Lo scopo, dato anche il nome che significa Report Program Generator (programma generatore di stampe), apparve subito evidente: l'IBM 1401 dell'epoca è un sistema d'elaborazione principalmente orientato alle aziende, quindi con esigenze massicce di stampare tabulati e moduli commerciali .Il linguaggio è pesantemente orientato ad avere un input da schede perforate, svolgere determinati calcoli, anche fortemente condizionati, per mandare infine i risultati verso la stampante.

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