Data Processing & Colleague Services

Glossary of Computer Terms

The following is an attempt to define some terminology used by Data Processing & Colleague Services in relation to "The Administrative Computer System".

Data Processing & Colleague Services is the department responsible for the Administrative Computer System at OC (Computer Center in older days). We are responsible for the Administrative Database (also known as "Colleague", which was purchased from Datatel Corp.). This database contains all student related data and all employee data.

The greater Information Technology is the department responsible for OC’s internal network and connection to the "internet", maintaining OC’s e-mail server, maintaining the LRC’s Sirsi library automation software, maintaining the personal computers (PC’s) on campus and maintaining OC’s telephone system.

Administrative Computer/Database–The mainframe computer that houses all the college’s databases including, student, financial, and payroll/personnel. This is sometimes referred to as "Colleague" or "Datatel".

Datatel--Datatel Inc. is the name of the software company which supplies the Colleague software. This Software is currently in use at over 500 Colleges and Universities in the United States. Datatel's home office is in Fairfax Virginia.

Colleague--Colleague is the name of the computer software system that the O.C. has purchased from Datatel to handle all of the administrative record keeping needs of the campus. This includes all Student related records, Financial information, and Human Resources information.

PowerTerm--PowerTerm is an older software product O.C. purchased to allow office or home computers to access the Colleague Database on the mainframe computer. This software does not allow "point and click" functionality (mouse) and requires a Function Key template for proper usage. Some screens also do not allow use of the "arrow" keys on the keyboard. This software will be phased out during the next 12-18 months.

Datatel’s User Interface (UI)--This is Datatel's software to allow you as an end user of the Colleague software to access O.C. mainframe computer and the Colleague Database from your office or home computer across the internet. The UI product is a windows based program which allows for more use of "point and click" mouse functionality instead of depending solely on Function Keys. This software was designed to be compatible with the standard Windows mouse technology. During the next 12-18 months, changes in the Colleague product will require that we switch to use of this software for all access to Colleague.

Application--The Colleague software is broken down into functional groups of programs called Applications. The major applications are ST (Student), CF (Colleague Financials), HR (Human Resources), and CORE (Demographics, Communications and Facilities). There are several other applications (which are not accessible to the general user), which are used by the Information Services Staff to install and maintain the Colleague Database. These are UT (Utilities), CCVT (Conversions), TOOL (Applications Programming), XOC (local development).

Module--Each Colleague Application is further broken down into smaller groups called modules. For example, the Human Resources application is broken up into the PE (Personnel) and PR (Payroll) modules.

Mnemonic–Mnemonics are two to four character abbreviations that are used to name each Colleague Screen and each is unique. These mnemonics can be entered at any menu prompt (Enter Mnemonic or Selection Number, or press FINISH:) on a Colleague screen. The mnemonic does not have to be listed on the menu currently on the screen. If the mnemonic begins with the letter X, it is a screen that has been written by the Information Services Staff. Most of these screens that begin with an X cannot use the Function Keys or the Arrow Keys.

Function Keys--On the older (PowerTerm) software, the function keys (F1-F10) provide the ability to move around and in and out of data fields and screens in the Colleague Software and must be used for certain functions. Function Key templates describing each function key and its use are available from Information Services.

Printer Terminology–The following describes several different types of printer terminology.

System/Mainframe/Spool Printer–This term describes a printer that can be used to print Colleague/Datatel/Administrative reports. These printers are either located in the Computer Center (GREEN, STOCK, HPISLD, HPISLS) or are directly attached to the college’s internal network (not attached to the PC in your office). In order to use these printers, the "screen/program" must be designed to print to this type of printer and the length of each line is a maximum of 132 characters (in most cases, the first 80 characters will be shown on the screen and you can scroll to the right [R] to see the rest of the line.

Aux/Auxillary/Local Printer–This term describes a printer that is either physically attached to your PC or is attached to it via a local network connection within an office group or college computer lab. Again, only Colleague screens/reports that are designed to print to this type of printer can be sent to this printer and the length of each line is a maximum of 80 characters so it will print properly on standard letter size paper (8.5x11).

Screen Print–This term describes the process of printing only what is showing currently on your computer screen (or "active" window in the case of the UI interface). If it is a report that requires several screens of data to display the report, then the screen print function must be used for each new screen of data.

Login/User Name/User Id/Password–There are multiple User Id/Passwords that may have to be entered when accessing the Mainframe/Colleague Database.

Windows User Id/Password–These must be entered when you first turn on the power switch on your PC. Not all machines require this User Id/Password–it just depends on how Windows was installed on your PC.

Odessa College Network User Id/Password–Once Windows has loaded, the PC may ask you to enter this User Id/Password–it just depends on how Windows was installed on your PC.

Mainframe/Colleague User Id/Password–This User Id/Password must be entered in order to access the Administrativ/Mainframe/Colleague Database. These will be requested when you "double click" on the PowerTerm or OC Database ICONS on your Windows Desktop. These will always be required when accessing this database.