Update File Ref

PARADYME data handling acts as a three tier buffering system. On the first tier the user has the data saved on disc. This is then read into a buffer record held in the computer's main memory. This becomes the second tier. At each input, the user extracts one value from this buffer record and processes it. This is the third tier. As a result of this method, the user has the option to drop back to the data still held at the previous tier to recover the original data. This is useful where a user has accidentally updated the wrong record and does not wish to save it.

As mentioned above, the second tier consists of a buffer record read in from disk. It is this record that the UPDATE FILE REF refers to. It is the file from which a record can be read in to initialise the buffer record. It is also the file for which the layout record will be used to determine the main attributes positions. Even if the user does not access a file to initialise the buffer record, a file definition needs to be setup to allow attribute positions to be specified in the main prompt definition section. When setting up such a definition, the user must still specify a file name even though no file is actually accessed. To get around this specify

As only one buffer record exists, only one file can be accessed. Consequently, only one file at a time can be updated directly by the system. In the majority of cases the user will wish to updated on file. However, the user can create insert items that can update other files. Also, by specifying pseudo-layouts the user can manipulate the buffer by loading in data from other files and writing it back at the end.

It is the shorthand code of the file layout item which will reference the attribute positions on the buffer record that should be entered for this entry. The file layout must already have been defined using option 1 of the main menu. The shorthand code must be the reference of a record that already exists on the file layouts file. If a valid code is entered, the full name of the file is displayed next to the code.

If the user cannot remember the code of the file that will be the main update file, hit the invert key. The user will then be prompted for part of the file reference or part of the file name. All records that contain these values will be displayed on the screen.

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