To open the Data Element call section,
click on a Data Element call line entered in the list. In the section,
you can enter or modify the values in the Occurs and sort key fields, you can also redefine
a Data Element of the same COBOL level, and add other characteristics
via the More... and -G Lines... buttons.
- Occurs
- Occurs is set for occurences. The COBOL ″OCCURS″ clause is a pure
numeric field. This field represents the 'OCCURS' clause
at an elementary Data Element level, or at a group level .(Maximum
of 3 levels).
- Sort key
- This field identifies all data elements that might be used as
control break sort keys, or as access keys to a file, a database or
a Pactables table.
Note: It is highly recommended to dedicate a Segment
to only one type of use.
Each data element that may belong
to a sort key must be referenced by a unique alphabetic or numeric
character. It is recommended to reference the indicators by a series
(1, 2, 3 ...). The actual sort sequence will be chosen at the program
level (on the Call of Data Structures (-CD) tab) by sequencing the
characters in the appropriate order. Remember: The format
of key group data elements must have been entered in the Dictionary
or at the segment level.
Values |
Meaning |
U |
References the access key for a VisualAge Pacbase
table. This value must be indicated on the group data element if it
is a group key. |
S |
Indicates that the data element belongs to at
least one sub-system. DL1 DBD |
U |
References a unique key for an DL/1 database. |
M |
References a multiple key for an DL/1 database. |
1 to 9 |
Secondary index. All other values designate
a search field for an DL/1 database. |
0 to 9 |
AS400 physical file key (Relational databases). |
V |
Variable length column (Relational databases). |
Blank |
Fixed length column (Relational databases). |
L |
For DB2 SQL, SQL/DS and ORACLE, generation of
a LONG VARCHAR. |
Note: Sort keys are not allowed on data elements redefining
other data elements.
- Redefines
- Redefinition is possible within a Segment. It generates the COBOL
'REDEFINES' clause. The Data Element containing this option redefines
the Data Element of the same COBOL level which precedes it in the
-ce lines of the Segment. If a Data Element which redefines another
Data Element is contained in a group, it is considered to be an elementary
Data Element. It must be taken into account in the calculation of
the number of Data Elements contained in a group (except for DL1 database
Segments).
Note: When Data Elements are redefined, VA Pac does not
take their respective lengths into account. This is your responsibility.
In the calculation of address length, the redefined Data Element length
is used for the address calculation. Redefined Data Elements are ignored
when generating for the Database Description function. If the 'Redefines'
box is checked, no initial value can be entered.
- To redefine a Data Element, check the Redefines option. A Set of Redefines line is created
in the -CE lines of the Segment, it contains the redefined Data Element
and the preceding one of the same level in the tree structure. You
must then define the Occurs option in the Set of Redefines section.
Indicating more information
More
Click the More... button to open a definition wizard in which you indicate the presence
check values for the Data Element called in the Segment.
-G Lines
Click the -G Lines... button to define -GC lines, -GE lines, and -GG lines for the Data
Element called in the Segment.
Clicking the buttons in the bottom part of the section, switches
to the editor of the Data Element called, in the corresponding tabs.