Dictionary/3000 Reference Manual (32244-90001)

32 Chapter3
Using the DICTDBM Commands
Using Commands to Define Other File Structures
Using Commands to Define Other File Structures
MPE files, MPER files, KSAM files and VPLUS forms files can also be defined in the
Dictionary. The DICTDBM commands are used to create and define these files in the
Dictionary.
For MPE, MPER, and KSAM files, you define the record layout for the file. In the
Dictionary, each field in the record is created as a data element with characteristics such
as type, size, and so forth. For the VPLUS forms file, each form is created as a file, and the
fields within each form are created as data elements. The definitions for a VPLUS forms
file is completed by establishing the relationship between the VPLUS forms file and each
form in the forms file. This relationship is also a hierarchical relationship and is
established using the RELATE command. (Refer to Section IV of this manual for a
description of this command.) This hierarchical relationship is summarized in Figure 3-2.
Figure 3-2. Summary of Hierarchical Structure for a VPLUS Forms File
The VPLUS forms file is the top of the structure and is the PARENT file. Each FORM file
is related to the VPLUS file and is considered a CHILD file. In this structure, the PARENT
file cannot have data elements directly associated with it.
The following description outlines the steps involved when the DICTDBM commands are
used to define other file structures. A complete description including examples for all the
commands is given in Section IV of this manual.
VPLUS
FORMS
FILE
FORM
FILES ...
FORM
FILES ...
PARENT file
CHILD files
data
elements...
data
elements ...