(1) Performing a particular operation automatically on a group of files all at once rather than manually opening, editing and saving one file at a time. For example, graphics software that converts a selection of images from one format to another would be a batch processing utility. See DeBabelizer.
(2) Processing a group of transactions at one time. Transactions are collected and processed against the master files (master files updated) at the end of the day or some other time period. Contrast with transaction processing.
Batch and Transaction Processing
Information systems typically use both batch and transaction processing methods. For example, in an order processing system, "transaction processing" is the continuous updating of the customer and inventory files as orders are entered. At the end of the day, "batch processing" programs generate picking lists for the warehouse. At the end of some period, invoices and management reports are printed (batch processed).
(2) Processing a group of transactions at one time. Transactions are collected and processed against the master files (master files updated) at the end of the day or some other time period. Contrast with transaction processing.
Batch and Transaction Processing
Information systems typically use both batch and transaction processing methods. For example, in an order processing system, "transaction processing" is the continuous updating of the customer and inventory files as orders are entered. At the end of the day, "batch processing" programs generate picking lists for the warehouse. At the end of some period, invoices and management reports are printed (batch processed).
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2008 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- Inside India's CAPTCHA solving economy
- No CAPTCHA can survive a human that's receiving financial incentives for solving it, and with an army of low-waged human CAPTCHA solvers officially in the business of "data processing" while earning a mere $2 for solving a thousand CAPTCHA's, I'm already starting to see evidence of consolidation between India's major...
- Blog posts 2008-08-29
- Virtual desktop solutions and mobility
- Several suppliers, including Citrix and VDIworks, have come forward to speak with me about work they're doing to address the inhibitors to deploying VDI-based solutions. Here are some of the issues these suppliers are addressing. Organizations have come to think that the only...
- Blog posts 2008-08-29
- Datacore - nothing but storage
- Angie Gonzalez, of Datacore, and I had a conversation about how virtual storage complements any type of virtual processing solution. Nearly all virtual server-based solutions gain a great deal of benefit when a supporting virtual storage strategy is also deployed. Why is that? ...
- Blog posts 2008-08-28
- Oncilla Excel2Text (exe)
- Oncilla Excel2Text is a tool to convert Excel files to Text files. The Text files can be in any of the following formats UTF8, ANSI or Unicode little endian. The tool lets you perform this conversion with out using MS Excel, it does not require that MS Excel be installed...
- Software downloads 2008-08-28
- MP3 Remix for Windows Media Player (exe)
- Enjoy your favorite songs in new and exciting ways by remixing them. Even if you have no musical ability, with MP3 Remix you can easily create and record beautiful and original interpretations of any song in your MP3 or CD music library. MP3 Remix lets you easily add beats, loops,...
- Software downloads 2008-08-28
- iPodRobot PC Transfer (exe)
- iPodRobot PC Transfer batch copy your iPod music and videos back to your computer folder or iTunes music library with just few clicks, include playlists, songs rating, comment, play count, and volume adjustment. It is useful when you reinstall your system or you just want to copy music and videos...
- Software downloads 2008-08-27
- FAA computer failure slows nationwide air traffic
- A computer problem at the Federal Aviation Administration center in Atlanta has created air traffic problems across the country. From WSB Radio in Atlanta: FAA Computer Problems: Failure in the system that processes flight plans in the eastern U.S. FAA says no danger is involved. System...
- Blog posts 2008-08-26
- HP reincarnates old ink cartridges as key part for new printer
- HP reincarnates old ink cartridges as key part for new printerRecycling is the 2nd WORST thing you can do!You can't help but wonder how many millions of perfectly good, re-usable cartridges have been sacrificed at the alter of HP's "environmental mission". Recycling is the 2nd WORST thing you can do,...
- Discussion threads 2008-08-26
- A-PDF Password Security (exe)
- A-PDF Password Security is a desktop utility program that lets you change password security of existing Acrobat PDF files. That means you can protect PDF files with 128 bit encryption or remove the password protection. It can handle either single or batch documents with a wizard. Another convenience feature is...
- Software downloads 2008-08-26
- Cylekx (exe)
- The new top photo editor / graphics design / web animation program. Does layers and multiframes. Has 5 image types including vector graphics and binary. Uses wands, quantizing, batch processing, virtualizing, and 14+ image formats including .svg .gif .avi. This version is the first release on CNET Download.com.
