tabulators

Column-setting key mechanisms

Tabulators are machines or devices that count and organize data, most famously the mechanical punch-card machines used to process census results and other large datasets before electronic computers.

The term also applies to people who tabulate—that is, arrange information into tables or columns, or count votes and other items systematically.

On a keyboard, the tabulator key (or tab) moves the cursor to preset positions for creating aligned columns.

election

ballots

Voting forms

votingFormally registering a choice
precinctAdministrative jurisdiction zone
pollingSystematic opinion gathering

tallying · results · canvassing · recount · certification · returns · scrutineers · electoral · turnout · absentee

machine

Hollerith

Punch card computing inventor

punchcardsPerforated data storage sheets
IBMMultinational technology corporation
censusOfficial population count

keypunch · electromechanical · sorting · mechanical · UNIVAC · card-reader · sorter · collator · batch · Powers

spreadsheet

columns

Upright structural shafts

rowsSide-by-side sequences
cellsBasic biological units
formattingStructuring visual presentation

alignment · headers · indentation · tables · grids · fields · records · layout · organization · structure

tabulators

ballots

Hollerith

columns

tabulators

Opposites

Categories

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