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List File Attributes


Map Pointer Relations Option

The Map Pointer Relations option on the Data Dictionary Utilities submenu creates a graphic representation of the pointer relationships between files. (Files are linked by POINTER TO A FILE and VARIABLE-POINTER field types.

NOTE: These field types are described in the "Creating Fields" topic in the "Creating Files and Fields" chapter in this manual.)

You select an application package, a file, or a group of files to be mapped. If you select a package to map, you are given the opportunity to exclude a file or files from the map. The initial dialogue goes like this:

Select DATA DICTIONARY UTILITY OPTION: MAP POINTER RELATIONS

Prints a graph of pointer relations in a database of FileMan files
named in the Kernel PACKAGE file (9.4) or given separately.
Works best with 132 column output!

Select PACKAGE NAME: 

Enter files to be included 
Add FILE: PATIENT   
Add FILE: 

Files included                  16026  PATIENT 

Enter name of file group for optional graph header: PATIENT FILE

DEVICE: HOME// 

In this instance, only a single file, the PATIENT file, has been selected for mapping. Of course, a more useful and complex map would be produced if an entire package or a large, related group of files were mapped.

NOTE: You must have DD access to the PACKAGE file (#9.4) and to the files chosen at the "Add FILE:" prompt.

The output consists of three columns. The middle column has the target file or files, each surrounded by a box. This is the file or group of files that you asked to be mapped. To the left, in the first column, are the files and fields that point to the target file. An abbreviated description of the field is shown. To the right, in the last column, are any files that are pointed to by the target file. The output's heading contains brief descriptions of the codes used.

A possible output for the PATIENT file is shown below:

File/Package:  PATIENT FILE                         Date: MAY 31,1991

  FILE (#)                  POINTER           (#) FILE
   POINTER FIELD             TYPE           POINTER FIELD    FILE POINTED TO
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
          L=Laygo      S=File not in set      N=Normal Ref.      C=Xref.
          *=Truncated      m=Multiple           v=Variable Pointer

                                        ---------------------
   ADMISSIONS (#16999)                  |  16026   PATIENT  |
    CLIENT  ..............  (N S L)->   |   RELIGION        |-> RELIGION
                                        | v PROVIDER        |-> PERSON
                                        |                   |-> PROVIDER
                                        ---------------------

This output shows that the CLIENT field in the ADMISSIONS file points to the PATIENT file. LAYGO additions are allowed and the ADMISSIONS file is not in the set of files being mapped. Further, the RELIGION field in the PATIENT file points to the RELIGION file and the PROVIDER field, a "v" (VARIABLE-POINTER), points to the PERSON and PROVIDER files. If the target file points to a file that is not in the account, the map shows:

    *** NONEXISTENT FILE ***

NOTE: The "Pointer Map" section of the "VA FileMan Technical Manual" has a more elaborate example of a pointer map.

 


Reviewed/Updated: March 4, 2007