Editing File Definition Parameters

The File Definition Maintenance screen displays parameters for database files. The system uses these parameters for indexing the file, sorting the file for display lists, and updating the file.

Only the system administrator should edit file definition parameters.

To edit file definition parameters:

From the System > System Files menu, select File Definition Maintenance to display the File Definition Maintenance screen.

Note: If prompted, log on to the character-based system.

You can also display this screen by selecting File Definition Maintenance from the Tools menu.

In the File Name field, enter the name of the file for which to set the file definition parameters.

Edit the following fields as needed:

Field	Description
Select Index Dict ID	Defines the dictionary that indexes this file. Enter the dictionary item to index the file. This is usually set to the name of the key field, which Eclipse calls &INDEX&. If the Parent File is ENTITY or PRODUCT, you get the indexing capabilities of that file. Otherwise, you get the indexing capabilities defined in the File Definition Maintenance screen. Leave this field blank to select on record IDs.
Select SortBy Dict ID	Defines how a menu table, which lists the results of a search, sorts before it displays. Leave this field blank to sort on record IDs. Otherwise, enter the dictionary item by which to sort the file.
Disp Conv Expr/Attb	Displays the conversion expression/attribute, which defines the text describing the items displayed in a menu table. Menu tables list the results of a search. Leave this field blank to use the record ID. Otherwise, enter the name of the file attribute to display or enter an expression using PICK correlative commands.
Input Validation Subr	Identifies the subroutine the system uses in validating input data. If defined, the subroutine in this field overrides the subroutine in the Index Dict ID field.
Pre-Index Conv Subr	Identifies a conversion subroutine, which the system uses to remove unnecessary characters in attributes before indexing them. The only pre-index conversion subroutine the system uses is DICT.SOUNDA.
Update Validation	Identifies the subroutine to call for validating data in a record within the file.
Update Subr	Identifies the subroutine to call for running another program whenever a user updates a record in this file. For example, you can have a subroutine that sends a message to the credit control manager whenever someone updates the credit controls file. Note: The subroutine must adhere to Eclipse standards to work properly.
Select Filter Subr	Identifies the subroutine to use to filter the displayed items.
New ID Verification	Indicates whether you can enter a new record using a user-defined screen. Select one of the following options: No New - You cannot enter a new record from a user-defined screen. This is the default value and the designation used for all standard system files. Sequential - The system assigns a unique ID to a new record. Free Form - The user can assign a unique ID to a new record.
Keep File in Sync with Parent (Y/N)	Indicates whether to keep the Physical file and Parent file in sync. For example, when set to Y, when you delete a record from the Parent file, the system also deletes the record from the Physical file.
Hot Sync (Y/N)	Indicates whether this file should sync with the Hot Swap Server.
Prevent Mass Load (Y/N)	Indicates whether the system prevents users from mass loading information to this file. The default is N. Note: Before you can change the setting of this field, the file must be listed in the Valid Files control maintenance record.

Press Esc to save the parameter information and exit the File Definition Maintenance screen.