Dcmd and Walker Name Resolution

As described earlier, each MDB dmod provides a set of dcmds and walkers. Dcmds and walkers are tracked in two distinct, global namespaces. MDB also keeps track of a dcmd and walker namespace associated with each dmod. Identically named dcmds or walkers within a given dmod are not allowed. A dmod with this type of naming conflict will fail to load.

Name conflicts between dcmds or walkers from different dmods are allowed in the global namespace. In the case of a conflict, the first dcmd or walker with that particular name to be loaded is given precedence in the global namespace. Alternate definitions are kept in a list in load order.

Use the backquote character (`) in a dcmd or walker name as a scoping operator to select an alternate definition. For example, if dmods m1 and m2 each provide a dcmd d, and m1 is loaded prior to m2, then you can use the scoping operator as shown below to specify the dcmd you want:

::d

Executes m1's definition of d

::m1`d

Executes m1's definition of d

::m2`d

Executes m2's definition of d

If module m1 is unloaded, the next dcmd on the global definition list (m2`d) is promoted to global visibility. Use the ::which dcmd to determine the current definition of a dcmd or walker. Use the ::which -v dcmd to display the global definition list.