| delimiter | Index Level | dictionaries as operators |
| Syntax | |
| Category | Definitions |
| Type | Definition |
| Description |
are used by the Pick System to describe, define, locate, and, in general, operate on data within the files to which they point.
Many dictionary items perform operations that process the data in associated files at the system level instead of in each program that uses the data. Moving the operation into the data dictionary enhances overall system performance and programmer productivity. Some of these operations include the definition of relationships between and within files, using bridge, index or translate processing codes. Features such as these processing codes provide the ability to "cruise" and "zoom" through the data base. Multi-valued relationships within files are expressed through the structure "controlling" attribute (attribute 4) of an attribute-defining item. Each data file in the system has one dictionary. A dictionary may have several files associated with it. Dictionaries associated with data files contain items such as attribute-defining items, file-defining items and synonym-defining items, as well as pointers to compiled FlashBASIC programs. Attribute 1, the "dictionary code" attribute (referred to as the "d/code") identifies the item type: If the attribute contains an "a", "s", or "x", it is an attribute-defining item. If the first character of the attribute is "d", it is a file-defining item. If the attribute contains a "q", it is a synonym-defining item. There are three types of dictionaries: SYSTEM-- only one per system. Items within the system dictionary (mds) point to account master dictionaries. The "mds" file can only be accessed on the dm account (in D3). The "SYSTEM" file can only be referenced on "SYSPROG" (in R83). MASTER-- only one per account. Items within master dictionaries (md) point to file dictionaries. The following types of items are contained in master dictionaries: attribute-defining items file-defining items synonym-defining items macros (D3) menus (D3) verbs connectives cataloged FlashBASIC program pointers PROCs FILE -- multiple, distributed among various accounts. Items within file dictionaries point to data files. File-defining items, synonym-defining items and attribute-defining items are also present in file dictionaries. Pointers to compiled FlashBASIC programs are only present in file dictionaries. |
| Options | |
| See Also | mds file TCL attribute Access verbs |
| Example | |
| Warnings | |
| Compatibility | D3 7.0 AP R83 |
| delimiter | Index Level | dictionaries as operators |