110278 LEADS: An Interactive Data Base Management System for Education Version: 1, May 1978 Submitted by: Walter Koetke, Lexington Public Schools, Lexington, MA Operating System: RSTS/E V6B, V6C Source Language: BASIC-PLUS Hardware Required: RP06, RP04, RM03 or other large disk packs are highly desirable for rapid processing. Keywords: Data Base Management, Educational Applications Abstract: The LEADS software is intended to provide local school districts with an interactive data base management system especially suited for the educational environment. The software is appropriate for: . A single, large data base containing all student, staff and financial data and all appropriate data relationships . A large RSTS/E system providing services to several school systems as each system could have its own independent, secure data base . Allowing any user to build his own mini-data base for a special application . Teaching data base concepts as each student can be manager of his own data base and operate that data base entirely on his own The available software includes: . All of the utilities required to create and maintain a data base . A powerful, easy to use query language . A report writer language . A function package that enables user written programs to interact with the data base . Documentation intended to fully describe the first four items The LEADS software includes few restrictive parameters and several features found in the very good, very expensive commercially available DBMS's. There are, of course, files which are divided into records which are divided into fields. Records can be related to other records using pointers and associators. Pointers permit "direct" access to the target record while associators require one or more intermediate steps. Fields can be accessed sequentially or by using an optional ISAM Index. Inquiries can be nearly as complex as desired with little or no regard to the software boundries of files and fields. Users can make most of their queries with no knowledge of the data structure. There is a multi-level security system that permits school systems to be as legal as they choose with their computer based data. Notes: The "LEADS Overview" manual is available only in hard-copy as listed below. The write-up and three additional manuals (FUNCT.DOC, LMANGR.DOC, QUERY.DOC) are contained on the magtape and disk. Media (Service Charge Code): User's Manual (EB), 2400' Magnetic Tape (PA) Format: DOS-11