File Utilities

Re-Index File

Use the Re-Index File [DIRDEX] option when you create a new cross-reference on a field that already contains data and you want to re-index the file. The following dialogue is presented when re-indexing a file:

DO YOU WISH TO RE-CROSS-REFERENCE ONE PARTICULAR INDEX? NO// 
OK, ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO KILL OFF THE EXISTING INDEX? NO// Y   (YES)
DO YOU THEN WANT TO 'RE-CROSS-REFERENCE'? YES// 

All the cross-references for the file will be fired except for bulletins. This dialogue will execute triggers and MUMPS cross-references.

If a file contains more than one cross-reference, you can get a list of them by entering a single question mark ("?") in response to the "DO YOU WISH TO RE-CROSS-REFERENCE ONE PARTICULAR INDEX?" prompt. You can then re-index a single cross-reference or all of the file's cross-references.

NOTE: As of Patch DI*22*167, individual cross-references can be marked "Do Not Re-Index," and the Re-Index File [DIRDEX] option respects that marking. See the "Limits on Reindexing Files" section in the Cross-Reference a Field or File [DIXREF] topic for details and for the list of APIs that ignore the no-reindex restriction.

Reviewed/Updated: June 2026