LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPUTER SYSTEMS Available to Purchase

Property management systems have traditionally been developed using high level languages such as COBOL and BASIC; and these systems have emulated the paper‐based systems they were designed to replace. That is, essentially they have employed structures based upon the concept of storing information in the form of files and records. In recent years, however, two related software developments have emerged which have provided an alternative solution to the problem of creating effective, efficient property management systems at a reasonable cost: fourth generation languages (4GLs) and database management systems (DBMSs). This paper illustrates how these concepts may be employed to provide systems that enable property managers to manipulate information as a resource. In addition, the potential for storing map information in digital form is highlighted.