Changing data in individual segments

Your ability to make editing changes is controlled by the logical rules for database insert and deletes specified in your DBD. If you are using a Static PSB, your ability to access and change segments might also be limited.

As a general rule, you cannot change the data in a key field. If you have not changed your installation default colors, key fields are displayed in white text and editable fields in green text.

To change the data in an individual segment:

  1. From the Database Positioning panel, use the X prefix command to select the segment types that you want to display on the IMS Data panel.
  2. Type an S in the Cmd field for the segment type that you want to make the currently formatted segment type, then press Enter.
  3. On the IMS Data panel, scroll to view the segment that you want to change, then move your cursor to the position where you want to start editing the text.

    This can be done with your mouse or arrow keys or by using the LOCATE or FIND commands.

  4. Overtype the existing text with your changes or insert or delete characters.
  5. Press Enter. If any change that you make violates the database rules, a message is displayed at this point and you must modify your changes until they satisfy the database rules.
  6. Repeat steps 3 - 5 for each segment that you want to change.
  7. When you are ready to commit your changes, enter the SAVE primary command.

    The changes you have made are not committed to the database until a SAVE command is issued on the IMS Data panel or Database Positioning panel, or until you EXIT from the Database Positioning panel, or until the next automatic checkpoint is issued (if AUTOSAVE has been turned on).

Note: On some keyboards, the Enter function is assigned to the right Ctrl key (the Enter key on these keyboards acts as a Return key).

When you type in a File Manager/IMS Edit session, the default keyboard behavior is to overtype existing text. You can change this behavior to inserting text by pressing the Insert key. Characters can be deleted using the Delete or Backspace keys. Care must be taken when using inserting or deleting in CHAR, HEX, or LHEX display formats, as inserted characters “push? subsequent characters to the right, so that they no longer fit into the starting column of fields. While this is not problematic when working with a view, it can cause data to become corrupt if a view has not been used to format the fields.