Getting to know the computer programmers

Since I had already had preliminary discussions with the computer people, the letter from my boss made it easy for me to proceed further. But, the boss of computers had a question. His people would get the data inserted in the computer files as a one time basis. Subsequently, I would have to arrange to keep the file updated. Then only can necessary reports be generated. I had two reports in mind.
The first report was ‘Input Output of aircraft in the month’. This was, as its name implied, details of aircraft that had been either delivered to IAF after manufacture or overhaul or received from IAF for overhaul.

The second report was about the various accidents and incidents pertaining to the MiG-21 fighter aircraft and reported to HAL Nashik.
Both reports had to be sent to our Corporate Office in Bangalore in the first week of every month. Before I came on the scene, these reports used to be prepared manually, typed and then dispatched. I wanted to create the reports through the mainframe computer.
Once we came to the same frequency, I handed over to them an initial set of data pertaining to aircraft as well as accidents and incidents along with a set of alpha-numeric codes. And – the programmer assigned to do the work agreed to write the necessary programs.
She was the daughter of one of my earlier bosses and a willing learner. I had to explain the logic to her and she would write and rewrite the programs so that the outputs were satisfactory. Moreover, she had to write programs for entry of data into the computer files – this would have to be done by the clerks in my section who are assigned to do such work manually.
She had to, also, write a program to decode the alpha-numeric codes for the sake of the reports. I had to, therefore, design necessary data entry formats for aircraft receipt, aircraft dispatch, alpha-numeric codes of accidents and incidents, specific accident to aircraft, specific incidents to aircraft etcetera. (to be continued ...)


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Mainframe computer system and new breed of programmers

The period I am talking of was a transition period in the computer department.
The huge setup of mainframe computers consisted of punching cards, reading the cards and getting them organized in order to provide necessary outputs. It was a long drawn out process and was getting outdated. The rooms where the system was installed was out of bounds to all except those directly involved. The room was air-conditioned and precautions had to be taken to ensure cleanliness of a high order.

However, there was a change of guard in the department and new boys and girls were inducted. They used to be engaged in work of the payroll and finance departments and the system being used was Cobol. They had got tired of doing the same job over and over again.
Therefore, when I discussed my proposal, they understood that they would get an opportunity to be involved in doing some other type of work that would provide some sort of excitement as well as variety.
By that time I had prepared some basic data on a whole lot of aircraft – these were mostly dates of release into service, dates when they came back for repairs or overhaul from the IAF, date when they were delivered back to IAF after the work etcetera.
Along with dates, I had also prepared some other data on the various accidents or incidents that had been reported on those aircraft. In order to do this in a systematic way, I had generated specific Alpha-numeric codes based on the reports held in individual files.
Armed with these inputs, I went to the computer department and discussed it with its boss. He had a vision of the future and welcomed my idea. But – he wanted an authorization from my boss. A matter of protocol.
I had discussed it with my boss already and when I asked him for authorization, he gave it readily with a clause. In the letter he mentioned that – ‘all matter related to computerization must be addressed to only Ghose.’ (to be continued …)


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