What the CALC command does

Mayos · New User Joined: 11 Apr 2005 Posts: 16

Hello,

I would like to know if someone can explain to me what the CALC command does? Say ie OBTAIN CALC dbrecord?

Also, what does it mean when they say CALL 'database name' USING something? Does this mean that they are calling a certain database within the program using the given dbkey?

Thank you so very much. I appreciate the help.

harishskumar · New User Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 13 Location: Bangalore

Hey,

Think you are new to IDMS.

There are 3 kinds of records in IDMS.

1.Calc Records
2.Via Records
3.Direct Records

Calc stands for "Calculated". When IDMS stores a record it calculates a target page based on a logical/symbolic key using hash alogorithm. So to get a calc record you need to supply the key value and say OBTAIN which will fetch the record from database.

Another thing to note is that OBTAIN is Equivalent to FIND + GET. Let me explain you what find and get mean.

FIND - will check the database for occurance of the record in the DB.
GET - will fetch the record for which currency has been established by previous FIND command in to Call area.

OBTAIN will do both establish currency onthe record and retrieve it to the Call area.

Hope this helps...

for remaining types of records and stuff I would suggest you to go thru IDMS manual or books..

harishskumar · New User Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 13 Location: Bangalore

Sorry I forgot to answer your following question.

Quote:

Also, what does it mean when they say CALL 'database name' USING something? Does this mean that they are calling a certain database within the program using the given dbkey?

When you say USING something.... it means you are saying that the word after USING actually contains the Key value or reference to the key.