This Natural profile parameter can be used to translate a database ID/file number into another database ID/file number during the execution of an application. It corresponds to the macro NTTF in the Natural parameter module.

Possible settings	See TF Parameter Syntax.
Default setting	none
Dynamic specification	yes	This parameter can only be specified dynamically. In the Natural parameter module, the macro NTTF is used instead.
Specification within session	no
Application programming interface	USR1034N	See SYSEXT - Natural Application Programming Interfaces in the Utilities documentation. * Recommended.
	USR2005N *

Notes:

1. This parameter applies to user files only. It does not apply to system files.

2. This feature is relevant when developing an application in a production environment. It enables you to develop an application in a test database and then transfer the finished application to the production database without having to change or re-compile the application. The Natural objects are cataloged with the production DBID/FNR, but whenever a database access is executed, the production DBID/FNR is translated into the test DBID/FNR according to the TF parameter specifications; that is, the test database is used. This means that testing can take place in the actual production environment, but not with production data.

3. The TF parameter or the NTTF macro can be specified several times so as to specify different combinations of file numbers.

   If multiple TF parameters are specified, the following applies:

   • The list of TF definitions is searched in the sequence they are defined. The first entry that exactly matches in DBID and FNR (no asterisk) is used.

   • If no exact match is found, the TF definitions are searched for a second time. This time, the first wildcard entry (either DBID or FNR is an asterisk) that matches is used.

The following topics are covered below:

• TF Parameter Syntax

• NTTF Macro Syntax

• Example of TF Parameter

• Example of NTTF Macro

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TF Parameter Syntax

The TF profile parameter is specified as follows:

TF=(production-dbid,production-fnr,test-dbid,test-fnr)

Where:

Syntax Element	Value	Explanation
production-dbid	0 - 254 or 256 - 65535 or *	Identification of the production database. An asterisk (*) can be used as a wildcard for all database IDs. Note: Database ID 255 is reserved for logical system files for Software AG products, see profile parameter LFILE.
production-fnr	1 - 65535 or *	File number of the production database. An asterisk (*) can be used as a wildcard for all file numbers.
test-dbid	0 - 254 or 256 - 65535 or *	Identification of the test database. An asterisk (*) can be used, which leaves the database ID unchanged.
test-fnr	1 - 65535 or *	File number of the test database. An asterisk (*) can be used, which leaves the file number unchanged.

NTTF Macro Syntax

The NTTF macro is specified as follows:

         NTTF production-dbid,production-fnr,test-dbid,test-fnr

For explanations of the syntax elements and possible values, see TF Parameter Syntax.

Example of TF Parameter

TF=(777,39,17,88),TF=(251,*,9,*)

Example of NTTF Macro

Equivalent specification in the Natural parameter module:

         NTTF 777,39,17,88
         NTTF 251,*,9,*