Data Capture and Output

Abstract

There is a widespread tendency for the data capture aspects of a system to be given scant attention, because the analyst considers that it is more important to concentrate on the computer processing part of the job. Yet this attitude ignores the fact that more time can be wasted in a system by bad data capture techniques than can ever be saved by even the most elegant programming. Similar considerations can also be applied to input and output. Furthermore, lack of attention to the input phase of a system will almost certainly increase the number of errors entering the system. This latter point will be discussed in greater detail in the section on Data Security (Part III, 15).