Cross tabulations applicable to mini‐computers

A mini‐computer system for the general production of complex statistical cross tabulations is described. The techniques employed circumvent the usual methodology of constructing large core resident matrices to contain all potential cell counts. Headings, along with computer derived totals and computation of percentages, are readily defined to the system. While the basic technique is insensitive to choice of base computer, source language, and file structure, a minimum of programming experience with any language would be necessary for successful use. The system has been in active operation in a biomedical environment for over a year and a half and compares favorably with other systems the authors have used on larger more sophisticated machines. Costs, turn‐around time, overall system capability, and ease of communications have been equal or superior to large core systems. An example is used to illustrate the communication requirements of the system.