Managing Natural Objects

This document covers the following topics:

Redocumenting Natural Objects

You can create documentation objects for all Natural objects that are shown in the library workspace or application workspace.

The following restrictions apply for Natural objects:

  • Currently, it is only possible to redocument Natural sources which reside on the server side.

  • DDMs and Libraries in the Navigator view are not supported.

This feature uses the defaults for the redocument function that have been defined in Predict. When you redocument a Natural object, only a message appears indicating that the object has been redocumented.

The Predict processing option "Add and Replace" is always used. This means: a documentation object of type Program is created for the selected Natural object. Or, when a library has been selected, documentation objects of type Program are created for all Natural objects in this library. Existing documentation objects are replaced.

It is also possible to create documentation objects in a different way. See the sections Opening the Description for a Natural Object and Adding a New Documentation Object for further information.

Start of instruction setTo redocument a Natural object

  1. Select the Natural object in the library workspace or application workspace.

    Tip:
    In a list view window, it is possible to select more than one object.

  2. Invoke the context menu and choose Object Description > Redocument.

Start of instruction setTo redocument all Natural objects in a library

  1. Select the library in the library workspace.

    Tip:
    In a list view window, it is possible to select more than one library.

  2. Invoke the context menu and choose Object Description > Redocument Objects.

Displaying the Description for a Natural Object

Using the Display Description command, you can display information on a documentation object for a Natural object, DDM or library.

When a documentation object does not yet exist, a warning appears in the result window indicating that the object is not documented.

When a documentation object does already exist, an object type-specific window appears and you can view the defined information. This is the same window which appears when you open the description for a Natural object, DDM or library (see below). The only difference is that the information is provided in read-only mode and that certain command buttons are therefore not available.

Note:
DDMs on platforms running Natural for Windows or UNIX are only supported, if they reside in library SYSTEM or the Natural system file respectively, for DDMs are defined via the Natural profile parameter FDDM.

Start of instruction setTo display the description for a Natural object

  1. Select the Natural object in the library workspace or application workspace.

  2. Invoke the context menu and choose Object Description > Display Description.

    When a documentation object does already exist, a window for the object type Program appears. See Program in Predefined Object Types in Predict for further information.

    In case of a DDM, a window for the object type File appears. See File in Predefined Object Types in Predict for further information.

  3. Choose the OK button to close the window.

Opening the Description for a Natural Object

Instead of redocumenting Natural objects, you can also use the Open Description command to create documentation objects for the Natural objects, DDMs or libraries that are shown in the library workspace or application workspace. In contrast to the redocument function, only the information for the implementation pointer is filled. When a Natural object is selected, the language ("Natural" in this case) is also filled. Exception: in case of a DDM an implementation pointer does not exist; the connection is established via the name. All other information has to be defined manually.

The implementation pointer is used to establish the connection between the Natural object and the documentation object. In case of a Natural object it consists of member name, library name, user system file number and user system database number. When you open the description for a Natural object, the best hit principle is applied: the member with the most detailed implementation pointer is shown. So that a matching documentation object can be found, at least the member names must match. Exception: in case of a DDM an implementation pointer does not exist; the connection is established via the name.

In case of a library, the implementation pointer consists of library name, user system file number and user system database number. So that a matching documentation object can be found, at least the library names must match.

If no documentation object is found for the selected Natural object or library, it will be created.

When a documentation object can be found, you can modify it.

Note:
DDMs on platforms running Natural for Windows or UNIX are only supported, if they reside in library SYSTEM or the Natural system file respectively, for DDMs are defined via the Natural profile parameter FDDM.

Start of instruction setTo open the description for a Natural object

  1. Select the Natural object in the library workspace or application workspace.

  2. Invoke the context menu and choose Object Description > Open Description.

    A window for the object type Program appears. See Program in Predefined Object Types in Predict for further information.

    In case of a DDM, a window for the object type File appears. See File in Predefined Object Types in Predict for further information.

    Note:
    When a documentation object cannot be found for a DDM, a file of type conceptual is created. A field list is not created in this case. If you require the field list, it is recommended that you create the documentation object using the Schema Generation plug-in and its incorporation wizard.

  3. Specify all required information. See also Object Type-Specific Windows.

  4. Choose the OK button to create/modify the documentation object.

Start of instruction setTo open the description for a library

  1. Select the library in the library workspace or application workspace.

  2. Invoke the context menu and choose Object Description > Open Description.

    A window for the object type System (system type Application Library) appears. See System in Predefined Object Types in Predict for further information.

  3. Specify all required information. See also Object Type-Specific Windows.

  4. Choose the OK button to create/modify the documentation object.