Alternative Maps › Generating and Assigning Alternate Map Tables › Generating Map Tables

Generating Map Tables

The system generation MAPTYPE statement is used to generate an alternative map table as described:

• A unique maptype name is specified in the MAPTYPE statement. The maptype name identifies an alternative map table. For example, the SPANISH maptype name could be used to identify a table of Spanish-language alternative maps.
• A table of corresponding map copies is built for the table by using clauses of the MAPTYPE statement. Each MAP map-name-1 MAPS TO map-name-2 clause in the MAPTYPE statement associates an original map with an appropriate copy.

Sample Alternative Map Table

ADD MAPTYPE SPANISH
    MAP ENGMAP01 MAPS TO SPNMAP01
    MAP ENGMAP02 MAPS TO SPNMAP02
    MAP ENGMAP03 MAPS TO SPNMAP03
    MAP ENGMAP04 MAPS TO SPNMAP04.

In the previous example, map SPNMAP01 is available for display to a Spanish-speaking operator when the operator runs a dialog or program that names the ENGMAP01 map.

The use of Wildcards

A generic case can be established in a MAPTYPE statement when the names of alternative maps are related in a consistent and predictable manner. A single MAP map-name-1 MAPS TO map-name-2 clause can be used to construct an alternative map table when a generic case can be named by the clause. The question mark (?) is used as a mask character when specifying generic map names in a MAPTYPE statement.

For example, the sample SPANISH alternative map table that is constructed in the previous example can also be constructed by the following sample statement:

ADD MAPTYPE SPANISH
    MAP ENGMAP?? MAPS TO SPNMAP??.

The sample SPANISH alternative map table built by the previous statement contains the names of all maps that meet the following criteria:

• The name of the original copy begins with the characters ENGMAP.
• The name of the alternative copy is configured as follows:
  • The name begins with the characters SPNMAP.
  • The name ends with the same final characters that end the name of the corresponding original map.
• The date/time stamp is the same for both copies.

For example, map ENGMAP04 would be added to the SPANISH alternative map table and associated with map SPNMAP04 by the sample MAPTYPE statement. Either of the following cases would cause ENGMAP04 and its alternative copy to not be added to the SPANISH alternative map table:

• The map named SPNMAP04 has a different date/time stamp than ENGMAP04.
• The alternative copy has been given a name that does not conform to the generic case.

Note: For more information about the MAPTYPE statement, see the CA IDMS System Generation Guide.