- .001 Field
- A field containing the internal entry number of the record.
- .01 Field
- The one field that must be present for every file and file entry.
It is also called the NAME field. At a file's creation the .01 field is
given the label NAME. This label can be changed.
- Access Codes
- In VA FileMan, an Access Code is a string of codes that determines
your security access to files, fields, and templates. In Kernel, you enter
an Access Code to identify yourself during signon.
- Alternate Editor
- One of the text editors that is available for use from VA
FileMan. Editors available vary from site to site. They are entries in the
ALTERNATE EDITOR (#1.2) file.
- At-sign (@)
- A VA FileMan Security Access Code that gives the user
Programmer-level access to files and to VA FileMan's developer features.
Also, the at-sign character (@) is used at VA FileMan field prompts to
delete data.
REF: See
"Programmer Access."
- Attribute Dictionary
- REF: See
"Data Dictionary."
- Audit
- A VA FileMan feature that provides an ongoing chronological
listing of who made what changes to data values.
- Audit Trail
- The record or log of an ongoing audit.
- Auditing
- The monitoring and recording of computer use.
- Backward Pointer
- A POINTER to your current file from another file; used in the
extended POINTER syntax.
- Boolean Expression
- A logical comparison between values yielding a true or false
result. In M:
- Zero means false.
- Non-Zero (often one) means true.
- Canonic Number
- A number with no leading Zeroes and no trailing Zeroes after a
decimal point.
- Canonic Template
- A Template of any of the three types that has been chosen as the
"default", "most often used" Template for a particular
File.
- Caption
- In ScreenMan, a label displayed on the screen. Captions often
identify fields that are to be edited.
- CARET (^)
- The caret character (^), also sometimes referred to in VistA
legacy documentation as the "Up-Arrow" key, is used in VA FileMan
for exiting an option or canceling a response. Also, it is used in
combination with a field name or prompt to jump to the specified field or
prompt.
- Command Area
- In ScreenMan, the bottom portion of the screen that is used to
display help information and to accept user commands.
- Compound Index
- An index that has more than one data-valued subscript.
REF: See
"Index."
- Compound Key
- A key that is composed of more than one field. Keys are stored
in the KEY (#.31) file.
REF: See
"Key" and
"Simple Key."
- Computed Field
- The definition of an algorithm pertaining to a certain Entry in
a certain File, combining values from other Fields in that Entry. The
algorithm is stored in the Data Dictionary. Its value is not stored, but
recalculated whenever used.
- Cross-Reference
- An attribute of a field or a file that identifies an action that
should take place when the value of a field is changed. Often, the action
is the placement of the field's value into an
index:
- Traditional cross-reference is defined with a specific
field.
- New-Style cross-reference is a file attribute and can be
composed of one or more fields.
New-Style cross-references are
stored in the INDEX (#.11) file.
- Cursor
- On your display terminal, the line or rectangle identifying
where your next input is placed on the screen.
- Database
- An organized collection of data spanning many files. Often, all
the files on a system constitute that system's database.
- Database Management System
- A collection of software that handles the storage, retrieval and
updating of records in a database.
- Data Dictionary
- This is a file that defines a file's structure, its elements
(fields and their attributes), and relationships to other files. This is
sometimes called schema. Often abbreviated as DD.
- Data Dictionary Listing
- The printable report that shows the data dictionary.
- DATA TYPE
- The kind of data stored in a field. For example:
- NUMERIC
- COMPUTED
- SET OF CODES
- WORD-PROCESSING
- Default
- A computer-provided response to a question or prompt. The
default might be a value pre-existing in a file. Often, you can change a
default.
- Delimiter
- A special character that is used to separate a field, record,
or string. VA FileMan usually uses the ^ character as the delimiter
within strings.
- Device Prompt
- A Kernel prompt at which you identify where to send your
output.
- DIC
- VA FileMan routine that searches a file and finds an entry,
adds an entry, or returns a condition indicating that the lookup was
unsuccessful.
- DIE
- VA FileMan routine that edits data elements for a given file
entry.
