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Filegrams


Specifiers Option

The filegram sender uses the Specifiers option to identify a particular field in the file as a reference point to use when installing the filegram. The value of this field in the filegram is compared to values in the entries at the target site. The values must match for a filegram to be installed. If the specifier has a unique value for every entry in the file and is cross-referenced, that cross-reference is used to locate an entry. This reduces the search time and increases accuracy. Specifiers can be compared to identifiers: unlike identifiers, which are used for user interaction purposes, specifiers are used for transaction purposes. Specifiers are optional.

The dialogue that follows creates a specifier in a sample PATIENT file:

Select FILEGRAM OPTION: 5   SPECIFIERS

OUTPUT FROM WHAT FILE: PATIENT

Select FIELD: 3   SSN

Want to make SSN a specifier?  NO// YES

Is the value of this field unique for each entry?  NO// YES

Answer YES only if you have a regular cross-reference on the field that you are making a specifier. A field can be a specifier without being unique.

If you answer YES, a dialogue similar to the following occurs:

Select one of the following:

  1 C  REGULAR

If one of the above provides a direct look-up by SSN, please enter 
its number or name: 1

To delete a specifier:

Select FIELD: 3   SSN

SSN is already a specifier.
Do you want to delete it?  NO// YES

 


Reviewed/Updated: March 4, 2007