Batch Compiler Coding Considerations › Compiler Action Verbs

Compiler Action Verbs

Where can Verbs be Used?

The compiler provides the verbs ADD, MODIFY, and DELETE that specify the action the map compiler should perform on the accompanying mapping source statements. Each verb can be specified for any of the following statements in the CA IDMS mapping language syntax:

Note: For more information about the previous mapping language statements, see "Batch Compiler Statements".

What do the Verbs Do?

The operations performed by the ADD, MODIFY, and DELETE verbs are as follows:

• ADD establishes a new occurrence in the data dictionary. If the occurrence specified by an ADD verb already exists in the data dictionary, the statement that contains the verb is flagged as an error.
• MODIFY changes an existing occurrence in the data dictionary. The tables on the following pages summarize considerations that apply when using the MODIFY verb for automatic and manual panel definition.
• DELETE removes an existing occurrence from the data dictionary. Deleted occurrences cannot be reconstructed from map load modules that were generated from those occurrences. The tables on the following pages summarize considerations that apply when using the DELETE verb.

Defaults

When a verb is not specified with a CA IDMS mapping statement, the following defaults apply:

• ADD is the default verb when the occurrence specified by the statement does not already exist in the data dictionary.
• MODIFY is the default verb if the occurrence specified by the statement already exists in the data dictionary.

Important: DELETE must be specified explicitly; it is never the default action.

Modifying a DEVICE Specification

Different versions of the same panel can be established for a variety of screen sizes by using the DEVICES clause of the MAP AUTOPANEL or the PANEL statement. Since information specified by the DEVICES clause can affect many other MAP clauses, the MODIFY verb does not modify the DEVICES clause. To change a DEVICES specification, the developer should use the following procedure:

1. Decompile the panel and all associated maps by using a map utility process and save the resulting output.
2. Delete the maps affected by the change. This action implicitly deletes all map fields that belong to the deleted maps.
3. Delete the panel occurrence itself. This action implicitly deletes all associated panel fields.
4. Add the revised panel occurrence with the new DEVICES specification, followed by the associated panel field, map, and map field occurrences.