Data Dictionary Maintenance 

Name

Unique name of the element - this is the variable name used in the primary IOList. Naming conventions for variables apply.

Select from a drop-down list of data elements defined in the Data Dictionary for the selected table or type a new element name. A new element name must start with an alpha character (A-Z or a-z) or an_ (underscore), followed by any combination of A-Z, a-z, 0-9 or _ (underscore). If an element name contains a . (dot), a message will display, warning that column names containing a dot may not be ODBC-compliant.

Note:
When a new element name is entered, it will be checked against the Reserved Words list to determine if it is restricted for use in the Data Dictionary. If it is found, a warning message will display.

(User Reserved Words Maintenance was added in PxPlus 2020.)

Click the Browse buttons to browse to existing elements. Click the Copy Element button to copy an existing element to a new element. If unsaved changes are detected when selecting these buttons, a message will display to save the changes.

The Update Global Dictionary Elements in other Files button is used to update other data files in the data dictionary when an element in the Global Dictionary has been changed.

It is possible to restrict element names. To exclude names, such as SQL keywords, create a list of rejected names (one item per line) in the text file dde_exclude.txt located in the *ext directory; i.e. PathToPxPlus/lib/_ext/dde_exclude.txt.

If you choose your own file/location for this list, the path must be loaded into the %DDE_Exclude$ variable. When this file is present, new names will be checked against the restricted list and rejected if found. No action is taken for elements that already exist. Text in this file is treated as case insensitive and spaces are stripped.

If the Name field of an existing element is changed and that element name does not exist, a message will display. Responding Yes renames the current element. Responding No creates a new element. Responding Cancel puts back the original Name. Save any changes by clicking the OK or Apply buttons.

(First/Last Element browse buttons were added in PxPlus 2019.)
(The changed Name message was added in PxPlus 2020.)

(Copy Element)

(Available when an existing Element Name is selected)

Button used to create a new element by copying the settings from an existing element. Once it is created, the new element must be saved, as the Copy process does not do this.

(The Copy Element button was added in PxPlus 2014.)

(Update Global Dictionary Elements in other Files)

(Available when an existing Global Dictionary Element Name is selected)

Button used to invoke the Update Global Dictionary Elements window only if both of these conditions are met:

This button is disabled while a global element is being edited. When the element is recalled, this button is enabled.

(The Update Global Dictionary Elements in other Files button was added in PxPlus 2019.)

Class

Enter a data class to load the information from the data class definition into the element's fields. See Data Classes.

The class is also used to associate a control type (i.e. Multi-Lines, Drop Boxes, List Boxes, Radio Buttons and Check Boxes) with the element for use within NOMADS and its sub-systems, as well as in iNomads.

To enter a data class, use any of the following methods:

• Click the Query button (binoculars) to select from a list of predefined data classes (if any).
• Type the name of an existing data class.
• Create a new data class by clicking the Data Class Maintenance button to launch Data Class Definitions maintenance.

If the data class is changed, a message will display prior to overwriting any information.

If the data class assigned to the element has been deleted in Data Class Definitions maintenance, the text ** Class not on File ** will display.

(The dark red text indicating a deleted Data Class was added in PxPlus 2021.)

(Data Class Maintenance)

Button used to launch Data Class Definitions maintenance for creating or editing a data class.

(Reapply Data Class)

(Available when a Class is entered)

Button used to update element fields with current information from the selected data class.

A message will display only if element fields are found that are populated with existing values different from the values in the selected data class. Clicking Yes will overwrite existing values for the listed element fields. Clicking No will not overwrite existing values for the listed element fields but will update element fields not currently populated. Clicking Cancel will not make any changes.

Note:
If a Class is entered for the element, changes to that class will not be reflected in the element until the Reapply Data Class button is selected.

Care should be taken when using the Reapply Data Class button or changing the Class entered for the element, as this will overwrite any existing values.

(The Reapply Data Class button was added in PxPlus 2018.)

Alt. Name

Alternate name for use in the alternate IOList (for legacy programs). If an alternate IOList is defined, then you must define an alternate name for all elements in the file. The alternate name must be a variable name (e.g. A$ or A$[1]). Supports only fields that use the Delimited format mask. See Format Mask.

DB Null if Empty

(Not Applicable when File Type is a PxPlus Native File)

Check box to indicate that a null value can be returned for the element when interacting with a Prefix or Link file created from an external database. See Using External Databases to Create a Data Dictionary.

(The DB Null if Empty check box was added in PxPlus 2023.)

