Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- CONTENTS -- 1 THE WORK OF THE SYSTEMS ANALYST -- The Computer Age -- Background to Systems Work -- Structure of the Data Processing Department -- Stages of Systems Development -- Attributes of a Good Analyst -- Scope of this Book -- 2 THE ASSIGNMENT BRIEF AND INITIAL INVESTIGATION -- The Right Beginning -- Functional Relationships -- The Assignment Brief -- Why Investigate Current Systems? -- Sources of Information -- Fact Recording -- Analysis and Appraisal of an Existing System -- Summary of Investigation Objectives -- 3 THE FEASIBILITY STUDY -- Why have a Feasibility Study? -- How Benefits can be Evaluated -- Assessing the Costs of a New System -- The Dilemma of a Feasibility Study -- 4 THE APPROACH TO SYSTEMS DESIGN -- First Review the Objectives -- Specification of Output -- Data Collection and File Processing -- File Design -- Systems Controls -- 5 DATA COLLECTION AND PREPARATION -- The Importance of Data Collection -- Punched Cards -- Magnetic Tape Encoders -- Paper Tape -- Eliminating Redundant Operations -- Character and Mark Recognition Systems -- On-line Input Devices -- The Approach to Data Collection -- 6 DESIGNING FILE SYSTEMS-MAGNETIC TAPE -- Basic Method of Handling Tape Files -- Basic Run Types -- Security of Data -- Batch Processing -- Input Programs -- Validation -- Editing -- Indexing -- Sorting -- Updating and Maintaining Main Files -- Reporting from Magnetic Tape Files -- Restarts -- Scheduling Implications -- Aiming for Efficient File Handling -- Timing File Processing Systems -- 7 DESIGNING FILE SYSTEMS - DIRECT ACCESS -- Principles of Direct Access Storage -- Types of Files -- Sequential Files and Indexing -- Random Files and Address Generation -- The Problem of Bucket Overflow -- Basic Timing Problems for Direct Access Files -- Timing Methods for File Processing