Describing Data

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Copyright © 2020 Information Builders

In this section:

This documentation describes how to understand and use FOCUS Master and Access Files. 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:

How This Manual Is Organized

This manual includes the following chapters:

Chapter/Appendix Contents

1

Understanding a Data Source Description

Introduces data source descriptions and explains how to use them.

2

Identifying a Data Source

Documents how to describe general aspects of a data source.

3

Describing a Group of Fields

Documents how to describe groups of related fields or segments of a data source.

4

Describing an Individual Field

Documents how to describe specific field level information of a data source.

5

Describing a Sequential, VSAM, or ISAM Data Source

Provides supplementary information specific to sequential, VSAM, and ISAM data sources.

6

Describing a FOCUS Data Source

Provides information specific to FOCUS data sources.

7

Defining a Join in a Master File

Describes how to create a new relationship between any two segments that have at least one field in common by joining them.

8

Creating a Business View of a Master File

Describes how to create a view of a Master File that groups the information based on business logic.

9

Checking and Changing a Master File: CHECK

Describes how to use the CHECK command to validate a data source description.

10

Accessing a FOCUS Data Source: USE

Describes how you can access a FOCUS data source that does not use default naming conventions.

11

Providing Data Source Security: DBA

Describes how you can use DBA security features to provide security for any FOCUS data source.

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.

C

User Exits for a Non-FOCUS Data Source

Describes how to read non-FOCUS data sources with user-written procedures.

D

Rounding in FOCUS

Describes how FOCUS numeric fields store and display data, how rounding occurs in calculations, and what happens in conversion from one format to another.

E

File Description Attribute Summary

Lists the attributes supported for Master Files and Access Files for FOCUS data sources, and for Business Views.

Documentation Conventions

The following table describes the documentation conventions that are used 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 that you can click or select.

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 (...).

.

.

.

Indicates that there are (or could be) intervening or additional commands.

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