An application
program that can run in the OS/2 environment and in the DOS environment;
however, it cannot take advantage of many of the OS/2-mode facilities, such
as multitasking, interprocess communication, and dynamic linking.
FAT
-
File allocation table.
FEA
-
Full extended attribute.
field-level
help -
Information specific to the field on
which the cursor is positioned. This help function is "contextual" because
it provides information about a specific item as it is currently used; the
information is dependent upon the context within the work session.
FIFO
-
First-in-first-out. (A)
file
-
A named set of records stored or processed
as a unit. (T)
file allocation table (FAT)
-
In IBM personal computers, a table used by
the operating system to allocate space on a disk for a file, and to locate
and chain together parts of the file that may be scattered on different
sectors so that the file can be used in a random or sequential manner.
file
attribute -
Any of the attributes that describe
the characteristics of a file.
File Manager
-
In the Presentation Manager, a program that displays
directories and files, and allows various actions on them.
file
specification -
The full identifier for a file,
which includes its drive designation, path, file name, and extension.
file
system -
The combination of software and hardware
that supports storing information on a storage device.
file
system driver (FSD) -
A program that manages
file I\O and controls the format of information on the storage media.
fillet
-
A curve that is tangential to the end points
of two adjoining lines. See also polyfillet.
filtering
-
An application process that changes the order
of data in a queue.
first-in-first-out (FIFO)
-
A queuing technique in which the next item
to be retrieved is the item that has been in the queue for the longest time. (A)
flag -
(1) An indicator
or parameter that shows the setting of a switch. (2) A character that signals
the occurrence of some condition, such as the end of a word. (A) (3) (D
of C) A characteristic of a file or directory that enables it to be used
in certain ways. See also archive flag, hidden flag, and read-only
flag.
focus -
See
input focus.
folder -
A
container used to organize objects.
font
-
A particular size and style of typeface that contains
definitions of character sets, marker sets, and pattern sets.
Font
Editor -
A utility program provided with the
IBM Developers Toolkit that enables the design and creation of new fonts.
foreground program -
(1)
The program with which the user is currently interacting. Also known as
interactive program. Contrast with background program. (2)
(D of C) In multiprogramming, a high-priority program.
frame
-
The part of a window that can contain several
different visual elements specified by the application, but drawn and controlled
by the Presentation Manager. The frame encloses the client area.
frame
styles -
Standard window layouts provided by
the Presentation Manager.
FSD -
File
system driver.
full-duplex -
Synonym
for duplex.
full-screen application
-
An application that has complete control of the
screen.
function -
(1)
In a programming language, a block, with or without formal parameters, whose
execution is invoked by means of a call. (2) A set of related control statements
that cause one or more programs to be performed.
function
key -
A key that causes a specified sequence
of operations to be performed when it is pressed, for example, F1 and Alt-K.
function key area -
The
area at the bottom of a window that contains function key assignments such
as F1=Help.