access system

In communications, computer, and data processing systems, a program that (a) allows an operator to call up different parts of the program package and (b) usually allows functions to be selected from menus in the same way as other commands. Note: An example of an access system is the program supplied with a common spreadsheet program that (a) allows the computer to shift between the spreadsheet program and a graph-printing facility and (b) provides access to various support functions. [From Weik ’96]