TurboIMAGE/XL Database Management System Reference Manual (30391-90012)

32 Chapter1
Introduction
How to Use TurboIMAGE/XL
How to Use TurboIMAGE/XL
The following steps summarize how to use TurboIMAGE/XL. Refer to Figure 1-1. for an
illustration of each of the steps.
1. Design the Database.
A database designer (system analyst) or team of designers determine what data is
required by all the application projects that will share the database. They determine
which data should be protected from unauthorized access and how the data will be
used. These design considerations and others described in appendix C determine the
database content and structure.
2. Describe the Database.
After the design is complete, it is described using the TurboIMAGE/XL Database
Definition Language (DDL). This external definition is called a schema. The database
creator processes the schema using the TurboIMAGE/XL Schema Processor which
creates an internal definition of the database called a root file. The person who creates
the root file is identified as the database creator and can subsequently create and
initialize the database. Chapter 3 contains the description language syntax and
operating instructions for the Schema Processor.
3. Create the Database Files.
DBUTIL, a TurboIMAGE/XL utility program, builds the database files according to
requirements of the database structure specified in the root file. The files contain no
data initially.
4. Store and Retrieve the Data.
TurboIMAGE/XL provides a set of library procedures that can be called from BBASIC,
C, COBOL II, FORTRAN 77, Pascal, or TRANSACT/V language application programs.
The database can also be used with RPG programs but the Report Program Generator
issues the calls to TurboIMAGE/XL procedures.
The application project members can design and write programs in the programming
language which best suits their needs and call the TurboIMAGE/XL procedures to
store, modify, retrieve, and delete data. These procedures rapidly locate the data,
maintain pointer information, manage the allocated file space, and return status
information about the activity requested. Each procedure is described in detail in
chapter 5, and examples of calling several procedures from the different languages are
given in chapter 6.
5. Maintain the Database.
The TurboIMAGE/XL utility programs can be used to maintain backup copies of the
database and perform other utility functions such as logging, recovering, or
restructuring the database. These programs are described in chapters 7 and 8. You can
also use the TurboIMAGE/XL procedures to write your own maintenance programs, or
you can acquire a database restructuring facility.