Computer Production of the Programme Index at the BBC

Abstract

The Programme Index covers domestic radio and television broadcasts of the BBC. Following a recommendation by Aslib consultants, it was decided to replace the existing card index system by a computer‐printed index. The COIN package, developed by the NCC, was chosen to run on the BBC's ICL 1904S computer. COIN is a suite of nine programs for maintaining files and printing indexes in a variety of formats, with great flexibility in output formats and data input formats. After some modifications to the programs, COIN was used to produce five index sequences: a main catalogue in programme title order, three KWOC indexes to titles, contributors' names and subjects, and an M.P.'s list in KWIC format. OCR typing is used for data input of the 65,000 items a year. Output is monthly cumulating COM fiche. The appearance and performance of the index is superior to the old card index at lower cost, although the major revision of subject headings and other indexing rules consequent upon computerisation is responsible for much of the improvement.