| Published By | Date | Version | Knowledge Level | Keywords |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sprezzatura Ltd | 01 JAN 1991 | 2.021+ | EXPERT | %FIELDS%, %F%, DICT.MFS |
A reader called recently to ask for an explanation of the %FIELDS% record found in the dictionary of all files. This record (maintained automatically by DICT.MFS) is documented below. %FIELDS% contains all of the information relating to the dictionary items in a file in one place.
%FIELDS% has 14 fields, all (except for the first two) being associated multi-values controlled by field 3 (the dictionary item names). The record structure is as follows
| Field Number | Description |
|---|---|
| <1> | Null |
| <2> | Next field number used when creating new dictionary items. |
| <3> | Ascending left justified list of all dictionary field names |
| <4> | Field Type (F, S or G) |
| <5> | Field Number (blank for symbolic/group) |
| <6> | Whether field is BTREEd (1) or not (0) |
| <7> | Whether field is XREFed (1) or not (0) |
| <8> | Part number if field is part of a multi-parted key |
| <9> | Flag indicating whether field is multi-valued (1) or not (0) |
| <10> | Justfication |
| <11> | Length |
| <12> | Conversion |
| <13> | Default value to be used for SQL updates to column |
| <14> | "Master" flag for bonded files. See E3.12 in AREV 2.0 docs |
%FIELDS% can be used to good effect in providing users with rapid access to their dictionary file structure. All that is required is a simple F type popup, pointing to %FIELDS%, field 3.
There is a system labelled common area called %F% which contains the %FIELDS% record for the dictionary file last accessed. It seems to be loaded when a dictionary file is opened for the first time after an attach.
(Volume 2, Issue 8, Page 4)