File Utilities

Edit File

The Edit File [DIEDFILE] option available on the VA FileMan Utility Functions [DIUTILITY] menu displays the various attributes of a file you specify in Screen Mode (i.e., invokes a ScreenMan form).

Here is an example using the Edit File [DIEDFILE] option with the ORDER file (#100) in Screen Mode:

Select Utility Functions Option: edit File

MODIFY WHAT FILE: ORDER// 

You will then be taken into a ScreenMan form where you can edit the properties of the file, as shown below:

You can use this option to:

• Edit the Name of a File -- Edit the file name at the "FILE NAME:" prompt.
  
  
• Delete a File -- If you enter an at-sign ("@") at the "FILE NAME:" prompt, you are given the choice of deleting the entire file and its data attribute dictionary (including all of its templates and file definitions) or just deleting the current individual entries in the file. However, you cannot delete a file that is pointed to by another file.
  
  
• Enter or Edit the Description of a File -- You can enter or edit the word processing text description for documenting the file at the "DESCRIPTION..." prompt. This description appears in the Standard, Modified Standard, and Global Map format data dictionary listings.
  
  
• Enter or Edit the Application Group -- You can enter or edit the Application Group at the "Select APPLICATION GROUP:" prompt. Enter a namespace (from two to four characters) indicating a package accessing this file.
  
  
• Enter or Edit the Developer's Name -- You can enter or edit the name of the package developer at the "DEVELOPER:" prompt. Entering two question marks ("??") lets you choose from a list of names.
  
  
• Enter or Edit the File Access Parameters -- You can enter or edit the security access to a file by making entries at the "DATA DICTIONARY ACCESS:", "READ ACCESS:", "WRITE ACCESS:", "DELETE ACCESS:", "LAYGO ACCESS:", and/or "AUDIT ACCESS:" prompts. File security is fully explained in the "Data Security" chapter.
  
  
• Turn Auditing On/Off for a File's Data Dictionary -- If you want to turn auditing on for data dictionary changes, enter YES at the "DD AUDIT:" prompt. Answer NO, if you don't want to audit data dictionary changes. This is fully explained in the "Auditing" chapter.
• Ask/Don't Ask Users to Confirm Their Entry Selection -- If you want users who select an entry in a file (for any lookup purpose) to confirm their entry selection by answering positively at the "…OK?" prompt, answer YES at the "ASK 'OK' WHEN LOOKING UP AN ENTRY:" prompt.
  
  NOTE: This feature can be helpful on files containing many similar or confusingly named entries (e.g., files for drugs).
  
  If you don't want users to confirm their entry selection, answer NO at the "ASK 'OK' WHEN LOOKING UP AN ENTRY:" prompt. The default is NO.
  
  
• Enter or Edit a Post-Selection Action (only available when you have programmer access) -- If you have programmer access, you can write M code for a Post-Selection Action, for entries in this file. This is explained in the "VA FileMan Programmer Manual."
  
  
• Enter a Lookup Routine (only available when you have programmer access) -- If you have programmer access, you also can enter an existing lookup routine. To do this, enter a routine namespace (from three to six characters, no "^") at the "LOOK-UP PROGRAM:" prompt. The name you choose for the lookup routine must be a routine currently on the system. This special lookup routine will be executed instead of the standard VA FileMan lookup logic, whenever a call is made to ^DIC.
  
  
• Specify that Cross-references on a File Should be Compiled (only available when you have programmer access) -- If you have programmer access, you also can specify that cross-references on a file should be compiled. To do this, enter a routine namespace (from three to six characters, no "^") at the "CROSS-REFERENCE ROUTINE:" prompt. This will become the namespace of the compiled routine(s). If a new routine name is entered, but the cross-references are not compiled at this time, the routine name will be automatically deleted.
  
  To stop the use of the compiled cross-references, enter an at-sign ("@") at the "CROSS-REFERENCE ROUTINE:" prompt. At this point, the cross-references are considered uncompiled, and VA FileMan will not use the routine for re-indexing. If you decide later to recompile the cross-references, you will be shown the routine name previously used so that you can easily reuse the same routine name. Stopping the use of the compiled cross-reference does not delete the compiled routines. If you want, you can delete those routines manually.

Reviewed/Updated: June 2026