This glossary provides definitions of terms used in the Amiga manuals.
An option, selected through the Input editor, that causes the pointer movement to increase as the mouse is moved at a constant speed. Acceleration provides a higher degree of control for small mouse movements and less control, but greater mouse speed, for large movements.
A gadget in a window that performs an operation in the window when you select the gadget. Common action gadgets are Save, Continue, and Cancel.
Advanced Graphics Architecture (AGA)
The disk operating system (DOS) used by Amiga computers. A disk operating system provides the basic functions of the computer.
A program or collection of programs that perform a specific task, such as a word processor, database, or video title.
An application window into which you can drag an icon to load the icon file into the application. The MultiView window and Amiga file requester are AppWindows.
An additional piece of information, such as a file name, value, or option, included along with a command. This information determines the exact actions of the command.
ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange)
A standardized format for text that assigns code numbers to characters, allowing the exchange of information between different types of computers.
To link a logical device name to a directory name with the ASSIGN command. This lets programs that use that directory use a single device name in all cases. For example, the device name T: is commonly assigned to the directory name RAM:T.
A series of flags stored with every file. Attributes indicate file type and control the operations (read, write, delete, and so forth) permissible on the file. Also called protection bits.
A special type of window that has no borders, is as large as the screen, and is always behind all other windows on the screen.
The speed at which a device receives or transmits information in serial communication. Roughly equivalent to bits per second.
An area of RAM that holds screen graphics data. Each bit in a bitplane controls one screen pixel. The number of bitplanes for a screen controls the maximum number of simultaneous colors possible for that screen.
To start the system by reading the information needed from a storage device, such as a floppy or hard disk, into the computer's memory. Also refers to items used in this process: the boot disk. (See reboot.)
Refers to a device from which the Amiga can boot. A bootable disk must contain all the system files needed for the computer to start operation.
An image of a stopwatch that appears in place of the normal pointer when the Workbench is busy and cannot accept further input. Also called the wait pointer.
A gadget that lets you turn an option on or off. When a check mark appears in the box, the option is selected, or on.
A miniaturized electronic circuit, housed in a small, black, rectangular block edged by metal connector pins. A computer is made up of a variety of specialized chips.
The area of RAM accessible to the Amiga's custom chip set. This memory is used for graphics and sound data. Also called graphics memory.
A means of communicating with a computer by issuing commands from the keyboard. The Shell is the Amiga's CLI.
To press and release a mouse button. Refers to the selection (left) mouse button unless otherwise specified.