Dictionary/3000 Reference Manual (32244-90001)

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D How HP INFORM Links Files to
Generate Reports
When generating reports using HP Inform/3000, the user selects the desired elements
from HP Inform/3000's Data Names Menu. If the user has chosen to report from elements
organized into an HP Inform/3000 group, these elements may exist in various files - MPE
files, KSAM files, or IMAGE data sets. HP Inform/3000 needs to be able to link these files
so that the desired lines of the report can be generated.
It is important for the database administrator to understand how HP Inform/3000 links
the various files. The linking process determines whether it is possible to generate the
requested report and, if so, what specific data will be printed in the report.
Common elements (elements that exist in more than one file) are used to build links
between the files which contain elements needed for the report. An element that is used in
this way is called a “link element”.
Before reading this appendix, you should read Using Commands to Define HP Inform/3000
Groups in Section III.
NOTE An element which has been defined as a CHILD element through the
RELATE ELEMENT command string can not be used as a link.