Specifying File Layout, Record, and Field Properties

This section discusses how to:

• Specify file layout properties.

• Specify file record properties.

• Specify file field properties.

Note:

Some properties are available only for a specific file layout format. For example, a file definition tag is available only for an XML format file. When a property is available only for a particular format, the format is noted in parentheses after the name of the property (such as File Definition Tag [XML]).

Note:

Each property that appears in the Preview tab of the File Layout Designer is only another view of the corresponding property of the same name that appears in the Properties dialog box when working with the Definition tab. Changing any property value in one view changes the same property value in another view.

Important:

It is important to keep in mind that the information about file layout segments and file layout fields is stored in the database separately from the information about the associated records, record fields, and database fields. This separate storage can cause problems, for example, if the data type or size of a database field changes while the corresponding information about an associated file layout field remains unchanged. Another example might be if a record field is removed from a record while the corresponding file layout field remains in the associated file layout segment. Because of the potential for the file layout and the underlying database structure to diverge over time if changes are made to the system, it is very important (particularly after an upgrade) to confirm that each file layout segment be kept in sync with its associated record and that each file layout field be kept in sync with its associated database field.