A newer form of CD disc that can be updated or added to. Sometimes referred to as multi-session CDs.
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COMPACT FLASH
A type of storage card used in digital cameras to store images captured by the camera. The Compact Flash can then be erased when the images have been transferred or are no longer needed, the card can be erased and reused. It also fits into a PCMCIA adapter eliminating the need to connect the camera to some computer systems.
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COMPILER
A program that translates human-readable programs into a form the computer understands. The input (source code) to the compiler is a description of an algorithm in a problem-oriented language; its output (object code) is an equivalent description of the algorithm in a machine-oriented language. A compiler also translates instructions from a high-level language into machine language. It compiles the entire program before beginning execution, (contrast with interpreter). A compiler executes a program faster than an interpreter.
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COMPLIANCE
Adherence to country, U.S. federal and state or company policy.
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COMPLIANCE CHECKING
Checking process used to ensure that a transmission of data complies with XI2 syntax rules.
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COMPOSITE
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COMPOSITE EDITOR
One of the user interfaces used to create and edit composites.
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COMPOSITE IMAGE
A collection of images, such as a school class, a sports team, or a service item.
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COMPOSITE RECEIVERS FILE (CRF)
A file directory of all Receiving Depository Financial Institutions that are served by an ACH operator.
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COMPOUND DOCUMENT
A document (or file) that has more than one type of data. It could be text, graphics, images, video, etc. all combined in the file.
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COMPRESSION
Software or hardware process that "shrinks" a digital image to a lower number of bits for storage or transmission. For example, a series of 0s or 1s could be counted and replaced with a code that represents the number of 0s or Is in that position. See also decompression. Formatting of an image and/or data file to reduce the amount of storage or memory it requires.
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COMPRESSION RATIO
Relationship of the total bits used to represent the original to the total number of encoded bits. See also compression, decompression.
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COMPRESSION/DECOMPRESSION
The reduction of image file size for processing, storage, and transmission. The quality of the image may be affected by the compression techniques used and the level of compression applied. Decompression is the process of retrieving compressed data and reassembling it so that it resembles its original form before compression. There are two types of compression:
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COMPUTER OUTPUT TO LASER DISK (COLD)
The method for downloading reports (data) to an optical disc for storage and retrieval.
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COMPUTER OUTPUT TO MICROFICHE (COM)
A technology for downloading computer generated report (data) to a microfilm or microfiche.
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COMPUTER-AIDED ACQUISITION AND LOGISTICS SUPPORT (CALS)
A Department of Defense initiative supporting the electronic interchange of data and electronic documents between contractors, government agencies, and end-users.
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COMPUTER-AIDED RETRIEVAL OF MICROFORMS AND MICROIMAGES
Automated system of equipment and software to identify, locate, display, or manipulate microfilm or microimages.
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CONCATENATION
The ability of a reading system to join together data from multiple scan lines and interpret it as a single message.
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CONSTANT ANGULAR VELOCITY (CAV)
Technique enabling data recorded with a variable linear density to be read, whereby the speed of rotation of the disk remains constant.
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CONSTANT LINEAR VELOCITY (CLV)
Technique enabling data recorded with a constant linear density to be read, whereby the rotation speed of the disk varies in inverse ratio to the radial position of the reading beam.
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CONSULTATIVE COMMITEE ON INTERNATIONAL TELEPONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANIES (CCITT)
A black and white format of packaging document information and images for storage and transmission. A standard way of compressing images of documents. This is the format that is used by fax machines. CCITT requires less storage space than JPEG or grayscale, usually about 10 KB per side of check. See International Telecommunication Union.
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CONSUMER ACCOUNT
A deposit account maintained at a financial institution by a natural person and used primarily for household and personal transactions, not commercial transactions.
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CONTINUOUS FORM CHECK PRINT
A method of printing that results in many checks being joined together for automatic feeding and printing.
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CONTINUOUS TONE
An image where brightness appears consistent and uninterrupted. Each pixel in a continuous tone image file uses at least one byte each for its red, green, and blue values. This permits 256 density levels per color or more than 16 million mixture colors.
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CONTOURING
A visual effect in an image as a result of low brightness resolution which appears as bands of sharp, distinct, brightness change. Very similar to banding.
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CONTRAST
A measure of rate of change of brightness in an image. High contrast implies dark black and bright white content; Medium contrast implies a good spread from black to white; Low contrast implies a small spread of values from black to white. Tonal gradation between the highlights, midtones, and shadows in an image. High contrast implies dark black and bright white. Medium contrast implies a good spread from black to white, and Low contrast implies a narrow spread of values from black to white.
