IBM i General Design Standards › Design Standards for Database Files › Considerations for Database File Design › Categories of Database File

Categories of Database File

In designing application systems, it is often useful to differentiate between different types of files on the basis of the type and latency of data the files hold. Different design considerations apply to each of the five categories of files discussed:

• Reference data: master files and tables
• Transaction data
• Transaction summary data
• Archive files
• Work files

Note: Frequency of use and of turnover, which is the primary consideration in categorizing files in the above scheme, is also the main criterion for selecting a backup strategy for saving data to an offline medium.

Note: Avoid designing files that have a ‘mixed’ function.