Posting the Database Structure File

Posting the database structure from an extract file (created by the Data Dictionary Extract and Post utility) to the target database is the last stage in transferring the database structure to a database on a remote system or in merging database structures.

  1. On the DP4 System Main menu, select the Database management option

  2. On the Database Structure Management menu, select the Dictionary extract post option

  3. Enter the name of the target database

  4. On the Data Dictionary Transfer menu, select option 2 - Post database structure file. DP4 prompts you to enter the name of the export file

  5. DP4 posts the extract file to the target database. While the export file is being posted, DP4 displays the export file on screen, and shows the name of the table currently being processed. After doing this, the Data Dictionary Extract and Post utility re-generates the index links and displays these messages:

    Checking fields
    Setting field positions and marking data independence records
    Removing details of changed tables and fields
    Marking old index records for deletion
    Creating index records for prime index
    Creating index records for secondary indexing
    Creating index records for indirect joins
    Removing obsolete index records

    The Data Dictionary Extract and Post utility terminates and you are returned to the Database Structure Management menu

If DP4 indicates that the database independence mechanism has been invoked due to the structure transfer, it is a good idea to run a database reorganisation, and this will be forced if keys used in indexes have changed. To see the action recommended by DP4, run the Database Integrity Checker, select Option 1 - Status display and examine the Database status field. If you run REORGDB select option 3.