The Gazette 1989

GAZETTE

OCTOBER 1989

processing screens attached to it. The screens are not dumb, but the main processing is left to the Central Computer and thereby all the screens are working in the compu t er itself rather t han processing on their own. The screens using such system can carry out any one or more of the functions available on the computer. The computer system allows multiple numbers of people to connect to it [MULTI-USER]. They can do any number of different tasks on it, such as word pro- cessing, accounts, database or external communications [MULTI- TASKING]. These tasks can all be done and continued at the same time and the user can flick back and f o r t h be t ween tasks [MULTI- FUNCTION]. The method of organising all these computer facilities is called the UNIX operating system. Such a system is usually called a multi-user system. If UNIX is not used, a multiple system of linked personal computers is loosely called a " ne two r k ". Network Systems The network system is one whereby a group of P.C. terminals are linked in a network. Each terminal has its own processing capacity. This may be a hard disk or floppy disk. In the better network systems, the contents of each processor can be saved in a Central Storage or Processing Unit (often described as a 'file server' or 'console unit') for extraction later. The purpose of a network system is to enable a series of different personal computers to operate to- gether in such a way that informa- tion processed on one computer can be stored in a central computer, i.e. a file server and accessed by another personal computer working elsewhere on the ring. Which is Better, Multi-User or Network? This is the core question of this paper and one on which I have strong feelings. In my opinion, the Multi-user system is now the most cost effective solution in a solicitor's office. This is because it is structured around the UNIX opera- ting system whereas the present network systems are structured around the single-user MSDOS operating system.

Unix. Multi-Nationals are changing over to Unix for Contracts, large or small, because it is the same language, no matter what machine it is running on. This has recently been acknowledged by I.B.M., who have made huge commitment to Unix and have set out to make it the Standard of the Nineties. Unix runs on Mainframes, Mini- computers, Microcomputers and Personal Computers. It is now the principal offering on the new breed of Super-micros using the 386 and 486 (Buzzwords!) chips. Programs, documents and data on one system are easily transported to another. Perhaps this is why it is so successful. HOW DOES UNIX MULTI-USER FIT INTO THE SOLICITORS OFFICE? A solicitor's firm using Unix needs to know absolutely nothing about its operation. Being an operating system it simply puts program options on screen for users to employ, and sits invisibly behind. A typical Unix multi-user applica- tion in a Solicitors office can be as follows:- • The Solicitor uses the screen for obtaining office information, accounts, client information, communications, electronic mail telephone numbers, fax num- bers, monitoring assistants' work etc. • The paralegal obtains informa- tion for the purpose of dealing with files and uses the system also for generating word pro- cessing and accounts docu- ments. • The other fee-earners and staff use the system for word pro- cessing, precedent document production, accounts input, information searching, printing and maintenance. All the word processing in the office is done on the system. All daily letters and documents are produced on the system and printed on high speed laser printers. • Precedents are produced auto- matically be paralegal and office staff. The Solicitor checks the documents which do not need to be heavily proof-read as they come from checked precedents. • Instant information in relation to all the accounts of the firm is available at all times. Up to date exception reporting on all the

To explain further, UNIX was designed for many screens, many functions, many tasks and many users whereas network systems are centred around a series of single user PCs linked in a manner which, in my opinion, does not suit the running of a solicitor's business. COMPARISON OF MULTI-USER AND NETWORK SYSTEMS Multi-User Systems - The Unix Solution. The writer favours a multi-user approach. Unix, the operating system in use for multi-user com- puters has become the principal business operating system of the late 1980s. The main business applications of the early 1990s, including legal offices, will be straight Unix applications. What is it? I dare not try to explain here how the Unix operating system works. Suffice to say that it is a business computer tool to which all the users have access and which has no limit of application. This means that one can link all or any of the functions carried on in a solicitors office, large or small. For example, one can link Solicitors accounts with word pro- cessing, word processing w i th accounts, client information on data base and information retrieval, etc. etc. Information contained in one section of a computer system can be related to a function of another. Meanwhile, the operator sees none of this as the Unix operating system sits behind the sceen and is effectively invisible. Who uses it? A huge volume of business orien- tated software is written for Unix. There are constant developments in office automation through Unix which has left other operating systems behind. The success of Unix can be gauged by the fact that the large computer Vendors such as I.B.M., D.E.C., Unisys, Wang, Nixdorf, Bull, I.C.L. etc. have all now embraced Unix, leaving their own proprietary systems behind. This leaves the customer free to choose whatever hardware he wishes and operate it under Unix. All government contracts in U.S.A. and Europe specify the Unix operating system. More and more Irish government contracts specify

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