- Software downloads 2008-08-26
- Does Big Brother know where you've been surfing?
- Does Big Brother know where you've been surfing?microsoft.com & msdn, plus some weird gothic stuff knowing you:PRE: Does Big Brother know where you've been surfing?It'd be easier if my ISP asked me which porn sites I was going to instead of doing the deep packet sniffing. I'd be glad to...
- Discussion threads 2008-08-25
- Does Big Brother know where you've been surfing?
- If you think no one will ever know about the Web sites you were surfing last night, guess again. It may not be your spouse, your boss or a cop - but there's growing interest in what sort of data your Internet Service Provider is collecting about your viewing habits....
- Blog posts 2008-08-25
- Olympics set the stage for Web tech fight
- The summer Olympic games provided the first battleground for a war between Microsoft and Adobe over the Internet's next big competition. SEATTLE--As the world's best athletes competed in Beijing, the summer Olympic games set the stage for a battle between Microsoft and Adobe over the Internet's next big competition....
- News items 2008-08-25
- Salesforce quarter on target
- Salesforce quarter on targetIs Salesforce.com the new ADP ... or the next Datapoint?This headline recently appeared in several places across the Web:"Salesforce.com Passes $1 Billion Annual Revenue Mark"THIS IS NOT TRUE. I don't know whether this material misstatement arose from media manipulation or an honest mistake, but it's genesis...
- Discussion threads 2008-08-24
- I'm done with GMail
- I'm done with GMailRE: I'm done with GMailI was going to go off on 'WTF are you on about?' but I read the 'inbox zero' page first & saw this paragraph,"Gmail's made me see the value of having very few actual folders for storing new and archived mail. It makes...
- Discussion threads 2008-08-23
- Olympus SP-570 UZ
- Photos and image samples:Olympus SP-570 UZOnce you mention the Olympus SP-570's 20x zoom lens, the rest of the camera's feature set seems almost superfluous; with an atypically wide-angle lens for any class of single-body cameras plus an exceptionally long telephoto view, the lens is the raison d'être for the camera....
- Product reviews 2008-08-22
- Are we ready to declare the "time of death" for the enterprise data center?
- Are we ready to declare the "time of death" for the enterprise data center?CheapHow is cloud computing cheaper for huge corporations?No enterprises are using...the cloud for things like this. Only individuals and small companies that don't want to pay for there own internal IT.In fact, bloggers are the only people...
- Discussion threads 2008-08-22
- Are we ready to declare the "time of death" for the enterprise data center?
- The announcement this week of the launch of Amazon's Elastic Block Store EBS adds another vital piece to the cloud computing picture. The announcement is particularly significant since it takes the gloves off when it comes to meeting the demanding needs of enterprise class computing requirements. The Elastic Block Store...
- Blog posts 2008-08-22
- Intel teases shape-shifting programmable matter
- Intel CEO Justin Rattner teased his Intel Developer Forum audience with technology of the not-so-disant-future that could take an object design of any imaginable shape, 'hit the print command,' and see the matter take shape. SAN FRANCISCO, CA--Mobile phones in future could be thumb-sized in pockets, and in practically...
- News items 2008-08-22
- Worker suspended over loss of data on all English prisoners
- An employee at Home Office contractor PA Consulting has been suspended after the loss of a memory stick holding the unencrypted details of every prisoner in England and Wales. A staff member at PA Consulting Group has been suspended after the contractor lost details on all prisoners in England...
- News items 2008-08-22
Neighboring Terms
Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors
- Access the latest Intel and industry best practices
-
Designed specifically to address the concerns of senior IT managers at organizations with more than 100 employees, the Intel Premier IT Professional Program provides best practices via local and e-Seminars and a members-only Web site.
- View the Intel Premier IT Professional web-site tour >>
- Visit the all new ZDNet Enterprise Mobility Hub sponsored by Verizon Wireless. It has the latest news, commentary, and resources for your mobile strategy development.
- Read the latest from Matthew Miller's The Mobile Gadgeteer Blog
- Five steps to protect mobile devices anywhere, anytime
- Watch a video about Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS)
- Learn how you can fetch your email from anywhere
- All this and more on the ZDNet Enterprise Mobility Hub
