VA FileMan V. 22.0 Advanced User Manual: LFA Check/Fix DD Structure Option

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22.2Find Pointers into a File Option

A new fourth Data Dictionary utility checks all files with pointers into a given File. The utility gives 4 kinds of output, as shown in the following example. Note that POINTER-type fields, VARIABLE-POINTER-type fields, and COMPUTED POINTER fields are all checked.

SeSelect DATA DICTIONARY UTILITY OPTION:    FIND POINTERS INTO A FILE

THIS UTILITY TRIES TO FIND ALL ENTRIES IN ALL FILES POINTING TO A CERTAIN FILE


Select FILE: 2  PATIENT

     Select one of the following:

          1         One particular PATIENT Entry
          2         All PATIENT Entries
          3         Non-existent PATIENT Entries
          4         Entries from a PATIENT Search Template

Find pointers to: All PATIENT Entries// 1  One particular PATIENT Entry
Find pointers to TIMSON,GEORGE      8-25-40  1234567   Male
DEVICE: ...



***PATIENT: TIMSON,GEORGE***
FILE 52 (PRESCRIPTION)
         `1           2                           PATIENT
         `2           345                         PATIENT
FILE 55 (PHARMACY PATIENT)
         `1           TIMSON,GEORGE               NAME
FILE 100 (ORDER)
         `1           1                           OBJECT OF ORDER
         `3           3                           OBJECT OF ORDER
         `4           4                           OBJECT OF ORDER
         `5           5                           OBJECT OF ORDER
         `6           6                           OBJECT OF ORDER
         `41          41                          OBJECT OF ORDER
FILE 120.5 (GMRV VITAL MEASUREMENT)
         `96          MAR 1,2005@16:04            PATIENT
         `97          MAR 1,2005@16:04            PATIENT
         `98          MAR 1,2005@16:04            PATIENT
         `99          DEC 21,2005@16:08           PATIENT
         `100         DEC 21,2005@16:08           PATIENT
         `101         DEC 21,2005@16:08           PATIENT
         `102         DEC 21,2005@16:08           PATIENT
         `103         DEC 21,2005@16:08           PATIENT
         `177         JAN 17,2006@13:11           PATIENT
         `178         JAN 17,2006@13:11           PATIENT
         `232         FEB 22,2006@16:07:36        PATIENT
         `233         FEB 22,2006@16:07:36        PATIENT
         `234         FEB 22,2006@16:07:36        PATIENT
         `235         FEB 22,2006@16:07:36        PATIENT
         `236         FEB 22,2006@16:07:36        PATIENT
         `237         FEB 22,2006@16:07:36        PATIENT
         `238         FEB 22,2006@16:07:36        PATIENT
         `239         FEB 22,2006@16:08:29        PATIENT
         `461         SEP 22,2006@15:04:54        PATIENT
         `462         SEP 22,2006@15:04:54        PATIENT
         `463         SEP 22,2006@15:04:54        PATIENT
         `464         SEP 22,2006@15:04:54        PATIENT
         `465         SEP 22,2006@15:04:54        PATIENT
         `466         SEP 22,2006@15:04:54        PATIENT
         `467         SEP 22,2006@15:04:54        PATIENT
FILE 120.8 (PATIENT ALLERGIES)
         `3           TIMSON,GEORGE               PATIENT
         `15          TIMSON,GEORGE               PATIENT
         `28          TIMSON,GEORGE               PATIENT
FILE 120.85 (ADVERSE REACTION REPORTING)
         `1           SEP 22,2006@15:00           PATIENT
FILE 120.86 (ADVERSE REACTION ASSESSMENT)
         `1           TIMSON,GEORGE               NAME
FILE 123 (REQUEST/CONSULTATION)
         `10          APR 24,2006@11:01           PATIENT NAME
.....

In this example we see that the patient chosen (TIMSON) has two PRESCRIPTIONS in File 52, six ORDERs in File 100, etc.

Warning: on a large database, this utility can take a long time to run to completion.

Application developers might use this tool to clean up their files before export. Site managers may find the reporting function useful for checking a package's files after installation. Note that choice 3 will showing all dangling pointers to the PATIENT File in ALL Files.

Reviewed/Updated: October 2016