Note
Functionality:
The IBM 029 allowed users to punch holes in cards using a typewriter-style keyboard. It supported new characters like parentheses and was quieter than its predecessor, the IBM 026.
One of its standout features was the Program Drum, which allowed users to program “keyboard shortcuts” for faster data entry. Users could put up to two programs on a single program card and switch between them using the Program Select switch12.
Programming with the Program Drum:
The Program Drum sat upright in the middle of the machine above the punching station. Programmers punched holes in a card and wrapped that card around the drum. This allowed automated behavior, such as left-padding numeric fields with zeros, to be programmed into the 0292.
