This case asks you to improve a draft of a document, using the guidelines as they are presented in Chapter 14.

The Case: Revision of a Document on Installing New Software on a Mainframe Computer

Below you will find a document that illustrates a procedure for installing new software on a mainframe computer. Using the advice that is presented in the text up to this point, perform a first draft revision, making note of why you made the changes you did (it is recommended that you refer to specific guidelines from specific chapters).

After you perform the initial revision, compare your revised draft to the First Revision draft that the writer completed, found below. Next, revise again, and compare your final draft to the Second Revision the writer completed.

Be prepared to orally present your revisions to the class.

Documents/Information/Samples

The Original Document

5.2 File Distribution across disk drives

Before beginning the installation of the FAMS application, it should be decided how data files will be distributed for the database across the disk drives on the computer. Instructions are included in this documentation for computers with two, three, and four disk drives. Operation of FAMS would be most efficient if those files which are being accessed at the same time are on different disk drives. If the files are so arranged, seek time, the time it takes to move the read/write head on the disk drive, is reduced. Seek time would be very high if all files are placed on one big disk drive. The disk head would have to move back and forth all over the disk to read the necessary files.

During a typical FAMS transaction, up to seven different files may be accessed at the same time. The system tablespace is accessed to find the data that defines the table being accessed. Another file that may be accessed is the data tablespace where the table is stored. Similarly, the index tablespace where the indexes on that table are stored may be accessed. A temporary tablespace where data is stored while it is being sorted for output may be accessed.
Other files that may be accessed include the rollback tablespace where the rollback segments are stored, the redo log file, which contains a sequential list of all database transactions, and an archive file.

Also, the executable files for the FAMS application, such as reports and forms, will be accessed each time they are run. If there are run time errors with FAMS, error files will be created in the Error Directory.

The First Revision

5.2 File Distribution across disk drives

Before you begin installing the FAMS application, you should decide how to distribute to data files for the database across the disk drives on your computer. This documentation provides set-up instructions for distributing data files on systems with two, three, and four disk drives.

A typical FAMS transaction uses several files that are frequently accessed simultaneously. FAMS operates most efficiently when the files being accessed at the same time are on different disk drives. When files are arranged in this way, seek time, the time is the time it takes to move the read/write head on the disk drive, is reduced. Seek time would be very high if all files were placed on one big disk drive because the disk head would have to move all over the disk to read the necessary files.

FAMS may access the following seven files at the same time:

The system tablespace is accessed to find the data that defines the table being accessed.

The data tablespace, where the table is stored.

The index tablespace, where the indexes on that table are stored may be accessed.

A temporary tablespace, where data is stored while it is being sorted for output, may be accessed.

The rollback tablespace, where the rollback segments are stored

The redo log file, which contains a sequential list of all database transactions

An archive file, which is a copy of the redo log file.

FAMS will also access executable files, such as reports and forms, each time they are run. If run time errors occur within FAMS, error files will be created in the Error Directory.

The Second Revision

5.2 File Distribution across disk drives

Before you begin installing the FAMS application, you should decide how to distribute to data files for the database across the disk drives on your computer. This section provides an overview of the files that FAMS uses during a typical transaction. The following section provides set-up instruction for distributing these data files on systems with two, three, and four disk drives.

Overview of File Types

A typical FAMS transaction uses several files that are frequently accessed simultaneously. FAMS operates most efficiently when the files being accessed at the same time are on different disk drives. When files are arranged in this way, the disk drive spends less time moving the read/write head on the disk drive, thus reducing seek time. If all files were placed on one big disk drive, seek time would be very high because the disk head would have to move all over the disk to read the necessary files.

FAMS may access the following seven files simultaneously:

FAMS will also access executable files, such as reports and forms, each time they are run. If run time errors occur within FAMS, the system will create error files in the Error Directory.