FIELD BUREAU IBM PC PILOT PROJECT--STATUS REPORT JANUARY 1986

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP94-00798R000200150078-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 9, 2012
• Sequence Number: 78
• Publication Date: January 16, 1986
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved forRelease2012/08/10 : CIA-RDP94-00798R000200150078-4
UNULAnirIEU nfr7TS
MEMORANDUM FOR: FBIS Bureau Chiefs
FROM:
SUBJECT:
164ianuary 1986
Advanced Development Division, ESG/FBIS
Field Bureau IBM PC Pilot Project--Status Report
January 1986
1. ESG/ADD'S FY85 contract with CRW included two specific
tasks: bureau training and application development. This
report will summarize the status of these tasks, evaluate the
successes and problems encountered, review plans for FY86, and
recommend future directions for the project.
BUREAU TRAINING
2. During FY85 CRW conducted a two week training course (in
actuality the course length ranged from six days in Vienna to
three weeks in London) at all FBIS field bureaus. The course
covered the use of the IBM PC hardware, commercial software
packages for word processing (MULTIMATE) and
spreadsheet/database management (LOTUS 1-2-3) and specific ADD
developed applications (CAAS-L and CAAS-R).
3. All bureaus were enthusiastic in their praise for the
CRW trainers: their knowledge, flexibility, and dedication.
4. The success of the training program at individual
bureaus appeared to be directly related to the number of
students per class and number of classes. Those bureaus that
followed ADD guidance that class size be limited to a maximum of
three students per PC were pleased with the training. Integral
to our training concept was the idea that CRW would train a core
of users at each bureau and leave the bureau with the expertise
to train other users. The training agenda was developed with
sufficient time for individual tutorials and application
customization. Bureaus that did not follow ADD direction in
this area reported insufficient time for the training.
Me! ACCIFIN)
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/10: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200150078-4
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/10: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200150078-4
5. The effect of CRW's willingness to accomodate the
desires of the bureaus was both positive and negative. Each
bureau was unique in its physical setup for the training, in the
level of user experience, and the time available for dedicated
class time. CRW was able to restructure its training within
these unpredictable demands. However, when ADD and CRW
accomodated bureau requests for additional students by
scheduling additional classes and/or reducing the amount of
laboratory time available to individual students, we impacted
negatively on the total training effect at that bureau.
APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT
6. In the area of application development we continue to
make progress although more slowly than we would ever imagine.
7. There are six areas in which ADD is sponsoring
applications for the bureaus: message header generation,
monthly production report, personnel, cruising, inventory, and
FSR.
Message Header Generation
B. The message header generation application was originally
written as a dBaseII application by MITRE and distributed to the
bureaus as CAAS-L. It automated the database functions related
to the bureaus' maintenance of lateral service packages and the
generation of header tapes. The system requirements were based
on London bureau's procedures, and as a result CAAS-L satisfied
London's needs but no other bureau was able to use it as
written.
9. During its training trips CRW collected requirements for
additions and modifications to the CAAS-L design from all
bureaus (especially Vienna). Last fall CRW documented these
revised requirements and developed a new program known as BACH
(Bureau Automated Communications Header) written in TURBO
PASCAL. BACH functions include all those provided by CAAS-L
plus those requested by the bureaus during last summer's
survey. Additional functions include bureau choice of either
2.
UNCLASSIFIED
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/10: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200150078-4
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/10: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200150078-4
UNULMblrit.0
ACP 127 or JANAP 128 formats, print and punch interfaces for
header tapes, and AIGS. The next release of BACH will include
the option to create message text, merge this text with the
header, perform all necessary ASCII to BAUDOT conversion and
pinkie coding. This capability may be available in time for the
initial shipment to the bureaus of BACH software and hardware.
10. BACH hardware requirements include a PC with 10MB hard
disk, Black Box interface device, and EXTEL B315. ADD will
provide the bureaus with everything but the EXTEL. The Black
Box device provides a current loop interface between the PC and
the EXTEL B315. London completed their test of BACH on 13
January. The Black Boxes and the PC's have been purchased by
CRW and will be shipped this quarter. Our plan is to ship
PC/XT'S and Black Boxes to the following bureaus: KW, PA, PY,
TA, GF, JN, AB, and MB. Black Boxes will be shipped to LD and
NC. FED will be shipping PC/XT'S and DSI 2400 reader/punches to
SK, OW, HK, and BK as part of its EXTEL replacement program. AU
will be provided additional hardware and software as part of its
pilot local area network (LAN) project.
