Abstract Every computer system seems to have a different method of editing files. This survey considers the tasks, constraints and user interface for computer editors. Several editors are examined and reviewed. This paper also contains a glossary of some terms connected with editing and includes a reference to other surveys and bibliographies.

Input/output tables are a set of economic accounts which can be transformed into models for analysing and projecting the economy. The first set of input/output tables for Scotland has recently been published. They were constructed using a computer as a principal tool. This paper describes the project, the programs and the lessons that have been learned and shows how problems could have been avoided as well as how they were overcome. Although the paper is mainly about the Scottish input/output project many of the points are relevant to the more general use of computers in data surveys and economic studies. Only when computer scientists and economists understand the limitations of each other's disciplines can they fully realise the benefits which computers can bring.

Abstract The documentation of computer programs can be considerably eased and standardized using the programs described in this paper. They are basically machine‐ and language‐independent, possess a simple structure, use one serial input and one output stream, and require no backing store. The code size for each program is a few thousand bytes and the time for running them is dominated by that needed for input and output. The programs are: INDEX (gives an index of all identifiers used in a program). POLISH (paginates a program listing so that the global structure is evident). WATER (helps find misprints in computer‐readable reports). UNDOC (creates a live program from its documented form). Also included are examples of the output from these programs.

Abstract This paper discusses the difficulties of writing procedures and programs in ALGOL 60 for general use. It also shows how the problems can be alleviated and overcome.

Abstract This paper examines the concept of comments in programming languages and answers the questions: Why are they needed? How are they defined and implemented in existing languages? What should be provided in future languages?

Abstract This paper describes a method of writing compilers which can easily be extended or altered. Two applications of the method are described; the first is a conventional programming language called Babel and the second is a program called SOAP which documents ALGOL 60 programs. Two important features have made extensions practicable; the compiler has a modular construction and was initially written in ALGOL 60.

This paper describes a program called SOAP (Simplify Obscure Algol Programs) which reads and ALGOL 60 program as data, cleans it up and outputs it in a form which clarifies its structure thus making it easier to understand. The paper states some of the advantages of using SOAP and specifies the layout of an edited program. SOAP is an ALGOL 60 procedure.