Topics:

• Overview of Master and Access Files
• Master Files for Adabas
• Access Files for Adabas
• Mapping Adabas Descriptors
• Mapping Adabas Fields That Have Special Characteristics
• Mapping Adabas Files With Variable-Length Records and Repeating Fields
• Using the GROUP Attribute to Cross-Reference Files

Before you can access an ADABAS data source using FOCUS, you must first describe it to FOCUS in two files, a Master File, and an associated Access File. A Master File is required to describe the ADABAS data source in standard FOCUS terminology to the adapter. The Access File describes the database access information, for example, database number, file number, and descriptor fields.

The Master File is a member of a PDS allocated to ddname MASTER. The Access File is a member of a PDS allocated to ddname FOCADBS or ACCESS.

Analyze your ADABAS structures to decide how you want to describe them to FOCUS. Once that is done, your next step is to create their Master and Access Files. The preferred way to create Master and Access Files is to use the AUTOADBS facility described in The AUTOADBS Facility. This chapter is helpful if your site does not have the Predict dictionary or if you want to modify the Master and Access Files.