FORMATting SQL-defined database files in IDMS

Products

• IDMS

Issue/Introduction

This article discusses considerations for FORMATting database files for SQL-defined databases in IDMS.

Environment

Release : All supported releases.
Component. IDMS SQL Option

Resolution

When running FORMAT for the first time against a newly allocated IDMS database file, it must be formatted BY FILE, not BY AREA or BY SEGMENT.
This is true for all cases - for both SQL-defined and network-defined database files, and is also true whether or not the database being formatted is the new database of an unload/reload or REORG operation.

Furthermore, when FORMATting SQL-defined database files, if FORMAT BY FILE is being used (for whatever reason), an INSTALL STAMPS ... INITIAL must be run against the same areas. However, if the files are being FORMATted because they are about to be used as the new database in an unload/reload or REORG operation, then the FORMAT must be done BY FILE and no INSTALL STAMPS run. The reason for this is that the synchronization stamps will be unloaded and reloaded by the unload/reload or REORG process, and therefore they must not be present in the new database prior to the execution of the utility.

The one exception to this rule is if the area being processed is a DDLCATLOD area in a segment defined for SQL. In this case, the stamps must be there, so run the FORMAT BY AREA or run it BY FILE and then INSTALL STAMPS.

In all cases, when running INSTALL STAMPS, be sure to CONNECT TO appldict; where appldict is the application catalog where the tables are defined, not necessarily SYSTEM.