AIPOS

This document serves as a user manual for AIPOS (Analytical Instrument Programming Operating System), a comprehensive operating system designed for the PDP-12/40 and larger Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) systems. Published in May 1971, AIPOS facilitates real-time data acquisition and manipulation in laboratory settings, offering a user-friendly structure and a common data base for various functions.

The system's core is the Job Control Language (JCL) processor, which guides users through function requests with an interactive display, allowing for dynamic error detection. Key functionalities detailed in the manual include:

1. DORA (Display Oriented Research Analysis): Provides display and mathematical routines for viewing and manipulating acquired data. This includes operations like integrating, differentiating, calibrating axes, stripping baselines or peaks, scaling, normalizing, and performing binary arithmetic (add, subtract). It uses cursors and A/D knobs for interaction and display manipulation.
2. File Handling Functions: A set of seven functions for manipulating stored data files, such as MOVE (copy files), TRANSFER (change data format during transfer), PRINT (print file/header), DISHDR (display header), FIXHDR (create/store header), INTERPOLATE (adjust file size), and CREATE (build data files).
3. FOCAL.12: A version of FOCAL-12 integrated within AIPOS for more specialized data manipulation tasks, compatible with AIPOS file formats.

The manual also covers system functions like Job Control command formats, mnemonic unit codes for I/O devices, default unit assignments, and the DISPLAY INDEX utility for managing mass storage file indexes. Appendices provide quick references for starting procedures, DORA commands, error messages, and examples of display frames. AIPOS requires minimum hardware of a PDP-12/40 and AIP-12 Analytical Instrument Processor, with optional RK8 disk cartridge systems.