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Glossary

A master glossary defining terms used on caddpower.com

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.Mac

A fee based online internet service offered by Apple Computers composed of various components incluidng email, web pages, filei sharing pages, web blogs and several other services. www.mac.com

Synonyms: Dot.Mac
AFP

AppleTalk Filei Protocol. A newtork protcol that allows file sharing to work across an AppleTalk Network. AppleTalk was commonly from Mac OS 6 through Mac OS 9.

AIFF

Audio Interchange Filei Format. An Apple Macintosh native file format for storing audio files. AIFi or AIFF files are high quality, uncompressed, audio files. The format was co-developed by Apple based on Electronic Arts Interchange File Format (IFF)

Synonyms: AIF
ASCII

American Standard Code for Information Interchange (pronounced ask-ee). The ASCIIi character set contains 128 standard codes for it's total character set which may be used on multiple computer operating systems.

BCC

Short for Blind Carbon Copy. When an email message is sent, an address entered in the TO or CC (carbon copy) fields are visible to everyone who receives the nessage. An address entered in the BCCi field is hidden to everyone. The person receiving the BCC message sees all addresses in the TO or CC fields but no one can see the BCC addressee.

Clipboard

A temporary holding space where content is kept after performing a Copy or Cut operation. The computer clipboardi may contain only one item at a time; cutting or copying new content deletes the previous content of the clipboard. Content in the clipboard may be used to move information from one application to another using the Paste menu item.

CMS

Content Management System. A CMSi page is created, saved, edited and delivered dynamically from the web server. The content of a website is stored in a database on a server and the content of a web page is generated on the fly when a visitor accesses a page. Put another way, the content of the page is not pre-written. Content is changed and created using a web browser allowing users to update their site from remotely. For comparison, traditional websites are built from static pages that must be hand coded then uploaded to a web server -- the content of the page is pre-written.

Codec

Short for "compression/decompression", a codeci is a piece of computer software with a special algorithm that reduces the filei size of information such as audio and video. A file is encoded with a specific codec to make it smaller and requires the same codec to decode the same file for playback.

CRON

A system level command found in Unix based operating systems (example: Mac OSi X, Linux) used to schedule commands to run at specific times. The tasks performed are often, generically, referred to as a croni-job or CRONJOB or cronjob. A cronjob might be a system level maintenance task just as removing cache files.

Synonyms: crontab
CSS

Cascading Style Sheet. An open standard developed by the World Wide Web Consortium which allows designers to describe how documents are presented on screen. The rules defined in a style sheet are read in sequence, cascading like a waterfall from the top down (first to last). The rules can define the size, style and color of fonts or the physical location of elements on the screen. The use of a style sheet allows the style (look and feel) of a page to be separated from the content (what it says) and the markup (how the page is structured).

DMG

A Mac OSi X Disk Image Filei that may be mounted on your Desktop which behaves much like a traditional hardware disk such as a CD, DVD or hard drive volumei. The Disk Image may contain files and folders which can be copied from the disk image to your computer. To access the contents of a disk image, double click it's icon on your Desktop.

Synonyms: *.DMG
Dot.Mac

A fee based online internet service offered by Apple Computers composed of various components incluidng email, web pages, filei sharing pages, web blogs and several other services. www.mac.com

Synonyms: .Mac
DWF

Design Web Format. An open standard, filei type, developed by AutoDESK to allow for the exchange of information of content created using their AutoCAD software by users who may not have or use AutoCAD. Data may be viewed and printed but not edited using a free DWFi viewing application (Windows OSi only). DWF files may also be embedded in Web Pages (ActiveX), Word, or Excel files. Click to read AutoDESKs DWF White Paper

Synonyms: *.DWF, dwf, *.dwf
DWG

DWGi is the native filei format for Autodesk’s AutoCAD® software. The internal drawing file format and extension (*.dwg) created by AutoDESK for their AutoCAD drawing application running in the Windows computer operating system. Applications other than AutoCAD may also be able to save or open files in this file format.

