Do I need to unload/reload the file?

[Hamilton, Allison]

I'm assuming that this item is not already a physical index on the file.  If
that is true, then you must reload the data for RMS to know about the index.
Making it an index in the dictionary will not make it one on the file.  Also
- you would likely get an error when trying to access it since PowerHouse
will think there an additional index that the file system doesn't know
about, so you won't be able to access the file, even if you recompile
everything.  You do not need to use PowerHouse to reload the file, however,
you can use the DCL command CONVERT/FDL=...  If you generate an FDL file
from the existing file (ANAL/RMS/FDL) and then EDIT/FDL it to add the new
index, or if you generate the FDL from PHDFM after modifying the dictionary
you will have the FDL file you need to convert the file to a new format with
the new index, and you can let RMS do the rest of the work.

-----Original Message-----
From: Hoppe, Eric EP [mailto:Eric.Hoppe@steelscape-inc.com]
Sent: Friday, March 15, 2002 12:19 PM
To: 'powerh-l@lists.swau.edu'
Subject: Do I need to unload/reload the file?


Hi all-

I am running PH 7.10G1 on OpenVMS 7.1 and have a simple question we have
been discussing and thought to see what the pros say...

If an element is changed to be a key, do I need to unload/reload the data?
I know (of course) what needs to be recompiled.  Historically, when in
doubt, we have just done the reload.  If we don't need to do the reload, we
can make the change without taking the system down.  By changing the field
to a key, we are not affecting the offset of the data which leads me to
believe we do not need to reload the data.

To be a bit more illustrative, I want to change cd-suppl-paint to be an
alternate, repeating, ascending key.
-- Record Contents --
    Item                                 Type            Size  Occ  Offset
    NO-PAINT-REF                         CHARACTER         10            0
    .CD-GLOSS                            ZONED UNSIGNED     1            0
    .CD-TY-PAINT                         CHARACTER          2            1
    .CD-PAINT                            CHARACTER          1            3
    .NO-PAINT                            ZONED UNSIGNED     5            4
    .CD-SUPPL-PAINT                      CHARACTER          1            9

Thanks-

---ehops

Eric Hoppe
Steelscape, Inc.
Senior Systems Analyst
Kalama, WA  USA
360.673.8247


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