Comparing Adabas Files

This document covers the following topics:


Prerequisites and Restrictions

  • Adabas files and Predict files to be compared must be connected. There is one exception to this rule: if AOS is not installed, implemented Adabas files and Predict file objects can be compared even if they are not connected.

  • If Natural Security function protection for Predict is activated, permission is required to compare Adabas files.

See also General Prerequisites for Comparison Functions.

Parameters

Parameters for Adabas file

Check options
If the check options File attributes or Fields are not set, compare functions will not reset the Modified after generation flag. See Resetting the Modified after generation Flag for more information.
File attributes
Y

Attributes of the file are to be compared with the implementation of the file in the database (space allocation, for example).

Attributes not required when loading a file are compared only if they are specified in the Predict object.

This setting is valid only when Adabas Online Services is available and the file that is to be compared resides in a database of Adabas Version 6 or above.

Fields
Y The field list of the file object is to be compared with the Adabas file definition table (FDT).
Even if only FDT exists
Y A file is to be compared even if it has been deleted with the Keep FDT option.
N File is not compared. For this setting, three conditions must be met:
  • the Adabas Online Services selectable unit must be installed

  • the file to be compared must reside in a database of Adabas Version 6 or above

  • the file to be compared must not have been deleted with the Keep FDT option.

Adabas password Password required to access the file if the file is protected by Adabas security. Passwords are not converted to upper case.
List options
File attributes
How attributes of the Predict file object are to be displayed.
Y All file attributes.
N No file attributes.
D Different: only file attributes whose Predict values differ from the implementation.
Fields
How fields linked to the Predict file object are to be displayed.
Y All fields.
N No fields.
D Different: only fields whose Predict definitions differ from the FDT.
Members using differences
Determines the amount of information to be displayed on members using external objects that differ from the corresponding Predict objects. The following differences are possible:
  • file numbers of Predict file objects differ from the FDT or a userview of such a file.

  • Predict field objects differ from the FDT.

Valid values:
Y Display types and names of all members using files that differ in any of the above ways.
N Do not display members.
C Count the number of members per library.
Update options
Update options are effective only if parameter Members using differences is set to N.
File attributes
How attributes of the Predict file object are to be updated. Provided that the Adabas Online Services selectable unit is available and the file that was compared resides in a database of Adabas Version 6 or above, one of the following can be specified:
R File attributes required when loading a file and any other file attributes specified in the Predict object.
N No file attributes.
O File attributes not required when loading a file are updated only if they are specified in the Predict object.
Field sequences
Y The field list is to be rearranged to match the sequence of the fields in the FDT.
Add fields
Y Fields in the FDT that are missing in the field list are to be inserted in the field list.
Purge fields
Y Fields in the field list that are missing from the FDT are to be removed from the field list.
Field attributes
How attributes of the fields linked to the Predict file object are to be changed to match the FDT.
A All field attributes.
N No field attributes.
I Field attributes that can only be changed in the FDT by deleting and re-implementing the file. After fields have been updated, the function Edit elements of a file is executed automatically and a catalog is performed.

Note:
We recommend that you set all or none of the field update parameters to Y. Otherwise confusing results may occur, especially if the Field sequence parameter is not set to Y. For example, a periodic group may be inserted out of sequence. A cursory inspection might then give the false impression that the group's member fields are on the wrong level.