- DIFROM
- (Obsolete) VA FileMan routines that transfer software packages
from one VA FileMan environment to another. DIFROM is used to install new
packages as well as update versions of current packages. DIFROM can also
be used as a simple archiving tool.
- DIK
- VA FileMan routine that re-indexes or deletes file entries.
- DIP
- VA FileMan routine that prints data.
- DIQ
- VA FileMan routine that displays a range of data elements.
- DIR
- VA FileMan's general purpose reader routine that can be used to
issue a prompt, interactively read input, do syntax checking on input,
issue error messages or help text, and return input in a processed form.
- DIWF
- VA FileMan routine that uses the contents of a WORD-PROCESSING
field as a target into which data is inserted at print time. The data can
come from another file or can be provided by the user interactively at
the time of print.
- DIWP
- VA FileMan routine that formats and (optionally) outputs any
group of text lines.
- Edit Window
- In ScreenMan, the area in which you enter or edit data. It is
highlighted with either reverse video or an underline. In Screen Editor,
the area in which you enter and edit text; the area between the status
bar and the ruler.
- Entry
- A record in a file. "Entry" and "Record"
are used interchangeably.
- Extended Pointers
- A means to reference fields in files other than your current
file.
- FDA
- FileMan Data Array.
- Field
- In an entry, a specified area used to hold values. The
specifications of each VA FileMan field are documented in the file's data
dictionary.
- Field Number
- The unique number used to identify a field in a file. A field
can be referenced by # followed by the field number.
- File
- A set of related records (or entries) treated as a unit.
- Form
- In ScreenMan, a group of one or more pages that comprise a
complete transaction. Comparable to an INPUT template.
- FREE TEXT
- A DATA TYPE field value that can contain any printable
characters.
- Full-screen Editing
- The ability to enter data in various locations on the
two-dimensional computer display. Compare to scrolling mode.
- Global Variable
- A variable that is stored on disk.
- Histogram
- A type of bar graph that indicates frequency of occurrence of
values.
- Hook
- A documented data dictionary attribute, input variable, or
parameter in which an application developer can place M code that is
executed during a VA FileMan call. Also called a
"Programmer Hook."
- Identifier
- In VA FileMan, a field that is defined to aid in identifying
an entry in conjunction with the NAME (#.01) field.
- Index
- An ordered list used to speed retrieval of entries from a file
based on a value in some field or fields:
- The term "simple index" refers to an index that
stores the data for a single field.
- The term "compound index" refers to an index that
stores the data for more than one field.
Indexes are created and maintained via
cross-references.
REF: See also
"Uniqueness Index."
- Initialization
- The process of setting variables in a program to their starting
value.
- INPUT Template
- A pre-defined list of fields that together comprise an editing
session.
- INPUT Transform
- An executable string of M code which is used to check the
validity of input and to convert it into an internal form for storage.
- Internal Entry Number (IEN)
- The number used to identify an entry within a file. Every
record has a unique internal entry number. Often abbreviated as IEN.
- Kernel
- A VistA software package that functions as an intermediary
between the host operating system and VistA application packages. Kernel
includes installation, menu, security, and device services.
- Key
- A group of fields that, taken collectively, uniquely identifies
a record in a file or subfile (Multiple). All fields in a key must have
values:
- The term "simple key" refers to keys that are
composed of only one field.
- The term "compound key" refers to keys that are
composed of more than one field.
Keys are stored in the KEY (#.31) file.
REF: See also
"Primary Key" and
"Secondary Key."
- Key Integrity
- When a KEY is defined for a file, VA FileMan enforces key
integrity. All fields in a key must have values (must not be NULL) and
those values, taken together, must be unique across all records in the
file; that is, no two records in the file can have the same key. VA
FileMan enforces key integrity whenever records are added or edited.
- LAYGO
- A user's authorization to create a new entry when editing a
computer file. An acronym for Learn As You Go.
- Line Editor
- The VA FileMan editor that lets you input and change text on a
line-by-line basis. The Line Editor works in scrolling mode.
REF: See Screen Editor.
- Local Variable
- A variable that is stored in a local partition.
