Define XREF

The following figure is displayed when you are creating or editing an XREF member. Use it to enter general XREF information, layout member names, and beginning data names.

Source layout member names are specified in the Member field on the Define XREF screen. Use the S and SU line commands in the Cmd field to access the Formatted and Unformatted XREF Definitions screens for each source layout member to establish selection logic. You must specify criteria for all layout members except the last one which File-AID indicates as the default layout with a status of DEFAULT BASE.

Field Descriptions

Member list description

Specify a 30-byte description of the XREF contents. This description is displayed on the member list screen, which allows you to identify the XREF contents specified in this member.

Long Description

Specify a longer XREF description, up to 62 characters in each of the two lines. This information is stored in the XREF member.

Generated filler length

(Optional) Specify a length to have a filler displayed at the start of each record concatenated to each base layout.

Cmd

Specify S or SU to access the formatted or unformatted XREF definition. An XREF definition is required for all members except the default member.

(alias SF) Displays the Formatted XREF Definition screen, as shown in Formatted XREF Definition Screen. This allows you to look at the current layout and enter layout selection conditions similar to defining record Selection Criteria using option 6. You may enter field criteria to uniquely identify the layout for selection.

Displays the Unformatted XREF Definition screen, as shown in Unformatted XREF Definition Screen. This allows you to define unique conditions for selecting the layout without using a record layout to identify the fields. With unformatted criteria, you supply the Position, Operator, and Data Value(s) of the fields to test. With unformatted criteria, the layout is not displayed.

Specify the layout type and usage with the following status commands. File-AID sets each new layout to DEFAULT BASE. When criteria is entered for the layout via the S (Formatted) or SU (Unformatted) XREF Definition screen, File-AID changes the status to BASE.

BAS

Layout defines the start of each (or the entire) record - multiple BASE layouts are allowed when the file contains multiple record types. After you enter selection criteria the layout status is automatically set to BASE. Whenever you select a new record in formatted Browse/Edit when using an XREF, each BASE is tested to see if it matches the record. The matching BASE is then displayed or the DEFAULT BASE is displayed if no criteria for any BASE matches the record.

SEG

Layout defines a section of the record following the BASE or another SEG. Selection criteria must be present. Each time the NEXT command is issued in Browse or Edit Formatted mode, each SEG in the XREF related to the current BASE is tested to see if the data conditions in the record match any SEG conditions. If a match is found, the SEG layout is selected and displayed overlaying the next byte of data following the current BASE or SEG layout.

A SEG layout is related to the previously specified BASE layout in the XREF. Each BASE starts a new set of SEG layouts. The SEG line command can be entered for a member with a status of BASE.

Important

If the selection criteria for any BASE or SEGMENT is not unique, the first base or segment layout that matches the specified conditions will be selected.

DEF

Identifies the DEFAULT BASE. No selection conditions are needed. When a data record fails to match all previous BASE criteria, the DEFAULT member is selected as the base layout. A DEFAULT may have SEG layouts attached to it. Only one layout may be the DEFAULT BASE and it must be the last base layout.

If you delete all criteria associated with a given layout, it becomes the default. Entering DEF is not required since File-AID automatically sets a layout without criteria to the default value.

Editing commands:

After. Target line for results of C (Copy) or M (Move).

Before. Target line for results of C (Copy) or M (Move).

Copy. Copy a layout line to a destination (A or B). The associated criteria is not copied.

Delete. Delete a layout line.

Extract. Displays the Source Statement Selection screen, as shown in Source Statement Selection Screen, which enables you to extract a layout from source based on starting data names, a line number range, or starting level number. Using this technique enables you to set up reference to multiple layouts with one XREF entry.

When extracting a layout from CA Panvalet or CA Librarian source, we recommend using the starting data name; not the line number range.

Insert a new blank layout line.

Move. Move a layout line to a destination (A or B).

Repeat. Repeat a layout line.

Important

This does not duplicate the associated criteria.

Member

Specify a valid member name or a pattern name. If you specify a pattern, File-AID displays a member list from which you select (S) the member to use for this BASE, DEFAULT, or SEGMENT. A pattern name of * (asterisk) displays all members of the Record Layout Dataset that you specified on the Record Layout Cross Reference screen. An example of a pattern is A* which lists all members starting with an A.

If you have specified a pattern, the member list is presented when you use the layout selection condition access codes S (Formatted condition) and SU (Unformatted condition). Use the S (Select) line command on the member list to select your member. Whenever you use the member list, the selection you make is stored in the member name field of the current line and replaces any pattern you may have specified.

Beginning Data Name

If the member you select contains more than one 01 level data structure, File-AID displays a List of Available Layouts screen to assist you in identifying the beginning data name and which data structure you want to use for this portion of the record. After using the List of Available Layouts screen, File-AID displays your selection in the Beginning Data name field.

If the member you select does not contain any 01 level data structures, the content of the entire member will be used and the beginning data name field will be set to the first data name encountered. If you do not want the entire member selected, use the EX (Extract Layout) line command to specify which lines to select. If there are multiple layouts in the specified member but they start with a level other than 01, change the starting level number on the Source Statement Selection Screen to the desired level number.

An alternate method for extracting a data structure is to use the EX (Extract layout) line command.

Description

Specify up to 15 characters of comment to help you identify this layout.

Status

This field indicates the current member status: DEFAULT BASE, BASE, or SEGMENT.

Use the END command (PF3) to exit and save your XREF definition member. Use the CANCEL command to exit without saving the new XREF member.

The VIEW command displays the View Criteria screen. It shows you the internal format of your XREF, displaying all formatted and unformatted layout selection conditions on a scrollable screen.