Parameters › LOCATE Statement › Using the LOCATE Statement Most Efficiently

Using the LOCATE Statement Most Efficiently

The LOCATE statement resembles a command, and it makes the layout of the diagram adjustable. How you use the LOCATE statement depends on what you want your diagram to look like and how much experience you have using CA IDMS Schema Mapper. Here are a few guidelines for using the LOCATE statement:

• First-time users--consider omitting the LOCATE statement. The first time you use CA IDMS Schema Mapper, it is a good idea not to use the LOCATE statement and allow CA IDMS Schema Mapper to position all of the record blocks automatically. This way, you can get a feel for how CA IDMS Schema Mapper positions the record blocks in your specific diagram. You can then effectively evaluate whether or not you need to use LOCATE statements.
• Experienced users--write LOCATE statements from scratch or edit LOCATE statements in the Transfer File. For the experienced user who is not satisfied with the automatic layout produced by CA IDMS Schema Mapper, writing LOCATE statements from scratch when first running CA IDMS Schema Mapper for a schema/subschema can be a time-saver. In this way, you can control the layout of a new diagram or duplicate the layout of an existing hand-drawn diagram right from the start.

If you are mainly concerned with the locations of a few key record blocks or a few groups of record blocks, you can write LOCATE statements for them from scratch and allow CA IDMS Schema Mapper to LOCATE the remaining record blocks in the diagram. If you want CA IDMS Schema Mapper to place record blocks between those that you LOCATE manually, you can leave plenty of space around them so CA IDMS Schema Mapper has room to work.

For users who have an existing diagram in hand and simply want to add one or two new record blocks, it may be easiest to add LOCATE statements to the Transfer File. If you just want to move around a few record blocks, it will probably be easiest to edit LOCATE statements in the Transfer File.

When the layout changes desired are extensive, positioning record blocks can be an iterating process, at least until you have worked with CA IDMS Schema Mapper enough to be able to know how it handles your particular schema/subschema. The ideal approach depends on your needs. You can either write or edit LOCATE statements in the Transfer File or write LOCATE statements from scratch.