Maintaining Databases

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This documentation describes FOCUS data management facilities and environments for FOCUS Version 7.7. It is intended for database administrators, application developers, and other information technology professionals who will be creating, restructuring, or directly editing FOCUS and XFOCUS data sources. This manual is part of the FOCUS documentation set. References to z/OS apply to all supported versions of the OS/390, z/OS, and MVS operating environments. The documentation set consists of the following components:

Creating Reports describes FOCUS Reporting environments and features.
Describing Data explains how to create the metadata for the data sources that your FOCUS procedures will access.
Developing Applications describes FOCUS Application Development tools and environments.
Maintaining Databases describes FOCUS data management facilities and environments.
Using Functions describes internal and user-written functions.
Overview and Operating Environments contains an introduction to FOCUS and FOCUS tools and describes how to use FOCUS in the z/OS environment.

How This Manual Is Organized

This manual includes the following chapters:

Chapter/Appendix		Contents
1	Introduction to Maintain	Provides an overview of Maintain, FOCUS's premier facility for developing database transaction applications.
2	Maintain Concepts	Explains essential Maintain concepts including stacks and set-based processing, Winforms and event-driven processing, transaction integrity, and classes and objects.
3	Tutorial: Coding a Procedure	Demonstrates how to code a simple Maintain procedure using basic Maintain logic to read and write to a data source.
4	Tutorial: Painting a Procedure	Demonstrates how to develop an event-driven Maintain procedure, including forms, using the Winform Painter.
5	Using the Winform Painter	Describes how to use the Winform Painter to develop Maintain procedures, including Winforms.
6	Language Rules Reference	Describes the rules for using the Maintain language.
7	Command Reference	Describes the purpose, syntax, and usage notes of all Maintain commands and system variables.
8	Expressions Reference	Describes the rules for combining variables, constants, operators, and functions to produce different types of expressions.
9	Modifying Data Sources With MODIFY	Describes all Maintain built-in functions, including arguments and return values.
10	Designing Screens With FIDEL	Describes how to create full-screen data entry forms for MODIFY and Dialogue Manager procedures.
11	Creating and Rebuilding a Data Source	Describes utilities to create new FOCUS data sources and to refresh existing data sources after the structure has changed.
12	Directly Editing FOCUS Databases With SCAN	Describes how to use SCAN, an interactive line editor, to edit FOCUS data sources.
13	Directly Editing FOCUS Databases With FSCAN	Describes how to use FSCAN, an interactive full-screen editor, to edit FOCUS data sources.
A	Master Files and Diagrams	Contains Master Files and diagrams of sample data sources used in the documentation examples.
B	Error Messages	Describes how to obtain information about error messages.

Documentation Conventions

The following table lists and describes the conventions that apply in this manual.

Convention	Description
THIS TYPEFACE or this typeface	Denotes syntax that you must enter exactly as shown.
this typeface	Represents a placeholder (or variable) in syntax for a value that you or the system must supply.
underscore	Indicates a default setting.
this typeface	Represents a placeholder (or variable), a cross-reference, or an important term. It may also indicate a button, menu item, or dialog box option you can click or select.
this typeface	Highlights a file name or command.
Key + Key	Indicates keys that you must press simultaneously.
{ }	Indicates two or three choices; type one of them, not the braces.
[ ]	Indicates a group of optional parameters. None are required, but you may select one of them. Type only the parameter in the brackets, not the brackets.
\|	Separates mutually exclusive choices in syntax. Type one of them, not the symbol.
...	Indicates that you can enter a parameter multiple times. Type only the parameter, not the ellipsis points (...).
. . .	Indicates that there are (or could be) intervening or additional commands.

Related Publications

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Customer Support

Do you have any questions about this product?

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You can also access support services electronically, 24 hours a day, with InfoResponse Online. InfoResponse Online is accessible through our World Wide Web site, http://www.informationbuilders.com. It connects you to the tracking system and known-problem database at the Information Builders support center. Registered users can open, update, and view the status of cases in the tracking system and read descriptions of reported software issues. New users can register immediately for this service. The technical support section of www.informationbuilders.com also provides usage techniques, diagnostic tips, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Call the Information Builders Customer Support Service (CSS) at (800) 736-6130 or (212) 736-6130. Customer Support Consultants are available Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. EST to address all your questions. Information Builders consultants can also give you general guidance regarding product capabilities and documentation. Please be ready to provide your six-digit site code number (xxxx.xx) when you call.

To learn about the full range of available support services, ask your Information Builders representative about InfoResponse Online, or call (800) 969-INFO.

Information You Should Have

To help our consultants answer your questions effectively, be prepared to provide the following information when you call:

Your six-digit site code (xxxx.xx).
The stored procedure (preferably with line numbers) .
The Master File and Access File.
Run sheet (beginning at login, including call to FOCUS), containing the following information:
- ? RELEASE
- ? FDT
- ? LET
- ? LOAD
- ? COMBINE
- ? JOIN
- ? DEFINE
- ? STAT
- ? SET/? SET GRAPH
- ? TSO DDNAME
The exact nature of the problem:
- Are the results or the format incorrect? Are the text or calculations missing or misplaced?
- The error message and return code, if applicable.
- Is this related to any other problem?
Has the procedure or query ever worked in its present form? Has it been changed recently? How often does the problem occur?
What release of the operating system are you using? Has it, your security system, communications protocol, or front-end software changed?
Is this problem reproducible? If so, how?
Have you tried to reproduce your problem in the simplest form possible? For example, if you are having problems joining two data sources, have you tried executing a query containing just the code to access the data source?
Do you have a trace file?
How is the problem affecting your business? Is it halting development or production? Do you just have questions about functionality or documentation?

User Feedback

In an effort to produce effective documentation, the Documentation Services staff welcomes your opinions regarding this manual. Please use the Reader Comments form at the end of this manual to communicate suggestions for improving this publication or to alert us to corrections. You can also use the Documentation Feedback form on our Web site, http://documentation.informationbuilders.com/feedback.asp.

Thank you, in advance, for your comments.

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For information on course descriptions, locations, and dates, or to register for classes, visit our World Wide Web site (http://www.informationbuilders.com) or call (800) 969-INFO to speak to an Education Representative.