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Main Chapter Getting Started Manual Programmer Manual

22.2Find Pointers into a File Option

A new fourth Data Dictionary utility  checks all files with pointers into a given File. The utility gives 4 kinds of output, as shown in the following example.  Note that POINTER-type fields, VARIABLE-POINTER-type fields, and COMPUTED POINTER fields are all checked.
SeSelect DATA DICTIONARY UTILITY OPTION:    FIND POINTERS INTO A FILE

THIS UTILITY TRIES TO FIND ALL ENTRIES IN ALL FILES POINTING TO A CERTAIN FILE


Select FILE: 2 PATIENT

Select one of the following:

1 One particular PATIENT Entry
2 All PATIENT Entries
3 Non-existent PATIENT Entries
4 Entries from a PATIENT Search Template

Find pointers to: All PATIENT Entries// 1 One particular PATIENT Entry
Find pointers to TIMSON,GEORGE 8-25-40 1234567 Male
DEVICE: ...



***PATIENT: TIMSON,GEORGE***
FILE 52 (PRESCRIPTION)
`1 2 PATIENT
`2 345 PATIENT
FILE 55 (PHARMACY PATIENT)
`1 TIMSON,GEORGE NAME
FILE 100 (ORDER)
`1 1 OBJECT OF ORDER
`3 3 OBJECT OF ORDER
`4 4 OBJECT OF ORDER
`5 5 OBJECT OF ORDER
`6 6 OBJECT OF ORDER
`41 41 OBJECT OF ORDER
FILE 120.5 (GMRV VITAL MEASUREMENT)
`96 MAR 1,2005@16:04 PATIENT
`97 MAR 1,2005@16:04 PATIENT
`98 MAR 1,2005@16:04 PATIENT
`99 DEC 21,2005@16:08 PATIENT
`100 DEC 21,2005@16:08 PATIENT
`101 DEC 21,2005@16:08 PATIENT
`102 DEC 21,2005@16:08 PATIENT
`103 DEC 21,2005@16:08 PATIENT
`177 JAN 17,2006@13:11 PATIENT
`178 JAN 17,2006@13:11 PATIENT
`232 FEB 22,2006@16:07:36 PATIENT
`233 FEB 22,2006@16:07:36 PATIENT
`234 FEB 22,2006@16:07:36 PATIENT
`235 FEB 22,2006@16:07:36 PATIENT
`236 FEB 22,2006@16:07:36 PATIENT
`237 FEB 22,2006@16:07:36 PATIENT
`238 FEB 22,2006@16:07:36 PATIENT
`239 FEB 22,2006@16:08:29 PATIENT
`461 SEP 22,2006@15:04:54 PATIENT
`462 SEP 22,2006@15:04:54 PATIENT
`463 SEP 22,2006@15:04:54 PATIENT
`464 SEP 22,2006@15:04:54 PATIENT
`465 SEP 22,2006@15:04:54 PATIENT
`466 SEP 22,2006@15:04:54 PATIENT
`467 SEP 22,2006@15:04:54 PATIENT
FILE 120.8 (PATIENT ALLERGIES)
`3 TIMSON,GEORGE PATIENT
`15 TIMSON,GEORGE PATIENT
`28 TIMSON,GEORGE PATIENT
FILE 120.85 (ADVERSE REACTION REPORTING)
`1 SEP 22,2006@15:00 PATIENT
FILE 120.86 (ADVERSE REACTION ASSESSMENT)
`1 TIMSON,GEORGE NAME
FILE 123 (REQUEST/CONSULTATION)
`10 APR 24,2006@11:01 PATIENT NAME
.....

In this example we see that the patient chosen (TIMSON) has two PRESCRIPTIONS in File 52, six ORDERs in File 100, etc.

Warning: on a large database, this utility can take a long time to run to completion.

Application developers might use this tool to clean up their files before export. Site managers may find the reporting function useful for checking a package's files after installation.  Note that choice 3 will showing all dangling pointers to the PATIENT File in ALL Files.  

 


Reviewed/Updated: October 2016