External Only

Check box to indicate that the element forms part of an external key and is not duplicated in the data portion of the record.

Example:

     Key: CST_ID$ Data: CST_NM$, CST_ADDR$, CST_PHONE$

In this case, CST_ID$ forms the key and is not duplicated in the data portion of the record.

Required

Check box to indicate that the element is a required field and must contain data before the record can be written in File Maintenance.

Upper Case

Check box to indicate that the data should always be in uppercase letters. Used by NOMADS sub-systems.

Read Only

Check box to indicate that the element is designated as read only or locked. Used by NOMADS sub-systems.

(The Read Only check box was added in PxPlus 2021.)

Display

Properties

Short Description

Brief description of the element, which can be a Fixed value, Expression or Message Library Reference.

Default / Input Value

See Format Mask Options.

Validation / Rules

See Format Mask Options.

Print / Input Format

See Format Mask Options.

User Defined Tag Field

See Format Mask Options.

User Aids

Help Reference

Help text to be launched when the user presses Shift - F1. Click the drop-down arrow for selections to access form fields for specifying the different definitions (either External or Internal).

Floating Tip

Mouse pointer message for the control (Fixed value, string Expression or Message Library Reference).

You can customize the floating tip by adding a tip title, descriptive tip text and a hyperlink. These features enhance the visual display and functionality of the tip by providing users with much needed information at their fingertips. You can define either a Standard tip or an HTML tip that provides a simplified HTML Editor for customizing the tip text. To do this, click the button to the right of the Floating Tip multi-line input to invoke the Define Info Tip dialogue. See Defining an Info Tip.

Note:
The Floating Tip drop box and multi-line input cannot be changed once an HTML tip has been defined.

(The Floating Tip option was added in PxPlus 2021.)

Notes

A multi-line input control used for entering notes about the element. Press Enter to start a new line. Maximum 1024 characters.

Alternatively, notes can be added or edited for an element by using the Add/Edit Notes button beside the Data Elements grid.

(Support for increasing input maximum was added in PxPlus 2022.)

Query

Query Type

Type of query to associate to the control: Panel, Program, Non-Query Logic, Spinner.

Depending on the Query Type selected, different information is entered. For an explanation of each type and the information to enter, see Query Type.

(Support for Non-Query Logic was added in PxPlus 2018.)

Panel/Program Attributes

(Available if Query Type is Panel or Program)

(The Define button was added to Element Description in PxPlus 2023 Update 1.)

Non-Query Logic

(Available if Query Type is Non-Query Logic)

Select the type of logic (Link, Perform, Call, Execute, etc.) and the program logic reference "program;label".

Example:

   PERFORM
   "programs/browse;Browse_Directory"

(Support for Non-Query Logic was added in PxPlus 2018.)

Spinner Attributes

(Available if Query Type is Spinner)

(Numeric Only) Associate a spinner control with the element in place of a query. Sets the Increment value for scrollbar movement, as well as the Start (initial) and End (maximum) values.

Example:

If Increment = 1, Start = 1, and End = 9999, then the initial value would be 1, scrollbar movement would increase/decrease by 1 and the maximum would be 9999.

ODBC

ODBC Hide/No Show Options

Security

Button used to set up and access the optional security system that controls user access to the system. See Security Manager.

Clear

Button used to clear the current record and put focus on the Name field.

Delete

(Available when an existing element is selected)

Button used to delete the selected data element. When selected, a message asks to confirm the deletion.

OK

Adds or updates the current element, then closes the Element Description window. The new element is added to the bottom of the Data Elements grid. Use the Move Up/Move Down buttons beside the grid to change the position of the new element.

If saving changes to a Global Dictionary element and elements with the same Name and Type exist in other data files, a message asks if you want to apply the same changes to the other elements. Responding Yes invokes the Update Global Dictionary Elements window for updating all or only selected elements. Responding No does not change the other elements.

(Update Global Dictionary Elements was added in PxPlus 2019.)

Cancel

Closes the Element Description window without saving any changes and returns to the Elements tab.

Apply

Allows you to consecutively insert or update multiple data elements to the Data Dictionary for the current table without having to exit the Element Description window.

After entering all the details for the element being added or modified, select Apply. A message displays to confirm that the element has been added or updated. The Element Description window is then cleared, and you can add or modify another element.

If saving changes to a Global Dictionary element and elements with the same Name and Type exist in other data files, a message asks if you want to apply the same changes to the other elements. Responding Yes invokes the Update Global Dictionary Elements window for updating all or only selected elements. Responding No does not change the other elements.