Production Report
11. This dBaseII program (CAAS-R) compiles and prints
monthly sourceline wordage reports. It was written by MITRE and
modified by CRW. A majority of bureaus are using it; no one
has reported any major problems with it; and there are no plans
to upgrade or modify it in any way.
LOTUS 1-2-3 APPLICATIONS
12. CRW has recently designed several integrated LOTUS
1-2-3 spreadsheets and accompanying macros (programs) that
support bureau record keeping and reporting. These programs and
accompanying installation and use instructions will be pouched
to the bureaus in February. These applications all have FBIS
headquarters approval but have not been approved by any other
organization other than Office of Security (as unclassified
applications). They are meant to supplement existing bureau
record keeping. Use of the applications is at the bureau's
option. If the bureau has any problem with these applications,
ADD and CRW will support the resolution of that problem.
3.
UNCLASSIFIED
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/10: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200150078-4
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/10: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200150078-4
UNCLASSIFIED
Personnel Report
13. Once the basic fields are filled in for staff and
non-staff personnel, macros support the automatic printout of
monthly staff and nonstaff reports, the composite pay action
report, and the mass pay adjustment report. The user also has
access to all LOTUS commands for sorts and extracts on the
database.
Cruising Files
14. CRW has developed a generic cruising spreadsheet with
several macros to simplify the sort and extraction of data from
the file.
Inventory
15. The inventory application includes fields for all
information necessary for automatic extract and generation of
the accountable property report. Macros have been written to
perform a variety of sorts. The users can add additional
categories of information beyond those required for the
accountable property report. This file does not satisfy the
requirements for maintenance of the FAB cards and is not audit
approved.
FSR
16. The FSR application is based on procedures developed
and implemented at Okinawa Bureau. A Master FSR file including
all authorized SOC/Categories is provided with bureau
customization instructions. A SOC/Category file is created and
maintained on a monthly basis with printouts provided for all
ledger entries including date, description, and amounts
obligated, disbursed, unliquidated and authorized. The
unliquidated and authorized amounts are automatically computed
and updated based on the obligated and disbursed entries.
Interim reports can be provided. Totals from each SOC/Category
file can be combined into the FSR semi-automatically.
17. This application will be shipped as soon as ADD and B&F
have verified that all the automatic functions work properly and
have documented these new procedures for use by bureau
administrative personnel.
4.
UNCLASSIFIED
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/10: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200150078-4
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/10: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200150078-4
nrsvr
)t,
FY86 PLANS
18. During FY86, CRW's contract provides for the
procurement of IBM PC/XT's and associated hardware for use with
the BACH software, for conducting two training courses at
headquarters, for completing the deployment of the BACH software
and the LOTUS applications, and for the continuing support and
maintenance of all ADD sponsored applications. The PC/XT's have
been purchased and are being tested prior to shipment. London
has just completed a thorough test of BACH. All LOTUS
applications (except for the FSR program) are undergoing final
review.
19. Several bureaus have questioned the advisability of
upgrading their LOTUS software to the new release. ADD
conducted an informal evaluation of the changes between release
1A and 2 and decided that there was insufficient justification
for changing at this time. Our major concern was that
worksheets generated under the two releases would be
incompatible.
20. ADD is presently exploring with Lockheed (the AFS
development contractor) alternative approaches to its bureau
design. One alternative will be tested in Vienna this Spring
with the installation of a Local Area Network (LAN) linking
selected monitors with editors and the communications center.
Proposed hardware includes IBM PC/XT's and a CORVUS LAN. This
pilot project will be used to determine the degree of
requirements satisfaction and may be duplicated in subsequent
bureaus.
REQUEST FOR FEEDBACK
21. ADD is very interested in your evaluation of the
utilization of the PC hardware and software at your bureau. Our
impression is that in some bureaus the equipment is not being
used, while others would like additional PC's. The original
purpose of the bureau PC project was to provide some early
exposure to and experience with personal computers in the
bureaus prior to full automation. Since it now looks as though
_5.
tImPf AcTirrrri
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/10: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200150078-4
. ,
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/10: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200150078-4
funding constraints may cause the bureau design to be PC based,
your experiences are essential. I am interested in your
reactions to the method of procurement (whether by ADD or
locally), to service/repair problems, to the CRW training
effort, to support from ADD for problem resolution, to local
utilization of the equipment, to need for additional hardware or
software or both, etc. Your comments can be sent in letter form
to ESG/ADD/Engle with a copy to AC/Ops .
STAT
6.
ASSIFIED
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/10: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200150078-4