file.reference

a standardized mechanism for designating a particular file within Pick. This explains the forms that a file reference can take.

There are a number of ways to reference files within Pick. Any verb that requires or allows a file reference accepts any of the following references:

1) filename

This form of a file reference accesses the data section of a given file (see example 1).

2) dict filename
DICT filename

These forms access the dictionary level of the file (see example 2).

3) dict.filename,data.filename

This accesses a data section in the given dictionary, when the data section's name is different than the dictionary's name. This is the case when a file has multiple data sections (see example 3).

In all of the above cases, it does not matter to Pick if the file is 'local', meaning that the 'd-pointer' resides in the current md, or 'remote', meaning that the file 'd-pointer' exists elsewhere, yet this account has a 'q-pointer' already present the current md.

AP File References and File Paths:

All of the following file reference formats are available only in Advanced Pick, and make use of the new feature called 'file paths'. Note that these forms are not available in R83.

4) account.name,,

This accesses another md (account), or any file-defining item found in the 'mds' file (see example 4).

Alternately, the 'fully-qualified' form is also valid for referencing another md:

mds,md.name

5) account.name,filename,

This accesses the data section of the specified file in the designated account. The account name must exist as a 'd-pointer' in the 'mds' file and the filename must exist as a 'd-pointer' in the given account (see example 5). Note the ',' at the end of the reference; the file reference is invalid without it.

The data level reference is not required, but the trailing comma must be included:

list dm,bp,

This is the same as:

list dm,bp,bp

6) dict account.name,filename,

This accesses the dictionary section of the specified file in the designated account. The account name must exist as a 'd-pointer' in the 'mds' file and the filename must exist as a 'd-pointer' in the given account (see example 6). Note the ',' at the end of the reference; the file reference is invalid without it.

Specfiying Alternate File Names:

File references within certain processes, such as 'copy' and 'filing' operations, require a leading '(' (left parenthesis) in cases where an alternate file reference is to be designated. (see examples 7 and 8).

A variety of commands allow or require the '(' character, including: 'copy' (TCL), 'me' ('merge', in line editor), '<ctrl>+cr' (UP), '<ctrl>+cw' (UP), '<ctrl>+zr' (UP), '<ctrl>+zw' (UP), 'sreformat' (Access), 'reformat' (Access), 'fi' (editor), and 'fs' (editor).