Point-and-shoot interface

Short description: A type of computer interface

A point-and-shoot interface is an efficient object-oriented, text-based interface, usually presented on a non-GUI platform such as DOS or mainframe computers. In a point-and-shoot, many objects are displayed in a list, and to the left of each object is an input field. The operator interacts by moving the cursor to the desired object and marking it by typing a letter or number which represents a command or function.

Example

An example of a point-and-shoot is presented here (the computer is an IBM System/36):

    ACT01  YOUR APPLICATION                               GoTo Cust#______________
           WORK WITH ACCOUNTS                             GoTo Name_______________
           SORT BY CUSTOMER NUMBER                        GoTo Addr_______________
 
     CUST#    NAME                  ADDRESS
   _ 29358235 SMITH, MARY           100 PARK PLAZA
   _ 30493404 JONES, JOHN           271 LINCOLN AVE
   _ 34034559 HOOTON, DENISE        56 BROADWAY         
   _ 36359523 HOWELL, BARBARA       POST OFFICE BOX 2358
   (More)
 
   COMMANDS: 2=Edit  4=Delete  5=Rename  H=History  P=Print  
   COMMAND KEYS: RollUp/Dn 5=Add 6=Sort 7=End 8=Change Application 9=Reports 24=Sign off
 

The top of the display is called the header. It contains the program name and description, and it allows the operator to immediately "go to" a certain partial or complete customer ID, name, or address. It identifies the columns of data presented.

The middle of the display is called the data area. It consists of one input-capable field and one output field per line.

The bottom of the display is called the footer or the legend. It describes the commands the operator can use on each object, and the command keys the operator can use to control the application.

Further reading

• Amada, Carlos A. , "Point and shoot interface for linking database records to spreadsheets whereby data of a record is automatically reformatted and loaded upon issuance of a recalculation command", US patent 5293615, issued 1994-03-08, assigned to Amada, Carlos A.
• Chignell, Mark H.; Waterworth, John A. (1 February 1991). "Wimps and nerds". ACM SIGCHI Bulletin (Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)) 23 (2): 15–21. doi:10.1145/122488.123124. ISSN 0736-6906. 
• "IBM Knowledge Center". 8 August 2018. https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/en/SSXJ47_7.1.0/com.ibm.ipt.doc_7.1/iqiug/iqiugpasolist.html. 
• Ebbers, Mike (2011). "Interactive facilities of z/OS: TSO/E, ISPF, and UNIX". Introduction to the new mainframe: z/OS basics. Poughkeepsie, NY: IBM. p. 17. ISBN 978-0-7384-3534-3. OCLC 900292195. http://wwwlgis.informatik.uni-kl.de/cms/fileadmin/users/kschmidt/mainframe/lutzkuehner/Chapter04_TSO-ISPF-UNIX_Foils.pdf#page=17. 
• Lam, Richard B.; Cooper, James W.; Thieret, Scott; Simon, Jean-Christophe; Clarke, Edward P. (1991). "Multitasking in Laboratory Personal Computers". Analytical Chemistry (American Chemical Society (ACS)) 63 (1): 31A. doi:10.1021/ac00001a725. ISSN 0003-2700. 
• Rosenberg, Adam N.. "The failure of the digital computer". http://www.the-adam.com/adam/rantrave/computers.html. 
• Van Dyke, Peter (2011). "Interactive System Productivity Facility (ISPF) Panels – Advanced". IBM. https://share.confex.com/share/117/webprogram/Handout/Session9764/S9764%20-%20ISPF%20Panels%20Advanced.pdf. 
• Weyhrich, Steven (2013). "Software". Sophistication & simplicity : the life and times of the Apple II computer. Winnipeg, Manitoba: Variant Press. ISBN 978-0-9868322-7-7. OCLC 812067998. https://apple2history.org/history/ah18/. Retrieved 29 August 2018. 
• Wireman, T. (1994). Computerized Maintenance Management Systems. Industrial Press. p. 155. ISBN 978-0-8311-3054-1. https://books.google.com/books?id=eT6HN8Z-L5sC&pg=PA155.