DOCS (software)
| Industry | Software |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Brookline, Massachusetts , United States |
| Products | DOCS (Display Operator Console Support) |
DOCS (Display Operator Console Support) was a software solution developed by CFS Inc. for IBM mainframe systems, allowing operators to access the system console through terminals compatible with 3270.
Historically, operators of IBM mainframes relied on electro-mechanical consoles resembling typewriters, which were standard on most IBM 360 and 370 models. Exceptions included some advanced models equipped with video consoles and the Model 20, which lacked a console entirely. Smaller variants of the IBM 360 and 370 series commonly used ruggedized Selectric keyboards, representing an enhancement over teletype devices but still presenting operational challenges. Although certain models featured video consoles, these were often less intuitive and did not cover a significant portion of IBM’s mainframe user base, particularly those running DOS and its VSE versions.
The DOCS package replaced the traditional typewriter-style interface with a video display resembling contemporary instant messaging applications, providing a data input line at the screen's bottom and continuously scrolling messages above in real time. Despite this new interface, command structures remained consistent with established systems.
Compatibility for DOCS included DOS, DOS/VS, DOS/VSE, and it was also integrated into third-party operating systems such as EDOS, developed by The Computer Software Company, which was eventually acquired by Nixdorf.
Software
DOCS was compatible with various DOS-derived operating systems:
Hardware
Manufacturers that incorporated DOCS into their operating system distributions encompassed:
Development
The development of DOCS took place at CFS, Inc., based in Brookline, Massachusetts, specifically within the Kayser-Roth data center located in Whitman, Massachusetts. The video interface was engineered by Dick Goran, while Leigh Lundin was responsible for designing the operating system interface along with the transcript logging functionality.
Fx
Because DOCS necessitated a dedicated disk partition—and given that DOS supported only three partitions and DOS/VS up to seven—reserving one partition for DOCS reduced overall system flexibility. To mitigate this limitation, Leigh Lundin created Fx, a pseudo-partition mechanism that avoided sacrificing an actual partition. In the DOS/VS environment, Fx appeared as F0 within SDI's Grasp utility.
Marketing
In North America, DOCS was marketed directly by CFS, Inc., headquartered in Brookline, Massachusetts. For international distribution, CFS relied on mail order sales and partnerships with local dealers. Additionally, DOCS was incorporated into third-party operating systems such as EDOS and vDOS as part of their software bundles.