Global File Structure

File's Entry in the Dictionary of Files

All VA FileMan files, regardless of the global used for data storage, have an entry in the Dictionary of Files (i.e., the ^DIC global descendent from the file's DD number).

The Zero subscript contains the file name and file number.

The global location (GL) node descendent from subscript Zero is set to the root of the global used to store data for this file. So, the (fictitious) EMPLOYEE file example could have the following:

Figure 356: ^DIC Global—Sample File Entry in the Dictionary of Files

    ^DIC(3,0)      = "EMPLOYEE^3"
    ^DIC(3,0,"GL") = "^EMP("

The ^DIC global also contains the file's security protection codes, if any, descendent from the Zero subscript in the following nodes:

Figure 357: ^DIC Global—Sample File Security Protection Codes

    ^DIC(filenumber,0,"AUDIT")                --   Audit Access
    ^DIC(filenumber,0,"DD")                   --   Data Dictionary Access
    ^DIC(filenumber,0,"DEL")                  --   Delete Access
    ^DIC(filenumber,0,"LAYGO")                --   LAYGO Access
    ^DIC(filenumber,0,"RD")                   --   Read Access
    ^DIC(filenumber,0,"WR")                   --   Write Access

22.2The rest of the ^DIC global descriptors for a file are listed in Figure 358:

Figure 358: ^DIC Global—Sample File Descriptors

    ^DIC(filenumber,"%",    -- At lower subscript levels, contains the application
    groups.
    ^DIC(filenumber,"%A")   -- Creator's DUZ^file creation date. DIFROM does not send
    this node.
    ^DIC(filenumber,"%D",   -- At lower subscript levels, contains the text of the
      file's DESCRIPTION.
    ^DIC(filenumber,"ALANG",LangNum, -- Contains the Translation of the filename
    caption for the indicated language. (Built by DIALOGZ)
    ^DIC(filenumber,"%MSC") -- The date/time the Data Dictionary was last edited.

Reviewed/Updated: May 2026