Advanced File Definition

Screened Pointers and Set of Codes

A programmer modifying a pointer data type field will be asked:

    SHOULD POINTER ENTRIES BE SCREENED? NO// Y  (YES)

Answering YES allows entry of a line of M code. The variable DIC("S") is set equal to this code. The code is used in the DIC lookup routine to screen out certain entries in the pointed-to file. (See the description of ^DIC for details about the use of DIC("S"); especially in regard to the naked indicator.) For example, the following trick could be used to make sure that all providers being pointed to from a Surgery file had an S code in some auxiliary field:

    SCREEN:  S DIC("S")="I $D(^(1)),$P(^(1),U,5)[""S"""

Each pointed-to file defined for a variable pointer field can be screened in a similar way.

Also, the programmer can put a screen on a set of codes type data field. After the set values have been described, the user is asked:

    SHOULD SET ENTRIES BE SCREENED?  NO//

Again, answering YES allows entry of a line of M code. This code should set the variable DIC("S") which is applied to the selection of the member of the set. When this DIC("S") is executed, the variable, Y, contains the internal value of the member of the set.

Reviewed/Updated: March 4, 2007