Synonyms: dwg, *.DWG, *.dwg
DXF

The Drawing Interchange Format and filei extension (*.dxfi) created by AutoDESK (authors of AutoCAD). DXF files can be created by almost all CAD applications. Applications other than AutoCAD may also be able to save or open files in this file format.

Synonyms: dxf, *.dxf, *.DXF
File

Any named collection of information stored on a disk. Application programs and documents are examples of files. You make a file when you create information (such as text or graphics) using a program, give the material a name and save it on a disk.

FTP

Filei Transfer Protocol. A set of rules or standards for transfering files from one computer to another across the internet. Transfering files via FTPi requires a special client (local application program) and a server setup specifically to allow the FTP protocol.

Gigabyte

Often abbreviated GBi or G. A measure of computer memory (RAMi) or hard disk storage. One Gigabyte is approximately 1,024 Megabytes.

Synonyms: GB
GUI

Graphical User Interface. An interface or bridge between the user and the operating system consisting of graphic images or icons. A GUIi allows the user to input information and commands into the computer in a graphic versus keystroke method. Macintosh Computers are considered to use a GUI.

H.264

H.264i, also known as MPEG-4i AVC (Advanced Video Coding), is a high quality, small filei size, video compression standard.

HIGs

Human Interface Guidelines. A set of recommendations and procedures for software developers to follow for creating a common look and feel for a software application based on studies of human-computer interaction. A well defined set of HIGsi is critical to developing software that is efficient and intuitive to use.

HPGL

Hewlett-Packard Graphics Language. A computer language used to control pen-plotters. It converted object coordinates on screen to Pen up, Pen down and X,Y coordinate values which could be used to plot computer drawings on sheets of paper using pen and pencil plotters. The language was a de-facto standard for most plotters. While still in limited use, it became less common place (virtually obsolute) as RTLi (Raster Transfer Language) and Postscript Printers/Plotters became more common in the market.

HTTP

HyperText Transfer Protocol. A cross-platform open standard communication protocol used to send and receive information on the internet between web browsers and web servers.

iDisk

One of the Dot.Maci suite of services offered by Apple computer for their fee based internet services. With iDiski, you can use your files even when you're away from your computer. You can access your files from any computer connected to the Internet, or even share your files with your friends and coworkers.

JPEG

Short for Joint Photographic Experts Group. An open filei format for saving raster (pixeli based images) which may be shared across multiple operating systems. The file format supports different levels of compress which are lossyi.

Synonyms: JPG
lossy

A form of compression commonly applied to JPEGi files which reconstructs the data approximately instead of exactly by attempting to eliminate redundant or unnecessary information, thereby reducing the level of detail in a file.

MOV

Short for Movie Filei. A QuickTime movie file format developed by Apple. This is a common, open, cross platform standard which has been openly adopted by the Motion Picture Industry for the exchange of multimedia data.

MPEG

Moving Picture Expert Group. A set of open standards for a lossyi compression format used for coding and compressing audio and video data (music, movies, etc.) in a digital format. Current standards include MPEG-1i, MPEG-2, MPEG-3, and MPEG-4.

Synonyms: MPG, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-3, MPEG-4, MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG3, MPEG4
Opacity

The condition of lacking transparencyi or translucence. We cannot see through objects which are 100% opaque. Adjusting opacityi determines to what degree information is hidden or revealed below. For example, an opacity of 100% hides all information below. An opacity of 10% would appear almost transparent, allowing you to see through to objects below.

OS

Short for Operating System. Typically refers to a type of computer operating system. For example, Windows, Mac, Unix, and Linux are each examples of an OSi.

PCD

Short for PowerCADD, a computer aided design program by Engineered Software. When followed by a number (e.g. PCDi 8 ), the number refers to the version number of the product.

Synonyms: PCD 6, PCD 7, PCD 8, PCD 9
PDF

Portable Document Format and filei extension (*.pdfi) created by Adobe which allows a document distributed across multiple operating systems to retain formatting.

PICT

An Apple Macintosh filei format for saving raster (pixeli based) images. The file format is uncompressed and therefore loss-less. The file format typically cannot be opened natively on Windows Operating System, however some cross platform applications such as Adobe Photoshop can read the file format on both the Macintosh and Windows Operating Systems.

