Global File Structure

Attribute Dictionary: ^DD(Filenumber

The attribute dictionary describes the data fields that a file contains within the global ^DD (the data dictionary). Each attribute dictionary is stored descendent from a positive-valued, first-level subscript of this global. Each attribute dictionary is also in the form of a file, and thus, consists of:

• Entries
• Cross-references
• Descriptor
• Reference to the data dictionary of the attribute of attributes [^DD(0)].

This section is broken down further into the following subsections:

• File Characteristics Nodes
• Field Definition 0-Node
• Other Field Definition Nodes
• Reading the Attribute Dictionary—Example

Reviewed/Updated: May 2026