Three operations relevant to preparing a data base and supporting scripts are discussed in considerable detail. Section One enumerates the activities which constitute the collection and documentation of a data base. The material presented is relatively nontechnical and requires no knowledge of computers. Section Two discusses the preparation of the data for the computer and the running of the Information System for Vocational Decisions (ISVD) programs that process data bases. A third area of operation is the script network, which is used to interface the data with the inquirer. The writing of a preference script and the preparation of its documentation is the subject of Section Three. (TL)