New elements that are entered consecutively and then saved using the Apply button are added to the bottom of the Data Elements grid in the same entry order. Use the Move Up/Move Down buttons beside the grid to change the order of the elements.

(Update Global Dictionary Elements was added in PxPlus 2019.)

Data Storage Formats

String Formats

IOL Format
(l = length)

Size

Dlm

Sign

Decimal

Pad

Delimited

Variable

Y

N/A

N/A

N/A

Fixed

[CHR(l)]

Fixed

N

N/A

N/A

Right/Space

Padded

[LEN(l)]

Fixed

N

N/A

N/A

Right/Space

Substring

[LEN(l,SEP=sep$)]

Fixed

N

N/A

N/A

Right/Space

Last Substring

[LEN(sep$, SIZ=l)]

Fixed

Y

N/A

N/A

Right/Space

Data Storage Formats

Numeric Formats

IOL Format 
(l = length, s = scale)

Size

Dlm

Sign

Decimal

Pad

Delimited

Variable

Y

Explicit

Explicit

N/A

Fixed

[NUM(l,s)]

Fixed

N

None

Implied

Left/Zero
Right/Zero

Padded

[NUM(l,s)]

Fixed

N

None

Implied

Substring

[NUM(l,s)]

Fixed

N

None

Implied

Last Substring

[NUM(l,s,SEP=sep$)]

Fixed

Y

None

Implied

Signed Fixed Numeric

[SGN(l,s)]

Fixed

N

Explicit

Implied

Left/Zero
Right/Zero

Decimal

[DEC(l,s)]

Fixed

N

Explicit

Explicit

Left/Space
Right/Zero

Decimal Delimited

[DEC(sep$, SIZ=l,s)]

Fixed

Y

Explicit

Explicit

Binary Numeric*

[BIN(l,s)]

Fixed

N

Implied

Implied

Left/$00$

Unsigned Integer*

[INT(l,s)]

Fixed

N

N/A

Implied

Left/$00$

Examples

(Space characters are represented by "^" and field delimiters by "|")

String Formats

Length

Stores null as

Stores "abc" as …*

Stores "abcdef" as …*

Delimited

5

|

abc|

abcdef|

Fixed

5

^^^^^

abc ^^

abcde

Padded

5

^^^^^

abc ^^

abcde

Substring

5

^^^^^

abc ^^

abcde

Last Substring

5

^^^^^|

abc ^^|

abcde|

Numeric Formats

Length

Stores 0 as …*

Stores -1.1 as …*

Stores 12345.678 as … *

Delimited

6.2

0|

-1.1|

12345.678|

Fixed

6.2

000000

000110

234567

Padded

6.2

000000

000110

234567

Substring

6.2

000000

000110

234567

Last Substring

6.2

000000|

000110|

234567|

Signed Fixed

6.2

00000+

00110-

34567+

Decimal

6.2

^^ 0.00

^ -1.10

Error #43

Decimal Delimited

6.2

^^ 0.00|

^ -1.10|

Error #43

1 / 32767

-1 / 65535

Binary Numeric

2

$0000$

$0001$ / $7FFF$

$FFFF$

Unsigned Integer

2

$0000$

$0001$ / $7FFF$

$FFFF$

Padded Key

Field padded with spaces based on the defined length.

Fixed Key

Field padded to the specified length, unless it is the last key component. For redundant external key fields (i.e. fields that form both the external key, as well as part of the data portion of the record), define the format as it should be defined for the data portion.

Depending on the format chosen, the format for the corresponding key field defaults to the following:

Length

Set the maximum length of the data field. Numeric field lengths can be defined using implied decimal format.

Example:

   6.2: 6 represents total length of the field, including explicit signs and decimals, where applicable; 2 represents scaling factor or number of decimal places.

Occurs

Dimension, if element represents an array (e.g. 1:3). If a single number (e.g. 3), represents a single element in the third position of an array (e.g. X$[3]) rather than the entire array.

Note:
Arrays are not supported by the File Maintenance and Query utilities.

Default Value

Value to be loaded when the field is first initialized. Can be a Fixed value, Expression or Message Library Reference.

Validation

Comma-separated validation rules; e.g. 1-3,9 or Y,N,M. Can be Fixed text or an Expression.

Print Format

Output format mask, either Fixed text (string literal) or Expression.

User Defined Tag Field

Data/tag field used to pass information on such things as formatting, error messages and validation rules. Can be Fixed text (string literal) or an Expression (evaluated when the object is created). NOMADS places the contents of this field in a variable using the element name with a .TAG$ extension.