Maintaining Objects of Type File

This document covers the following topics:

For general information on how to manage objects (for example, how to add or copy an object), see the Object Description documentation.


Common File Attributes

The following attributes are applicable to all or most file types.

File ID

For naming conventions valid for all object types see Naming Conventions.

Special naming conventions apply to SQL file types. See overview in the section Naming Conventions for SQL Objects.

File Type

A file object has one of the following types. The file type must be compatible with the database in which it is contained.

File Type Description
A Adabas File
AT Adabas Cluster Table
B Adabas SQL view
C Conceptual File
D DB2 table
E DB2 view
F rdb file
I IMS segment
J IMS segment layout
K IMS userview
L Logical VSAM file
M ISAM file
O Other file
P Entire System Server file
Q Entire System Server userview
R Logical VSAM view
S Sequential file
T RMS file
U Adabas userview
V VSAM file (physical)
W VSAM userview
X General SQL file
Z Standard file
1 LEASY
2 ISAM BS 2000
OT Oracle table
OV Oracle view
BT Adabas D table
BV Adabas D view
JT Ingres table
JV Ingres view
YT Sybase table
YV Sybase view
XT Informix table
XV Informix view
IT Intermediate table
IV Intermediate view
MT DB2 query table

File number

The number of the file. The possible value depends on the file type:

File Type File Number
AT, J, K, Q, R, U File number is taken from the specified master file
B, D, E, I, X, BT, BV, IT, IV, JT, JV, OT, OV, XT, XV, YT, YV, MT not applicable 
A, V, L, T, P, 1, 2 1 - 32767
Other file types 1 - 99999

Natural Construct Parameters

The following parameters are only relevant if you are using Natural Construct.

Attributes

Parameter Description
Literal name String to be used by Natural Construct in messages issued to confirm (un)successful access of a file via a DDM generated from the Predict file object.
Average count The average number of records contained in the file.
Stability
Indicates how permanent the data contained in the file is.
F Fixed. The file contains information which will always be valid, for example days of the week.
S Stable. The file contains information which does not change very often, for example file EMPLOYEES.
V Volatile. The file contains information which is constantly being updated, for example an invoice file.
blank Not specified (default value).

Defining Basic File Attributes

When you add a file, you first have to specify the file type in the Type dialog box.

Select type

When you choose the OK button, a file type-specific window appears. The file type is indicated in the title bar.

The following sample window shows the parameters which apply to all types of files.

General parameters

General Parameters
Has Master Files
This parameter can be found on the Mandatory Association tab. This tab is only shown for the file types listed below. For the file types listed below, enter the ID of the related file. The type of related file is given below:
File Type Type of Master File
AT A Adabas File
J and K I IMS segment
L and W V Physical VSAM File
Q P Entire System Server File
R L Logical VSAM File
U A Adabas File
File number See the table of possible values in the section File number.
Logical distribution type
How the logical file is to be stored:
E Expanded
P Partitioned
N Propagator file. Not applicable when defining data distribution for Adabas Vista.
blank Simple file (default).

Note:
This parameter is only applicable to files of type Adabas. For files of other types, this parameter must be blank.