Object Specification - External Files

Not applicable to remote environments located on mainframe platforms.

This section describes the options provided in the object-specification windows for processing external files. External files are files that are located outside Natural and Adabas environments, such as bitmaps.

Process external files in internal format, that is, do not select the Transfer format check box. See also Work File Format in the section Work Files.

For descriptions of keywords and valid input values, see also select-clause in the section Direct Commands.

This section covers the following topics:

External Files

The specification window for external files provides the following items:

Item Explanation
External path Enter the name of the path where the external file is located or select a path from the drop-down list box.

Load and scan:
Enter the name of a path or asterisk (*) to select all paths.

Object name The name of an external file.

Load and scan:
A single name or a range of names: see Name in Name, Date and Time Specification.

Select Invokes the browse function to select an object from a directory.
Details Invokes the details window where you can enter further object specifications: see External File Details.
Settings Only applies to functions executed in advanced-user mode.

Invokes the Settings window where you can specify option and parameter settings. See Settings.

Unload file
or
Load file
or
Scan file

(Server)

Only applies to functions executed in advanced-user mode.

The name of the work file to be used for the function.

See also Work Files.

Browse Only applies to functions executed in advanced-user mode.

Invokes the browse function to select a work file from a directory.

External File Details

The details window for external files is used to specify further selection criteria for external files.

For descriptions of keywords and valid input values, see also select-clause in the section Direct Commands.

The details window for external files provides the following items:

Item Explanation
External path See External path in External Files above.
Object name See Object name in External Files above.
Select Invokes the browse function to select an object from a directory.
Date:

Select all objects

 Selects all objects, regardless of their date.
Date:

Select objects modified between/and

 See Date in Natural Library Object Properties.
Date:

Select objects modified on

 See Date in Natural Library Object Properties.
Size:

Select all objects

 Selects all objects, regardless of their size.
Size:

Select objects with size between/and

 Selects all objects with a size within the range specified in the Size boxes: type a value for a start size and/or an end size.
Size:

Select objects with size

 Selects all objects with a size that fits the size specified in the Size box.
Exceptions Invokes an extra window where you can specify exceptions to the selection of external files: see External File Exceptions.

Once you have specified any exceptions, you can activate them by selecting the check box to the left of the Exceptions button, or deactivate them by removing the mark from the check box.

External File Exceptions

The Exceptions window for external files is used to specify exceptions to the selection of external files.

All external files that match the selection criteria specified in External Files and External File Details are checked against the specifications made in the Exceptions window. Objects that match all specifications defined as exceptions, are exempted from processing.

For descriptions of keywords and valid input values, see also select-clause in the section Direct Commands.

The Exceptions window for external files provides the following items:

Item Explanation
External path See External path in External Files above.
Object name See Object name in External Files above.
Select Invokes the browse function to select an object from a directory.
Date:

Ignore date

 Performs no date check. Objects are processed, regardless of their date.
Date:

Exclude objects modified between/and

 See Date in Natural Library Object Exception Properties.
Date:

Exclude objects modified on

 See Date in Natural Library Object Exception Properties.
Size:

Ignore size

 Performs no size check. Objects are processed, regardless of their size.
Size:

Exclude objects with size between/and

 Exempts from processing all objects with a size within the range specified in the Size boxes: type a value for a start size and/or an end size.
Size:

Exclude objects with size

 Exempts from processing all objects with a size that fits the size specified in the Size box.