Next: Transcriber's preface

Alan Turing's Manual for the Ferranti Mk. I

Alan M. Turing
Transcribed by Robert S. Thau

Transcriber's preface
- A note on the machine Turing was describing
- A few words on the historical context
- Notes on the transcription
[Author's] Preface
General Remarks on Electronic Computers
Scales of notation
The Forms of Storage Used
Description of the Reduced Machine
Examples of programmes on the reduced machine.
- MULREP listing
- Check sheets
- [SUMPGA listing]
- [SUMPGA check sheet]
- Exercise
The multiplier and the double length accumulator
The logical operations
- Example of use of ` $\land$ '
- Example for reader
The B-tube.
- SUMPGB
- Exercise
Miscellaneous special functions
- Dummy stops
- The hooter
- The hand switches
- The position of the most significant digit
- The random numbers generator
- The clock
- The sixty-fifth lines
- [Relative branches]
- The time occupied by various operations
The magnetic wheel
The input and output mechanisms
- [Examples]
  - Examples of magnetic instructions
  - Exercises
- [Library input routines]
- Tape handling equipment
The console
Starting the machine
Conventions
- The permanent information PERM. The routine changing sequence
- Restricted use of electronic stores. Normal duties of pages.
- B-tube conventions
- Conventions regarding the use of magnetic storage
- The formal mode of operation
- Replacability conventions
Programming Principles
- (i) Make a plan
- (ii) Break the problem down
- (iii) Do the programming of the new subroutines
- (iv) Programme the main routine
Programming hints
- Manoevring space
- Do programming directly in teleprint code
- Counting procedure
- Discrimination by control transfer
- The B-tube as shunting station
- Omission of counting
- Alternative entry
- Changing sign in the accumulator
- Twenty-digit numbers
- Clearing the accumulator
- Electronic space economy measures
- Wholesale reciprocals
- Tchebysheff polynomials
The official account of a routine
Tapes
- Writing tapes
- Job-steering tapes
- Directories
Checking procedures
- Measures concerning machine breakdown
- Measures against intermittent error
- Measures against wrong programmes
- Measures against routines wrong in magnetic tracks
- Measures against finger trouble
Brief reminders
Appendix -- The Pilot Machine
(Manchester Computer Mark I)
- Magnetic instructions on the pilot machine
- Times on the pilot machine
- Input and Output on pilot machine
- Programming on the pilot machine
  - Normal duties of tubes. PERM. Routine changing sequence.
- [Standard routines for the pilot machine]
- Problems tackled
- Reliability of the pilot machine
Figures
- Fig. A -- Powers of 10
- Fig. B -- Binary-Decimal Conversion Table
- Fig. C -- Multiplication table
- Fig. D -- Addition table
- Fig. H -- Multiplication by powers of 2
- Fig. E -- Table of function symbols
- Fig. F -- PERM and the Routine Changing Sequence
- Fig. G -- Summary
  - Fig. G (Summary), cont.
  - Fig. G (Summary), cont.
About this document ...

Robert S. Thau 2000-02-13