The Electronic Directory (ELDIR) Directory Assistance program is designed especially for operators at directory assistance positions. It allows an operator to efficiently retrieve information stored and maintained on a central computer or file server. The purpose of this manual is to describe the query formats and commands available to the terminal operator.
The ELDIR system is not at all intended to replace an experienced directory assistance operator. Its main purpose is to make the look-up portion of the task easier and faster. The operator must still be familiar with the directory listings for the organization and must interpret all information to and from the caller.
A general goal for each information call is to try to determine from the caller as much about the desired information as possible. Then, through queries typed on the keyboard, the wide range of possible telephone numbers may be successively narrowed until the desired number is found.
Directory Files
Directory information is stored in directory files. Each directory file is like a section in a printed telephone directory. ELDIR supports up to 50 separate directory files, each of which is identified by a file name (up to eight characters long), and by a short name (one or two characters long). The user can access a file with either the long or short name, but the short name is usually quicker and easier. See Getting Started for help with viewing file names.
There are two types of ELDIR directory files - single-level and multi-level. Single-level files contain no structure (each listing stands alone). This type of file is similar to the white pages of a residential phone book, and its listings are generally alphabetized. Personnel files are usually (but not always) single-level files. Because there is no organizational structure to single-level files, some of the query options do not apply to them.
Multi-level files, on the other hand, have organizational structure. Some listings belong to, or fall under, other listings. For example, in the yellow pages section of a phone book, the categorized headings are the parent, or top-level listings, and each individual listing belongs to one of the categories, or top-level listings. Multi-level files are used for many types of directory information, including organizational directories and topical cross references. In a multi-level file, only the top-level entries are alphabetized. A number of query options are available to navigate through the structure of a multi-level file.
|
Throughout this documentation, ENTER refers to the ENTER key on the main keyboard. The ENTER key on the numeric key pad acts as a TAB. |