Creating Dataviews for Sequential Files › Defining Modeled Sequential Files › Defining Elements

Defining Elements

In the dictionary, a sequential file dataview is defined as a single element, with an element comprising all fields in a record. Therefore, the element defined for the PER‑REC file contains all the fields shown in the previous figure. CA Ideal imposes restrictions that limit both the elements that can be related to a given dataview for CA Ideal and how you can use those elements.

The following restrictions apply for dataviews and their related elements that CA Ideal accesses:

• An element related to a CA Ideal dataview must be explicitly defined as a collection of contiguous fields. In particular, when performing the DEFINE ELEMENT or the MODIFY ELEMENT function in the DD statement, once the starting and ending fields are selected, all intervening fields must be explicitly included in the element. If fields are added to the file (when it is in TEST status), the additions are not automatically reflected in the file's related elements. The Data Administrator must also execute DEFINE ELEMENT or MODIFY ELEMENT and explicitly include the new fields for CA Ideal if they are in the range of an existing element that CA Ideal uses.
• If a compound (group) field is included in an element, all of its subordinate fields must also be explicitly included in the element. If a field is redefined, not all redefinitions need to be explicitly included. However, the redefined field must be explicitly included if any of the redefining fields are included.