Default Action
Mandatory.
Specify the actions to take if no records can be found in the Accessed File that have a key matching the Key Fields/Values specified.
Default= Ignore and continue processing (IGNORE).
Rules
Allowable values are:
- Abort and issue an error message (ABORT): The function attempting to access the file specified should abort (fail) with an error message indicating the cause of the problem. This option can be used to continually verify database integrity. For instance, an access route from an order lines file to an order header file should always find a record. An order line without an associated order header probably indicates database corruption.
- Ignore and continue processing (IGNORE): The function attempting to access the file specified should ignore the no records situation and continue to process. This option may be valid in the reverse access path of the case above. It is perfectly valid for an order header record to have no associated order lines.
- Create a dummy record with empty fields (DUMMY): The function attempting to access the file specified should create a "dummy" record when no "real" record(s) can be found. The dummy record created will have blanks in all alphanumeric fields and zero (0) in all numeric fields. Only one dummy record will be created.
- Create a dummy record and mark fields as not available (N/AVAIL): The function attempting to access the file specified should create a "dummy" record when no "real" record(s) can be found. The dummy record created will have zero (in all numeric fields, blanks in all alphanumeric field less than 3 characters long, and as much of the string as will fit in all other alphanumeric fields. Only one "dummy" record will be created.
Tips & Techniques
- The N/AVAIL option is useful in situations where the no record situation arises occasionally. For instance an access route from an archived invoices file to a customer mast file may use this option. When the name of a customer associated with an archived invoice cannot be found (presumably because it has been deleted) then it will be displayed as N/AVAIL, rather than causing an error.