Storage Options and Files

You determine whether the records you define in the data dictionary are to be stored in files and, if so, whether the files are maintained on disk or in memory. There are several factors to consider when selecting which type of storage to use:

·    Permanence—Do the records need to be retained permanently or only for a specified period during current processing?

·    Capacity—Is capacity a limitation that needs to be considered? How much space do you expect the collection of records to consume?

·    Shareability—Are there many users that may need to access records in the collection simultaneously?

·    Performance—How important is it that records can be accessed very rapidly during processing?

·    Database dependency—Are there security considerations that must be addressed when defining file attributes and storage options?

There are three types of storage options within APPX: disk (permanent and temporary), memory, and working-storage. Each type implies a number of characteristics and offers certain advantages, as described in the following sections.