Link/Unlink Data Definition (LNKDTADFN)

The Link Data Definition (LNKDTADFN) command links or unlinks file definitions in a dictionary, program-described files, or externally-described files.

Restriction: A file cannot be linked if it is already linked. However, a definition can be linked to several files at the same time.

Note: If file text and the file definition are not the same, a new version of the definition is created.

Parameters

Keyword	Description	Choices	Notes
OPTION	Option	LINK, UNLINK	Required, Positional 1
FILE	Data base file	Single values: ALL Other values: Qualified object name*	Required, Positional 2
	Qualifier 1: Data base file	Name
	Qualifier 2: Library	Name, LIBL, CURLIB
DTADCT	Data dictionary	Name	Optional
DFN	File definition	Name	Optional
CRTDATE	Creation date	Date, *FIRST	Optional

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Option (OPTION)

Specifies the action that is performed on the program-described file, externally-described file, or file definition.

Note: Externally-described files can only be unlinked.

This is a required parameter.

The possible values are:

*LINK: The program-described file or file definition is linked.
*UNLINK: The program-described file, externally-described file, or the file definition is unlinked.

Data base file (FILE)

Specifies the name and library of the program-described file or externally-described file to be linked or unlinked.

This is a required parameter.

The possible file values are:

*ALL: All program-described files linked to definitions in the specified dictionary are unlinked. This value is valid only if *UNLINK is also specified for the Option prompt (OPTION parameter) and a dictionary name is also specified for the Data dictionary prompt (DTADCT parameter). This value is not valid for externally-described files.
library-name/file-name: Specify the name of the database file being linked or unlinked.

Qualifier 2: Library

*LIBL: All libraries in the library list for the current thread are searched until the first match is found.

*CURLIB: The current library for the thread is used to locate the file. If no library is specified as the current library for the job, the QGPL library is used.

name: Specify the name of the library to be searched.

Data dictionary (DTADCT)

Specifies the name of the dictionary that contains the file definition being linked or unlinked to the program-described file. A name is required if *LINK is specified for the Option prompt (OPTION parameter), or if *ALL is specified for the Data base file prompt (FILE parameter) and *UNLINK is specified for the Option prompt (OPTION parameter).

Creation date (CRTDATE)

Specifies the creation date of the file definition being linked to the program-described file. This information is ignored if *UNLINK is specified for the Option prompt (OPTION parameter).

The possible values are:

*FIRST: The file definition with the specified definition name and the earliest creation date is used.
creation-date: Specify the creation date of the file definition being linked to the program-described file.

Examples

LNKDTADFN   OPTION(*LINK)  FILE(MYLIB/MYFILE)
            DTADCT(MINE)  DFN(MYDEF)

This command links definition MYDEF in dictionary MINE, to the program-described database file MYFILE located in library MYLIB.

Error messages

*ESCAPE Messages

CPF2E9B: Definition &1 not found.
CPF2FE0: Error occurred while opening dictionary &1.
CPF2FE1: Error occurred while closing dictionary &1.
CPF2FE2: Dictionary &1 currently in use.
CPF2FE3: System cross reference file is in error.
CPF2FE4: System cross reference file not available.
CPF2F02: Not authorized to use dictionary &1.
CPF2F07: Dictionary &1 in error.
CPF2F08: Dictionary &1 not found.
CPF2F6A: File &2 in &3 not valid for LNKDTADFN.
CPF2F6C: All files were not unlinked.
CPF2F61: File &2 in &3 currently in use.
CPF2F7B: File &2 not linked. Record lengths not equal.
CPF2F7C: Start key position &1 splits field &2.
CPF2F7D: End key position &1 splits field &2.
CPF2F7F: File &2 in &3 is already linked.
CPF2F76: Only file definitions for physical files can be linked.
CPF2F77: File not keyed. Cannot link to keyed file definition.
CPF2F78: Definition &1 in error.
CPF2F79: Key fields do not match.
CPF2F80: File &2 in &3 is not linked.
CPF9812: File &1 in library &2 not found.
CPF9820: Not authorized to use library &1.
CPF9822: Not authorized to file &1 in library &2.
CPF9845: Error occurred while opening file &1.
CPF9846: Error while processing file &1 in library &2.
CPF9847: Error occurred while closing file &1 in library &2.