Pathmaker Reference Manual

Glossary
Glossary–2 067869 Tandem Computers Incorporated
Database. A structured set of information, stored on some relatively permanent
medium. The physical database usually is kept in one or more disk files, which
application programs can add to, delete from, alter, or read.
Database (DB) requester. A type of Pathmaker requester that uses a fixed set of
predefined services to read, insert, delete, or update records in files described in the
DDL dictionary. This kind of requester cannot call custom services, but can call other
requesters. This type of requester uses standard services contained in a database
general server whose performance may not be as efficient as that of services provided
by the user; it is not the responsibility of the database general server to guarantee
referential integrity.
Data Definition Language (DDL). A Tandem product with which you can produce a
dictionary that defines the structure of a database.
Decoration. Any screen element that displays unchanging text on a screen. Decorations
that the Pathmaker product creates automatically include the requester title and data
field prompts. In the Screen Painter, you can manually add separation lines, borders,
boxes, column headings, or other displayed text.
Default screen. The application screen that the Pathmaker product creates from the
screen layout information that you provided in the Requester Definition screen and its
associated screens.
Detail screen. A Pathmaker screen through which you supply details for a more general
task. For example, the Function Key Assignments screen is one of several detail
screens you can enter from the Requester Definition screen.
Efficient access fields. The set of fields on a NonStop SQL DB requester that the
Pathmaker product recognizes as providing efficient access to a table when selected on
the application screen. Efficient access fields are only identified if you enable
Nonindex Reads on the Record Instance Detail screen. Efficient access fields are
marked with an asterisk or a plus sign on the application screen.
Efficient keys. A subset of all possible SQL primary keys and indexes that the
Pathmaker product recognizes as efficient in a NonStop SQL DB requester.
End user. A person running the application produced by the Pathmaker product.
Enform. A Tandem product that lets you generate reports from your database.
ENSCRIBE. A Tandem software facility that provides high-level access to, and
manipulation of, records in an Encompass database. As an integral part of the
operating system, ENSCRIBE helps ensure data integrity if a processor module, I/O
channel, or disk drive fails.
Formal parameter. Parameter specified on either the IPC Definition screen or on the
Requester Parameters screen.
FUP. File Utility Program, a Tandem product that lets you interactively create, purge,
and otherwise manipulate disk files.
Tandem NonStop Kernel. The operating system, including core and system services, that
is available as a standard feature with the Tandem NonStop computer systems.