Synonyms: *.PICT, PCT, *.PCT
pixel

Short for Picture Element: the smallest part of a digital image. For general comparison, in non-digital (real world) terms, a pixeli can be considered akin to a tile that makes up the picture in a traditional tile mosaic.

PNG

Portable Network Graphic. Designed as a replacement for the older GIF filei format commonly used on web pages. PNGi is designed as a loss-less compression format which supports alpha channels (also commonly referred as opacityi or transparencyi) and 48 bit true color (as compared to GIF's 8 bit color).

Synonyms: *.PNG
PPD

Postscript Printer Description. A text filei that defines the specific characteristics of a postscript printer. The PPDi file contains various printer specific options such as margin sizes, page sizes, or custom printing options that a specific model of printer supports. Each printer manufacturer has a PPD file for their various models of printers which work in conjunction with an Operating Systems printer utlities to communicate and generate accurate printed output.

PSD

The suffix or extension used to by Adobe for files created using Adobe Photoshop software. Applications other than Photoshop may also be able to save or open files in this file format.

Synonyms: *.PSD
RAM

Short for Random Access Memory. RAMi is the working memory of a computer used to temporarily store information for processing. When the computer is shut off, all information in RAM is emptied (erased) as compared to information stored on a hard drive which is remembered. When you open an application or filei, it is loaded into RAM. When saved, a file is saved from RAM to your hard disk.

RSS

Is short for Rich Site Summary. RSSi is an XMLi-based language which represents information on the World Wide Web in a form which may be syndicated (subscribed to) in special news reader applications. RSS allows your news reader program to bring a websites news feed directly to your computer.

Synonyms: RSS is also often referred to as Really Simple Syndication.
RTL

Raster Transfer Language. A printer/plotter language developed by Hewlett-Packard for output of CAD files to large output devices. Rather than converting the drawing to Pen Up, Pen Down and XY movments used in their HPGLi language, RTLi images the entire file and outputs it as a large raster (pixeli based) image file.

SGI

Silicon Graphics Indigeo: an uncompressed, high quality, raster (pixeli based) filei format common in Silicon Graphics platform.

Transparency

The condition of being transparent or see through. An object which is 100% transparent is invisible. In simple terms, transparencyi is the result of changing an objects opacityi.

URL

Uniform Resource Locator. The address of a resource on the internet. URLs come in different forms. Web site URLs begin with HTTPi.

Synonyms: Universal Resource Locator
Volume

A general term referring to a storage device; a source of or a destination for information. Often used in reference to hard disks, CD-ROMs, DVD's and filei servers. A volumei can be an entire disk or only part of a disk. When referring to sound, volume refers to the quantity or power of sound (the degree of loudness) with respect to the audible playback level of an audio track.

VPN

Virtual Private Network: a way to use an open/public telecommunication infrastructure (example: the Internet) to provide remote access for users to their organizations internal network services.

VRAM

Video Random Access Memory. High speed memory dedicated to rendering information to your computers display.

W3C

Short for World Wide Web Consortium- the international governing body for the development of platform independent web standards and specifications. ( www.w3i.org )

Synonyms: W3
WAV

Waveform Audio format. An uncompressed digital audio format developed by Microsoft and native to the Windows Operating System. Similar in concept to AIFF on the Macintosh Operating System.

Synonyms: *.WAV
WebDAV

World Wide Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning. A platform-independent extension of HTTPi defined by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) that allows users to collaboratively manage files on Web servers.

WYSIWYG

What You See Is What You Get. Typically refers to what you see on a computer screen is the same as what you see when an item is printed. For example the layout of your document in a word processor or desktop publishing program looks the same on screen and on the printed page.

XML

Extensible Markup Language (*.xmli). A open standard language developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) which allows information to be encoded in a format that can be shared among different applications and operating systems.

XREF

Short for External Reference. An association between multiple files to create one single file that is composed of the associated pieces.

Synonyms: X-Ref, X-REF, X-ref, Xref