MV v.s. DataF

Characteristics of Memory Variable:

* Memory variable files are a way to store the status of memory variables that are currently stored in memory and use them later in the same program or in another session of FoxPro.

The memory location holds values- perhaps numbers or text or more complicated types of data like a payroll record. Operating Systems load programs into different parts of RAM so there is no way of knowing exactly which memory location will hold a particular variable before the program is run. By giving a variable a symbolic name like "employee_payroll_id" the compiler or interpreter can always work out where to store the variable in memory.

Characteristics of Data Field:

* A data field is the smallest subdivision of the stored data that can be accessed. A data field can be used to store numerical information such as price, count or a date or time, or even a data and time. A pair of data fields can be used in combination to hold a geo-spatial coordinate. Also, a data field can be used to hold a block of text. A data field takes up permanent storage within the data-store. The field may contain data to be entered as well as data to be displayed.

TERM CONTRAST

1. Differentiate information V.S. data.
* Information - collected facts & data about a specific subjects.
* Data - information, often in the form of facts / figures obtained from experiments / surveys, used as a basis for making calculations / drawing conclusions.

2. Differentiate data storage V.S. computer storage.
* Data storage - (information storage & retrieval) is a term used to describe the organization, storage, location and retrieval of encoded information in computer systems.
* Computer storage - any physical device in / on which computer iformation can be kept.

3. Differentiate operating system V.S. computer system.
* Operating system - the basic software that controls a computer.
* Computer system - a system of one or more computers and associated software with common storage.