DBMAINT Mode - DATACOM/DB Structure Maintenance › Add Structures › Add ELEMENT Substructures

Add ELEMENT Substructures

The ADD ELEMENT function allows you to define the base occurrence of an ELEMENT substructure. CA Datacom Datadictionary automatically relates the ELEMENT occurrence to the existing TABLE occurrence that you specify.

An element contains one or more contiguous fields. Because elements are the units of data transfer between the database and programs, define elements that contain groups of fields that are usually accessed together by your programs.

You can define an ELEMENT occurrence by using one of the following procedures:

• Select the ADD option on the ELEMENT Structure Functions Menu Panel, fill in the following prompter panel and complete the ELEMENT definition panel.
• Enter an ADD command (see ADD) for the ELEMENT occurrence and complete the definition panel.
• Type the MOD margin command in the line number of a TABLE substructure on an indented structure or index display. Retrieve the TABLE with PF4 (PROCESS) and complete an entry for an ELEMENT in the ELEMENT section on the TABLE definition panel.

When you select the ADD option on the ELEMENT Structure Functions Panel, you receive the following prompter panel:

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 1-DDOL000196A - CMPP - PLEASE COMPLETE REQUIRED INFORMATION FOR COMMAND
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 DATACOM/DB Structure Maintenance
                                                                         TACF
 ADD ELEMENT  ________________________________
 ADD ELM      (name)

 TO  TABLE    ________________________________ in STATUS ____
 TO  TBL      (name)                              STA   (status)

 with PASSWORD     using LOCK 0       LIKE ________________________________
      PSWD   (pswd)      LOC   (lock) LIKE (name)







 PF1=HELP  PF2=END  PF3=CLARIFY  PF4=PROCESS  PF5=MENU   PF6=STATUS
 PF7=SCB   PF8=SCF  PF9=APPLY    PF10=PATH    PF11=NEXT  PF12=INPUT

The following list describes each field, the valid entries and the default (if one exists). Fields that require an entry are highlighted on your terminal. Fields which are not highlighted indicate that an entry is optional.

ELEMENT (name)

(Required) Specify the name for the occurrence you are adding.

Valid Entries:

1- to 32-character name

Default Value:

(No default)

TABLE (name)

(Required) Specify the name of the existing occurrence.

Valid Entries:

1- to 32-character name

Default Value:

(No default)

(status)

(Required) Specify the status of the existing occurrence.

Valid Entries:

T001—T999

Default Value:

(No default)

(pswd)

(Optional) Specify a password to protect this occurrence from unauthorized updates. For more information, see the section about protecting definitions in the CA Datacom Datadictionary User Guide.

Valid Entries:

1 to 4 alphanumeric characters

Default Value:

(No default)

(lock)

(Optional) Specify a lock level to restrict access to this occurrence. See the section on protecting definitions in the CA Datacom Datadictionary User Guide.

Valid Entries:

0, 1, or 2

Default Value:

0

LIKE (name)

(Optional) Specify the name of an existing ELEMENT occurrence in the same status to use as the model for the occurrence you are adding. When you use the LIKE option with an ELEMENT occurrence, the FIELD occurrences associated with the ELEMENT are not carried forward.

Note: Any aliases or descriptors assigned to the existing occurrence are not duplicated for the new occurrence. Define these separately.

Valid Entries:

1- to 32-character name

Default Value:

(No default)

When you press Enter, the ELEMENT definition panel appears. Define FIELD occurrences to the TABLE before they can appear on this definition panel. The definition panel can be used to define fields as components of an element in either of two methods:

• Implicit method
• Explicit method