HP 3000 Manuals HP 3000 Manuals
System Dictionary Description
HP System Dictionary/XL is a flexible and extendible data dictionary that
is designed to be a central information resource and index to programs,
users, input forms, and network configuration on a 900 Series HP 3000
system. You can customize and localize this dictionary to meet the needs
of your data resources.
The information contained in HP System Dictionary/XL defines, describes,
and identifies the data in your resources, and the relationships between
that data.
HP System Dictionary/XL software is divided into two products:
* HP System Dictionary/XL, which consists of the core set, the
intrinsics, and eight utilities: SDMAIN (the user interface),
SDINIT, SDCONV, SDDBD, SDDBC, SDVPD, SDUPGRAD, and SDUTIL.
* The HP System Dictionary/XL COBOL Definition Extractor Utility
(SDCDE). This utility, though sold as a separate product, requires
System Dictionary to be already installed, in order to run.
Features
The Entity- The Entity-Relationship (E-R) model consists of
Relationship entities, relationships between entities, and attributes
Model that define and characterize entities and relationships.
Extensibility The models and applications described in a dictionary
and will grow. To handle this growth, System Dictionary
Customization provides the ability to extend the dictionary, by adding
entity types, relationship types, relationship classes,
attributes, and type-attribute associations.
N-ary You may need to express a relationship between more than
Relationships two entities. System Dictionary supports relationships
between six entities. This ability allows greater
consistency of information when renaming or deleting
definitions.
Dictionary Although most of the definitions in a dictionary are
Domains meant to be commonly shared by all of you, many of you
need separate name spaces, or separate partitions for
different applications. HP System Dictionary allows you
to define entities and relationships within a local
domain, which you may use to separate applications or
duplicate names.
Version Control You may have separate dictionaries to model your test
and production environments. System Dictionary allows
you to define multiple versions of an entity or
relationship within a single dictionary.
Security HP System Dictionary will be central to your network
processing environment, often containing sensitive
information. It therefore provides a security scheme
that allows you to access the dictionary only if you are
authorized, and controls your access to dictionary data.
Utilities System Dictionary includes several utility programs, as
described below:
* SDINIT initializes and re-initializes the
dictionary.
* SDMAIN is a user interface that creates, maintains,
and retrieves dictionary components.
* SDCONV is a program that converts and loads data
from Dictionary/V to System Dictionary.
* SDDBD is a program that loads information about a
TurboIMAGE/V database structure from an TurboIMAGE/V
root file into System Dictionary.
* SDDBC creates TurboIMAGE/V schemas and root files,
using System Dictionary data as the source.
* SDVPD is a program that loads information about
VPLUS forms from a VPLUS forms file into System
Dictionary.
* SDUPGRAD is a program that automates the inclusion
of new, HP-provided definitions into the core set.
Utilities * SDUTIL is a general purpose utility program which
(con't) has the following capabilities:
1. Allows users to merge parts of a dictionary into
another dictionary, providing better dictionary
standardization and data resource management.
2. Allows users to create a compiled dictionary,
using a master dictionary as the source, providing
users with a fast-access, read-only dictionary,
which can save them a significant amount of time.
3. Allows users to rename a dictionary.
4. Allows users to purge a dictionary.
* SDCDE, though closely linked with System Dictionary,
is sold as a separate product. This utility
generates COBOL II data definitions and copylibs
from System Dictionary definitions.
Benefits
HP System Dictionary provides the following benefits, that can help you
create and manage efficient, cost-effective data resources.
* Minimizes data redundancy
* Supports system auditing and reporting
* Assures data integrity
* Improves system maintainability
* Tracks and controls data resources
* Reduces program development time
* Facilitates the standardization of naming conventions
* Enforces security rules
* Provides for analyzing the system impact of data and relationship
changes