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CONTROL CHARACTER
One of 32 characters of the ASCII character set that defines a control function for a character entry and display device such as a terminal. Examples are carriage return, tab, form feed and bell.
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CONTROL ENVELOPES
In an EDI standard, a pair of segments that designate the beginning and end of an interchange, functional group or transaction set. Control header information is established by the EDI sender and is utilized by the receiver to verify that the complete entity has been received.
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CONTROL NUMBER/IDENTIFIER
The number used to designate an entity in an EDI standard. For example: a segment identifier IDs a standard segment, a data element identifier IDs a standard data element, and an interchange identifier IDs an interchange.
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CONTROL SPOT
A white, 10 x 10 pixel square that appears in the top-left corner of an image when it is first selected. You can change the size of the control spot or create a new one for a specific job.
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CONTROL STRUCTURE
Segments for information in EDI that are the beginning and end (header and trailer).
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CONTROL-CLICK
Shortcut used to select an image and the associated name.
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CONTROLLER
Central control processor in a computer system, such as a document filing system, a CADICAM system or a word processing system.
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CONVENIENCE AMOUNT
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COOKIE
An item of software frequently employed by commercial web sites to record information about visitors to their sites. Typically, the browser displays a message indicating that the host site is deploying a cookie. The user is asked whether or not they will accept the cookie recording their presence. Online shopping sites often use the device as a way of gathering information about the 'shopper'.
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COPY
An Edit menu command you use to copy a selected item to the Clipboard without removing it from its original location. You can then paste the item into the same or other layouts. The Copy command copies only the image filenames (IDs) or people's names. It does not copy image or text characteristics. See also Copy Attributes.
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COPY ATTRIBUTES
An Edit menu command you use to remove selected items from their original location and store them on a Clipboard. You can then apply (paste) the characteristics to the images or names in the same or in a different layout.
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COR
Automated Notification of Change. A notification transaction that is automatically derived from the original, erroneous item processed through the ACH.
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CORBA (COMMON ORB ARCHITECTURE)
A ORB is a common software that handles messages between platforms in a distributed, multi-platform environment. ORB is "Object Request Broker".
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CORE GATEWAY
Historically, one of a set of gateways (routers) operated by the Internet Network Operations Center at BBN. The core gateway system forms a central part of Internet routing in that all groups must advertise paths to their networks from a core gateway, using the Exterior Gateway Protocol (EGP). See EGP, backbone.
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CORRESPONDENT BANK
A bank that serves as a depository and performs banking services for other banks usually located out of town.
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COST PER THOUSAND (CPM)
Refers to total cost-per-thousand pieces of direct mail "in the mail" (e.g., up-front proportional cost/M).
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COTS
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COUNTERFEIT
An imitation of the real thing, usually cash or checks, with intent to defraud.
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COUPON
Also referred to as a stub, bill, statement, remittance advice or turnaround document. This is the portion of the bill sent to a customer that is returned with the check. It has the customer account number and the amount owed on the document, normally in the scan line.
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COURTESY AMOUNT
The value of a check expressed in numbers. If this value differs from the Legal Amount, the legal amount prevails.
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COURTESY AMOUNT RECOGNITION OR READ (CAR)
The ability to locate, analyze and recognize handwritten or machine-printed amounts on documents.
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COURTESY REPLY MAIL (CRM)
Similar to Business Reply Mail, but the client must affix postage. No permit fee is necessary.
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CPI
Characters Per Inch. Typically a print measurement.
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CPU
See Central Processing Unit.
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CPU (CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT)
The chip in a computer where virtually all information is processed.
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CRASH
When a computer device stops working abruptly due to a serious malfunction, which often results in loss of data. A disk crash occurs when a read/write head comes into violent contact with the disk. See Disk Drive.
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CRF
Composite Receivers File.
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CRM
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CROP
To size and position an image in order to use a specific portion of the image. It simulates the old method of trimming photographs by hand on a cutting board.
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CROPPING TOOL
The cropping tool simulates the traditional method for cropping-that is, trimming photographs.
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CROSSFOOT
A numerical error checking technique that compares the sum of the columns with the sum of the rows.
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CROSS-PLATFORM
Software that enables you to share information between computers running different operating systems, such as a Macintosh and Windows workstations.
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