- Lookup
- To find an entry in a file using a value for one of its
fields.
- MailMan
- An electronic mail system (email) that allows you to send
messages to and receive them from other users via the computer. It is
part of VistA.
- Menu
- A list that includes the names of options from which you can
select an activity.
- Multiple
- A VA FileMan DATA TYPE field value that allows more than one
value for a single entry. See Subfile.
- MUMPS
- Abbreviated as M. The American National Standards Institute
(ANSI) computer language used by VA FileMan and throughout VistA. The
acronym MUMPS stands for Massachusetts General Hospital Utility Multi
Programming System.
- NAME Field
- The one field that must be present for every file and file
entry. It is also called the .01 field. At a file's creation the .01
field is given the label NAME. This label can be changed.
- Navigation
-
- Navigation can mean switching your reference point from one
file to another.
- Navigation can also mean moving your cursor around a
terminal display or a document using cursor keys and other commands.
- New-Style Cross-Reference
- A cross-reference that is stored in the INDEX (#.11) file.
New-Style cross-references can be more complex than traditional
cross-references. They can create an index with:
- More than one field value
- Transformed field values
- Computed subscript values
They can be defined so that subscripts are displayed in
inverse collation sequence during question-mark help or when using a
Lister call (LIST^DIC). Firing of SET and KILL logic for the index can
happen at the record level, rather than each time individual fields that
make up the index are edited.
REF: See
"Cross-Reference."
- Non-Canonic Number
- A number with either leading Zeroes, or trailing Zeroes after a
decimal point. M treats non-canonic numbers as text instead of as
numbers.
- Non-NULL
- A value other than NULL. A space and Zero are non-NULL values.
- NULL
- Empty. A field or variable that has no value associated with it
is NULL.
- NULL Response
- When replying to a prompt, pressing only the Enter key,
abbreviated as <Enter>, to enter nothing.
- Numeric Expression
- An expression whose value is a number. Compare to string
expression.
- Operator
- One of the processes that is done to the elements in an
expression to create a value.
- Option
- A computing activity that you can select, usually a choice from
a menu.
- OUTPUT Transform
- An executable string of M code that converts internally stored
data into a readable display.
- Paste
- Insert text or other data as input into one computer program
that has been copied into a clipboard by the same or by another computer
program.
- Pattern Match
- In M, an operator that compares the contents of a variable or
literal to a specified pattern of characters or kinds of characters.
- PF Keys
- Keys on a terminal keyboard labeled PF1, PF2, etc. that are used
to perform special functions instead of displaying visible characters.
- POINTER TO A FILE
- A DATA TYPE field value that contains an explicit reference to
an entry in a file. POINTER TO A FILE-type fields are used to relate
files to each other.
- Popup Page
- In ScreenMan, a page that overlays the regular ScreenMan screen
to present the contents of a selected Multiple.
- Preferred Editor
- The editor always entered when you access a WORD-PROCESSING-type
field, your default editor. Kernel must be present to establish a
Preferred Editor.
- Primary Key
- The key chosen by the database designer to be VA FileMan's
principal means of identifying records in the file. VA FileMan
automatically displays the Primary Key during classic interactive lookup
(^DIC) and uses the Primary Key to identify records brought in during a
KIDS installation. Exactly one Key in a file or subfile must be
designated the Primary Key.
REF: See
"Key."
- PRINT Template
- The stored specifications of a printed report, including fields
to be printed and formatting instructions.
- Programmer Access
- The ability to use VA FileMan features that are reserved for
application developers. Referred to as "having the at-sign
(@)", because the at-sign is the DUZ(0) value that grants
Programmer access.
- Programmer Hook
- A documented data dictionary attribute, input variable, or
parameter in which an application developer can place M code that is
executed during a VA FileMan call. Also called
"Hook."
- Prompt
- A question or message from the computer that requires a user's
response.
- Record
- A set of data pertaining to a single entity in a file; an entry
in a file.
- Record Number
- REF: See Internal Entry Number (IEN).
- Relational Navigation
- Changing your current (or primary) file reference to another
file. Relational navigation is accomplished by using the extended
POINTER syntax without specifying a field in the referenced file.
