Punched card available, e.g. "80-column card". A sequence of cards that is input to or output from some step in an application's processing is called a "card deck" or simply "deck". The rectangular, round, or oval bits of paper punched out were called chad ("chads") or "chips" (in IBM usage). Sequential card columns allocated for a specific use, such as names, addresses, multi-digit numbers, etc., are known as a "field". The first card of a group of cards, containing fixed or indicative information for that group, is known as a "master card". Cards that are not master cards are "detail cards". The
Hole punch has a long lever which is used to push a bladed cylinder, the punch, straight through one or more sheets of paper and then through a close fitting hole in the die. As the vertical travel distance of the cylinder is only a few millimeters, it can be positioned within a centimeter of the lever fulcrum. For low volume hole punches, the resulting lever need not be more than for sufficient force. Two paper guides are needed to line up the paper: one opposite where the paper is inserted, to set the margin distance, and one on an adjacent side.