Overview

The Data Dictionary Definition Language (DDDL) is the source language used to maintain data resource components in the dictionary. Input to the DDDL compiler consists of source statements; the compiler processes the input and populates the data dictionary. Once added to the dictionary, data resource definitions can be modified, replaced, deleted, displayed, and punched by using DDDL syntax.

You can submit input to the DDDL compiler in online or batch mode.

Note: Identical syntax rules apply to online and batch input to the DDDL compiler.

Online Statement Entry

Online, you can submit statements in three ways:

Submit freeform source statements directly to the DDDL compiler. A text editor writes the input to and output from the DDDL compiler to a work file, the contents of which are displayed at the terminal. At the end of each online session, the DDDL compiler displays a Transaction Summary. The summary lists the DDDL statements submitted and the number of error messages issued.
More information: For more information on using the DDDL compiler online, see Online DDDL Compiler.
Submit information through the IDD menu facility using standard, fixed-format screens. Because syntax parameters are presented on each screen, the user need not be familiar with DDDL syntax and rules. Definitions can be displayed, added, modified, or deleted from the dictionary.
More information: For more information on using the IDD menu facility, see IDD Menu Facility.
Submit source statements using the command facility. You can submit source statements, optionally identifying any ambiguous entity types (for example, DDDL FILE as opposed to DDL FILE) using the keyword IDD.
More information: For more information on using the command facility to enter DDDL statements, refer to the CA IDMS Common Facilities Guide document.

Batch Statement Entry

As an alternative to online statement entry, you can submit freeform source statements to the DDDL compiler in batch mode. Output from the DDDL compiler consists of the Integrated Data Dictionary Activity List, which lists each source input statement and a Transaction Summary (as described above under online entry). Error messages issued during the batch run appear on the line immediately following the problem statement.

The following figure shows a sample Integrated Data Dictionary (IDD) Activity List.

IDMSDDDL nn.n CA DATE TIME PAGE INTEGRATED DATA DICTIONARY ACTIVITY LIST mm/dd/yy 08463000 0001 0001 SET OPTIONS INPUT COLUMNS ARE 1 THRU 71. 0002 MODIFY ENTITY SYSTEM 0003 USER DEFINED NEST IS 'SIMILAR FILE'. 0004 MODIFY ENTITY SYSTEM 0005 USER DEFINED NEST IS 'RELATED FILE'. 0006 ADD CLASS ENTITY-STATUS 0007 DELETION LOCK IS ON 0008 ATTRIBUTES ARE MANUAL SINGULAR. 0009 ADD CLASS ENTITY-TYPE 0010 DELETION LOCK IS ON 0011 ATTRIBUTES ARE SINGULAR. 0012 ADD ATTRIBUTE PRODUCTION 0013 WITHIN CLASS ENTITY-STATUS 0014 DELETION LOCK IS ON 0015 COMMENTS 'DESIGNATES PRODUCTION OCCURRENCES'. 0016 ADD SYSTEM ORDER-CONTROL. 0017 ADD SYSTEM BACK-ORDER. 0018 ADD SYSTEM INVENTORY 0019 WITHIN SYSTEM ORDER-CONTROL 0020 ENTITY-STATUS PRODUCTION 0021 'SIMILAR FILE' BACK-ORDER. IDMSDDDL nn.n COMPUTER ASSOCIATES INTERNATIONAL, INC. DATE TIME PAGE INTEGRATED DATA DICTIONARY ACTIVITY LIST mm/dd/yy 08463000 0002 ** TRANSACTION SUMMARY ** ENTITY ADD MODIFY REPLACE DELETE DISPLAY ..................... ... ...... ....... ...... ....... ENTITY 0 2 0 0 0 ATTRIBUTE 1 0 0 0 0 CLASS 2 0 0 0 0 SYSTEM 3 0 0 0 0 NO ERRORS OR WARNINGS ISSUED FOR THIS COMPILE

The sections in this chapter describe the general rules for preparing statements for input to the DDDL compiler.