Pointers defined as probable position pointers (PPP) either in the old or in the new schema are not in every case updated when data is relocated during restructuring.
When records are relocated completely or partially, the following applies:
Pointers in tables or indirect hash areas to records are updated by BALTER only if the tables or indirect hash areas have to be recreated as a result of schema modifications.
Pointers within the records of a chain are not updated by BALTER.
Pointers in member records to owner records are updated by BALTER when owner records are relocated.
Pointers to records can be updated with the BREORG utility routine. You can use the REORGANIZE-POINTERS statement to update all the probable position pointers (PPP) in one realm in one go.
When recreating, deleting, relocating tables:
Pointers in owner records to their tables are treated by BALTER as act-keys.
The pointers are implemented in all relevant cases as act-keys:
When the table is recreated
When existing empty tables are deleted
When tables are relocated to another realm
When empty single-level lists are relocated to another realm
When the pointers are being newly added
If, after restructuring, probable position pointers (PPP) contain obsolete values, this may result in changes in the runtime behavior of DB applications.