- Required Field
- A field that cannot be left NULL for an entry.
- Routine
- A set of M code that performs a process.
- Scattergram
- A graph in which occurrences of two fields are displayed on an
X-Y coordinate grid to aid data analysis.
- Screen Editor
- VA FileMan's screen-oriented text editor. It can be used to
enter data into any WORD-PROCESSING field using full-screen editing
instead of line-by-line editing.
REF: See "Line Editor."
- Screen-Oriented
- A computer interface in which you see many lines of data at a
time and in which you can move your cursor around the display screen
using screen navigation commands. Compare to Scrolling Mode.
- ScreenMan
- The set of routines that supports screen-oriented data editing
and data display.
- Scrolling Mode
- The presentation of the interactive dialog one line at a time.
Compare to Screen-Oriented.
- SDP
- An area on disk set aside for temporary, sequential storage of
data; an abbreviation for Sequential Disk Processor. It is available on
some M implementations (e.g., DSM-11).
- SEARCH Template
- The saved results of a search operation. Usually, the actual
entries found are stored in addition to the criteria used to select
those entries.
- Secondary Key
- Like a Primary Key, fields that make up a Secondary Key must
uniquely identify a single record on the file. Key integrity is enforced
by VA FileMan for a Secondary Key, the same as for a Primary Key.
Secondary Key values, however, are not automatically displayed by VA
FileMan during interactive lookup ^DIC. A file or subfile can have more
than one Secondary Key.
REF: See
"Key" and
"Primary Key."
- Security
- The strategies and procedures used to ensure that user access
to data and data structures is controlled and appropriate.
- SET OF CODES
- A DATA TYPE field value where a short character string is
defined to represent a longer value.
- Simple Extended Pointers
- An extended POINTER that uses a pre-existing POINTER
relationship to access entries in another file.
- Simple Index
- An index that stores the data for a single field.
REF: See
"Index."
- Simple Key
- A key that is composed of only one field.
REF: See
"Compound Key."
- Sort
- To place items in order, often in alphabetical or numeric
sequence.
- SORT Template
- The stored record of sort specifications. It contains sorting
order as well as restrictions on the selection of entries. Used to
prepare entries for printing.
- Spooling
- Procedure by which programs and output can be temporarily
stored until their turn to execute or print.
- Stuff
- To place values directly into a field, usually with no user
interaction.
- Subentry
- An entry in a Multiple; also called a Subrecord.
- Subfield
- A field in a Multiple.
- Subfile
- The data structure of a Multiple. In many respects, a Subfile
has the same characteristics as a file.
- Sub-routine
- A sequence of M code that performs a specific task, usually
used more than once.
- Template
- A stored pattern of fields, used for editing
("Input Template"), sorting ("Sort Template"), or
listing ("Print Template").
- Terminal Emulation
- Using one kind of terminal or computer display to mimic
another kind. Often used with PC remote communication applications.
- Terminal Type
- The designation of the kind of computer peripheral being used
(e.g., the kind of video display or printer). Full terminal type
functionality is supplied by Kernel.
- Truth Test
- An evaluation of an expression yielding a true or false
result. In M, usually one of the following is returned from a truth
test:
- Uniqueness Index
- An index associated with every key and used to enforce
uniqueness of the key. Every field in the key must be a subscript on the
Uniqueness Index and must have no transforms.
- Up-Arrow
- The caret character (^), also sometimes referred to in VistA
legacy documentation as the "up-arrow" key, is used in VA
FileMan for exiting an option or canceling a response. Also, it is used
in combination with a field name or prompt to jump to the specified
field or prompt.
- Upload
- Send a file from one computer system to another (usually using
communications software).
- Utility Routine
- A routine that performs a task that many developers use.
- Variable
- A symbol representing a value that changes during the
execution of a routine.
- VistA
- The Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology
Architecture (VistA), within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is
the component of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) that develops
software and installs, maintains, and updates compatible computer
systems in VA medical facilities. (Previously known as the Decentralized
Hospital Computer Program [DHCP].)
