Introduction to Data Management

Glossary
Glossary-8 15873 Tandem Computers Incorporated
Object. In NonStop SQL, a database entity that is created, manipulated, or dropped by
means of SQL statements, and that is described in an SQL catalog. Objects include
tables, views, columns, partitions, constraints, indexes, and files.
OLTP. Online transaction processing.
OLTP application. See Online transaction processing application.
Online processing. Interactive processing where many users at terminals all have
immediate access to data in a database. Online processing allows the computer to
process a transaction as soon as it is entered at the terminal.
Online transaction processing (OLTP) application. A set of programs that perform OLTP
tasks on behalf of the user. In such an application, many terminal users can update
data simultaneously, recording the changes in the database as they are entered. The
application typically runs in a PATHWAY operating environment.
Partition. The portion of a partitioned table, index, or physical file that resides on a
particular disk volume.
Partitioned object. A table, index, or file that resides on more than one disk volume, and
possibly on more than one system.
PATHAID interactive screen builder. A screen-builder program that generates source code
for screen descriptions based on picture layouts and display attributes indicated by
programmers; the screen descriptions can be edited, copied directly into screen
programs, or stored in screen library files.
PATHCOM. The PATHWAY command interpreter, which is the interface through
which you interactively enter commands to configure and control a PATHWAY
system and the objects within it.
PATHMAKER online application code generator. A menu-driven tool for developing and
maintaining OLTP applications managed by PATHWAY. PATHMAKER provides a
single integrated interface to several data management products.
PATHMON. The PATHWAY Monitor process that monitors and controls a PATHWAY
system.
PATHWAY application. A group of routines or instructions that perform online
transaction processing tasks, coded as a set of programs that run under PATHWAY
control. PATHWAY applications are useful for automating many different kinds of
business tasks such as order processing, inventory control, accounting functions, and
banking operations.
PATHWAY command terminal. A terminal at which a PATHWAY system manager enters
commands through PATHCOM to configure and control a PATHWAY system.
PATHWAY control file. The file in which PATHMON stores the definition and status
information for each object in a PATHWAY system.