Data Dictionary Processing
Processing the data dictionary analyzes the data dictionary specifications and translates them into a format more directly usable by APPX during process execution. It does not generate machine or object code.
Dictionary processing performs the following actions:
Creates an element record from domain and field specifications.
Creates a file record from record specifications.
Searches for logic errors (such as invalid key definitions or illegal record lengths).
Constructs the default value record for each file.
Computes field lengths.
Establishes the starting position for each field within a record.
Determines whether or not changes may affect the structure of existing files.
You must process the data dictionary for each new application before its domains, files, and fields can be referenced by processes. In addition, APPX will process the appropriate files or work fields any time you change the specifications. If the data dictionary requires processing, APPX prevents processes that reference it from executing. A designer must always be aware of making any changes to the data dictionary for "live or production" files. The change to the dictionary most likely will require the file to be restructured. The file will be unuseable until a successful restructure has been executed. Depending the file size and the change made, this could take awhile. |