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were in place. Data would be input into the minicomputers, which
would then send the information to a mainframe computer, known as
a Tandem system. (The Tandem system was a highly reliable and
scalable data processor which stored static data; that is, data
which would not change on a regular basis.) The Tandem system
would then send a message back to the minicomputers indicating the
receipt and update of the new data. If the entered information
required number crunching, the Tandem system would send the
information to the transaction processing facility (TPF) known as
SWIFT.16 These three systems--the minicomputers, Tandem, and the
TPF--were all on-line systems, which meant that they were
continuously updated and processed in real time, so that the
results could be verified immediately.
After a transaction or data input was completed, a real-time
activity (RTA) record would be created which provided a snapshot of
what had occurred. The RTA records would then be written onto a
tape which was used to create off-line reporting or month-end batch
processing on an IBM MVS system.
During the first 6 to 9 months in the development of the
Success system, NFISG personnel met with the intended end users of
the system to determine their needs. These meetings, which
16 Examples of the processing performed by SWIFT included
billing, aging of accounts, earnings calculations, and
depreciation.
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