paste: To put a copy of the contents of the Clipboard—whatever was last cut or copied—at the insertion point.

pathname: The complete name of a document beginning with the name of the disk (also called the volume name), the name of the subdirectory it's in (if it's in one), and the name of the document. The pathname begins with a slash, and the parts of the pathname are separated with slashes. It's called a pathname because it describes the route to the document.

peripheral: See peripheral device.

peripheral device: A device that is connected to the computer, like a printer or a modem.

PILOT: Acronym for Programmed Inquiry, Learning, Or Teaching. A programming language that lets teachers design their own educational software.

pinfeed paper: A stack of attached, perforated sheets designed to feed into a printer without much human intervention,

pixel: Contraction of the words picture and element. In graphics mode, text and graphics are formed by patterns of dots called pixels.

PL/1: A complex, but flexible programming language said to combine the best features of Fortran, a programming language suited to scientific applications, and COBOL, a programming language suited to business applications.

plotter: A device that prints charts and graphs by means of pens whose movements are programmed.

pointer: A marker that moves across the screen when you move the mouse across your desk (in mouse-based applications). Compare cursor.

port: A connector on the back panel of the Apple IIGS for connecting peripheral devices.

power Light: A light that tells you whether or not the Apple IIGS is on.

power strip: A device that plugs into one three-hole, grounded outlet, but that can accommodate four or six three-pronged plugs. A must if you have more than two devices that need to be plugged into a grounded, three-hole outlet.

power switch: A rocker switch on the back of the computer that you switch on when you want to use your computer.

prefix: The first part of a pathname—the name of the disk and if you like, the name of a subdirectory. Applications that ask you to type a pathname usually let you set a prefix so you don't have to type the complete pathname every time you want to work with a document on a particular disk or in a particular subdirectory. Once the prefix is set, all you do is type the rest of the pathname.

press: (1) To position the pointer on something and then hold down the mouse button without moving the mouse. (2) To hold down a key on the keyboard.

print buffer card: A card that plugs into a printer interface card that lets your Apple IIGS send an entire document to the printer at one time so you can use your computer for other things while the document is being printed.

printer: A device that produces a paper copy of the information you create using the computer.

ProDOS: Stands for Professional Disk Operating System which is the primary operating system for the Apple IIGS. ProDOS 8 and ProDOS 16 refer to versions of ProDOS designed for & and 16-bit microprocessors respectively. See also operating system.

Glossary

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