APPX provides the capability for you to manage the data files associated with the applications at your installation. When a new application is developed or installed, you need to specify certain file creation attributes, such as number of records and file location, and create all of the files that are to be included in the application. You may also need to restructure one or more files if changes to the data dictionary require a structural change (such as increasing a field size in a record).
There are three types of files within the APPX environment:
· System administration files, described in System Administration File Management under System Setup in Chapter 2, allow you to define your APPX installation.
· Design files contain the specifications that define each application running or under development at your installation.
· Data files contain the records that are associated with each application, such as payroll or customer data.
APPX provides the facilities to manage all three types of files. The options provided for each type are very similar with one exception: APPX allows you to restructure data files, and possibly design files, while the format of system administration files is fixed. The Restructure option does not appear on the latter menu. The option of restructuring design files should only be used if your upgrade or installation instructions specifically request it. Otherwise, the instructions provided in the following sections apply to all three aspects of database administration.