The ADABAS Interface enables you to access ADABAS databases using FOCUS. The Interface supports all FOCUS features for read access and can be purchased with the standard FOCUS product.
The primary function of the Interface is to extract data from an ADABAS structure and pass it to FOCUS for reporting purposes. The Interface issues the instructions that ADABAS uses to retrieve information from a database. Since this process is transparent, you do not need to learn ADABAS commands.
The Interface does not recreate the data in FOCUS format. Instead, it links the FOCUS report facility and the ADABAS file using FOCUS Master and Access Files that you create based on your ADABAS database. FOCUS uses Master and Access Files to understand the data. The Master File describes the field layout and is the logical description of the file. The Access File describes the physical attributes of the file, such as the database number, file number, descriptors, security, and so on.
Write access is not supported, so you cannot change an ADABAS structure using the Interface. For example, since the MODIFY and FSCAN facilities of FOCUS are maintenance and editing facilities, you cannot use them with the Interface. Additionally, the Interface does not support the alternate file view feature of FOCUS.
