Alternative Maps › Generating Alternative Maps

Generating Alternative Maps

When you copy an existing map to make an alternative map, only noncritical changes can be made.

Important: The following are considered critical changes:

• Adding a variable field
• Deleting a variable field
• Changing a nonpageable map to a pageable map, and vice versa
• Changing record versions
• Moving fields around on a map

Steps

The developer can use the online compiler to generate similar copies of a map by following these steps:

1. Access the compiler
2. Access the Main Menu screen:
   • Specify the pertinent information about the map being created, such as the name and version number of the map and dictionary
   • Select the ADD option from the action bar at the top of the screen.
   • Specify the name and version number (if necessary) of the map to be copied
   • Indicate whether all record information should be copied, or just the map layout
3. On the Layout screen, perform any of the following optional steps:
   • Change literal fields as necessary
   • Use the select-field character (default is the percent sign (%)) to select fields (if any) to which noncritical specifications are made, such as those listed:
     • An attribute specification, such as DARK (for fields that should not be shown to certain users) or PROTECTED (for fields that should not be altered)
     • The name of an edit or code table (particularly useful in a multilingual environment)
4. On the Field Definition screens, make noncritical changes to fields as appropriate
5. Return to the Main Menu screen and select the Compile option from the action bar at the top of the screen to generate data dictionary occurrences

Important: The version numbers of the original map and the copy must be the same.