FOCUS: Accessing External Files

Synopsis
FOCUS: Accessing External Files describes how to access external files for use in FOCUS.

Audience
This course is for the data processing and business professional who will use FOCUS to run reports and/or maintain data created in another database management system, such as DB2 or SQL/DS.

Time
2 - 5 hours

Product Code: FOC302

After completing this course, the student should be able to:

Describe external files with a Master File Description

Identify external file types

Explain external file interfaces

Defining External Files
Discusses the general categories of external files and how to use the ACTUAL attribute to describe an external file to FOCUS.

Categories
Definition of an external file.  Three categories of external files.

The ACTUAL Attribute
Use of the ACTUAL attribute to describe an external file to FOCUS.  Attributes ACTUAL and FORMAT compared and contrasted.

Fixed-Format Files
Discusses three types of fixed-format files.

Simple Sequential Files
Definition of a fixed-format sequential file.  Master File Description code for a simple sequential file.

Multiple Record Type Files
Definition of a fixed-format multiple record type file.  Master File Description code for a multiple record type file.  Use of the RECTYPE fieldname.

Variable Segment Files
Definition of a fixed-format variable segment file.  Master File Description code for a variable segment file.  How to use the OCCURS attribute.

4th Generation Languages

Other DBMS Files
Describes how to access files from other DBMS systems, including ISAM, VSAM, DB2 and SQL/DS.

ISAM and VSAM
Description of the ISAM and VSAM interfaces.  Master File Description code for ISAM and VSAM files.

DB2 and SQL/DS
Description of the DB2 and SQL/DS interfaces. Master File Description code for DB2 and SQL/DS files.  How to employ an Access File Description.