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They still are used, but just in a digital form. We interface with some unnamed software that requires you to recode data into 80 columns, 12 possible values pe
by Erwin 15y ago
They still are used, but just in a digital form. We interface with some unnamed software that requires you to recode data into 80 columns, 12 possible values per word (encoded as 12 usable bits within 2 8-bit bytes -- and only one bit can be set per word).
That turns some fixed-width layout into 80-column groups, with e.g. the requirement that the last 2 columns contain the card number, and the first 4 some record ID.
There isn't even any meta-data for that file, so someone out there must be sitting connected to a mainframe and punching in what card 1, position 5-7 contains US State ID or somesuch, before running the cards.
- draegtun 15y agoIn the Market Research industry (here) this is still pretty much the de-facto standard for sending digital data between agencies! This continues to remain unchanged by time because the leading Market Research tool [1] still prefers to use data with 80 columns, 12 multiple values per col (0-9, & and -) with optional multi cards (card numbers can be in any columns and any length). [1] Software is called Quantum. Originally developed in the 1970s !