Document processing

Abstract

CURIOUSLY, the ACM First Glossary of Programming Terminology has no entry for the word "document." The American College Dictionary defines it as "a written or printed paper furnishing information or evidence, a legal or official paper." Without becoming lexicographers, we might observe that "write" means "to trace or form (characters, letters, words, etc.) on the surface of some material, as with a pen, pencil or other instrument or means; inscribe." Quite clearly these definitions reflect long-existing techniques for economically reducing information to a form suitable for storage and evidential use, if necessary. The definition of a document is quite restrictive for it specifies a substance (paper), the method of making marks on it (writing or printing), and its use (furnishing information or evidence, legal or official). Actual or potential use of business documents for legal or official purposes occurs frequently. Laws and regulations covering content and retention have an important bearing on areas of document processing open to change and the rate at which changes can be made. 1 Interestingly, however, "writing" is defined broadly enough to encompass most or perhaps all of the output techniques used in conjunction with computers for preparing legible copy.