ISSCO Graphics

Integrated Software Systems Corporation (ISSCO), doing business as ISSCO Graphics,[1][2][3] was an American software developer and publisher based in San Diego, California, and active from 1970 to 1986. They were best known for their enterprise graphics software packages, including Tellagraf, CueChart and Disspla.[4]

"ISSCO" redirects here. For the research institute, see Dalle Molle Institute for Semantic and Cognitive Studies.

History

ISSCO Graphics had considered acquiring[5] Breakthrough Software, whose software focus involved PC DOS, as a means of getting into the PC arena,[6] but backed off when Computer Associates made an offer to acquire ISSCO.[7]

By early 1987 it was reported that "Issco users breathe sigh of relief" that all was well.[8]

The ISSCO User's Group was founded in 1976.[9]

ISSCO, which was founded in 1970[10] by Peter Preuss,[11] was acquired by Computer Associates in 1986.[12]

Notable products

Tellagraf

ISSCO's[10] Tellagraf is an early software package designed to allow end-users to "turn out full color, professional quality charts" with initial results displayed on a screen, modified as needed, and then "a final 'hard-copy' can be made .. or made into 35mm color transparencies for projection onto a screen."

Users of Tellagraf often had access to CueChart and Disspla software.[13] Often computer sites having one had all three.[14]

Terminals with varying degrees of graphics, such as the DEC's VT100 and Tektronix's Tektronix 4xxx family of text and graphics terminals.[15] were supported, and the software ran on popular computing platforms.[16][17]

Four years are important to Tellagraf's early history:[18]

  • 1978: ease of use
  • 1980: graphic-artist quality
  • 1982: introduction of CueChart, and recognition by IEEE.[16]
  • 1983: "quality graphics enters the mainstream of data processing with ..."

Tellegraf was eventually acquired by Computer Associates and renamed CA-Tellegraf.[19][20] SAS users found it helpful.[21]

Universities,[22] research institutes[23] and financial services firms were among early users.[24]

Disspla

Disspla is a package of data plotting subroutines that can be used from high level languages.[25] It was also acquired by Computer Associates.

Tellaplan

In 1983 ISSCO introduced Tellaplan, "a project planning, report and schedule charting system for Tell-A- Graf users in IBM MVS or CMS or Digital Equipment Corp. VAX computers"[26] atop which they built "two visual project management software packages" three years later.[27]

References
  1. "capture retro*graphics on your dectm terminal. - IEEE Xplore". ... ISSCO. DISSPLA and TELLAGRAF are registered trademarks of Integrated Software Systems Corp
  2. a proprietary conversational graphics program from ISSCO of San Diego, CA.
  3. TELL-A-GRAF in MTS, Dave Whipple, Computing Center Memo 450, University of Michigan, March 1983.
  4. "Merging Graphics". February 25, 1998. The plots can be created with any of the available graphics packages on VM/CMS-- DISSPLA, TELLAGRAF, etc.
  5. Greg Johnson (August 13, 1985). "Software Firm Seeking". The LA Times. buying a company that would give ISSCO ... for the personal computer market.
  6. "Issco agrees to buy maker of Time Line". InfoWorld. October 13, 1986. p. 31.
  7. "Breakthrough to Withdraw from Merge Plans with ISSCO". InfoWorld. December 15, 1986. p. 16.
  8. following what was reported as "frosty reception by users." "Issco Sigh of relief". ComputerWorld. March 2, 1987. p. 8.
  9. "Dave Lavery - Program Executive for Solar System Exploration (NASA)". February 1987. Proceedings of the 12th Annual ISSCO Users Group Meeting, Los Angeles California,. February 1987
  10. James C. Condon (March 27, 1983). "Charts on computer graphics are trending upwards". The New York Times.
  11. "About Peter and Peggy Preuss".
  12. Calvin Sims (June 2, 1987). "Software giants plan merger". The New York Times.
  13. "Guide to using Cuechart, Tellagraf, and Disspla at ANL". Guide to Curchart, Tellagraf, and Disspla at ANL provides information necessary for using the three ISSCO graphics packages at Argonne
  14. "Merging Graphics". February 25, 1998. The plots can be created with any of the available graphics packages on VM/CMS-- DISSPLA, TELLAGRAF, etc.
  15. Judith Bird (1986). "Mainframe graphics for business presentations". Data Processing. 28: 26–27. doi:10.1016/0011-684X(86)90188-7. ... software such as Issco's Tellagraf at. &6500, input device like a VT100 screen or Tektronix 4702 costing. E2 000-4000 and an output device, such as an HP
  16. D Michalopoulos (1982). "nbin proucs - IEEE Xplore". doi:10.1109/MC.1982.1654116. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  17. Cuechart with Tell-a-Graf is machine- and device-independent, permitting it to operate with most major computers and ...
  18. "Tellagraf graphics software". Computerworld. September 27, 1982. p. 28.
  19. CA-TELLAGRAF User's Guide. 1987. Title, CA-TELLAGRAF User's Guide, Volume 2. CA-TELLAGRAF User's Guide, Computer Associates International.
  20. "CA Tellagraf Overview".
  21. Dorothy Hu Huang. "Utilizing SAS Software to generate ... CA-Tellagraf as an example" (PDF). Utilizing SAS Software to generate command language programs, using CA-Tellagraf as an example
  22. Some even wrote their own quick-start guide: Computing Center Memo. University of Michigan Computing Center. 1983. The reason for this is that the color set for the background is generated by the camera, and then the picture generated by *TELLAGRAF is drawn on top.
  23. David L. Huston; David MacArthur Miller; Denise A. Wiltshire (1983). "Arizona's Industrial Rock and Mineral Resources: Workshop Proceedings". The box plots were prepared by using CA–TELLAGRAF to generate the linework and text.
  24. TELLaGRAF & CueChart (LBKL). October 1983.
  25. Jukka Kiijarvi. "Lunowa - Programming - Data Plotting Software".
  26. "Tellaplan system". ComputerWorld. July 4, 1983. p. 29.
  27. Enterprise, I. D. G. (1986-10-27). "New products: Issco".
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