Syntax file processing (creation and/or modification) is possible only with the utility routines SDF-A, SDF-U or SDF-I, and on the logical level only. The internal structure of the file remains transparent to the user. Editing of syntax files by means other than those mentioned above will therefore lead to error messages when manipulated command/statement definitions are addressed.
With the software product SDF-A it is possible to create new syntax files and to modify existing ones.
SDF-A offers the following capabilities:
definition of user-specific commands implemented via command procedures, and modification of such definitions
definition of user-specific programs and program statements, and modification of such definitions
disabling of application domains, commands, programs, statements, operands and operand values
assignment of privileges for application domains, commands, programs, statements, operands and operand values
modification of default values
renaming of application domains, of command, statement and operand names and of operand values which are keywords
modification or replacement of help texts for guided dialog, e.g. replacing German help texts by texts in the appropriate local language
modification of the assignment of commands to application domains and definition of new application domains
modification of default values of SDF parameters, e.g. for guided dialog
display of syntax file contents
The operations performed on a syntax file with SDF-A take effect as soon as the file is activated.
With the utility routine SDF-U, systems support can manage syntax files.SDF-U provides a small subset of the functions of SDF-A:
modification of default values of SDF options, e.g. for guided dialog
modification of definitions of commands which are implemented via procedures
display of syntax file contents
copying of syntax file contents
deletion of syntax file objects
The utility routine SDF-I can be used to obtain a system/group syntax file from a number of software unit syntax files. Note that only syntax files of the same type can be processed.
SDF-I offers the following functions:
Output of information from a syntax file. The following items are shown:
type of the syntax file
format of the syntax file
presettings of SDF options (global information)
version (global information)
commands contained and product names of the software units
The SDF-I statement SHOW-SYNTAX-FILE is described in the section “SDF-Istatements”.
Converting of a syntax file in the old format. With SDF V2.0A, the internal logical structure of syntax files has been changed. SDF also supports the old format, however, with reduced performance. If there is a syntax file in the old format still existing, it can be converted from old to new format by means of the SDF-I statement CONVERT-SYNTAX-FILE (see “Compatibility of syntax file formats” (Notes )).
Merging various software unit syntax files into one syntax file. This function serves to create a new syntax file or to add a software unit syntax file for a newly configured software product to an existing syntax file.
Unmerging a syntax file. This function serves to incorporate the software unit syntax file for a new version of an already established software product into the existing syntax file. In this process, the constituents that were added through the old software unit syntax file are unmerged.