8.1 Files in WinIDAMS
User files
They are created by the user with the
help of tools provided by the WinIDAMS User Interface, or they are
produced by an IDAMS procedure as a final result or as output for
further processing. All user files in IDAMS are ASCII text files.
Tabulation characters are allowed; they are automatically converted
to the correct number of blanks. Standard filename extensions are
used by the Interface for recognizing the file type.
- Data file (*.dat). Any data file can be input
to IDAMS programs providing that each case is contained in an equal
number of fixed format records. However, if a data file is used by
the WinIDAMS User Interface, then there can only be one record per
case.
Records can be of variable length with a maximum of 4096
characters per case. If the first record in the file is not the longest,
then the maximum record length (RECL) must be provided on the corresponding
file specifications. Data files produced by IDAMS programs have fixed
length records with no tabulation characters. There is generally no
limit to the number of cases that can be input to an IDAMS program.
- Dictionary file (*.dic). The dictionary is used
to describe the variables in the data. It may, at minimum, describe
just the variables being used for a particular program execution,
but it can also describe all the variables in each data record. The
record length is variable but the maximum length is 80. If a dictionary
is output by an IDAMS program, then the record length is fixed (80
characters) with no tabulation characters.
The dictionary can be
prepared, without knowing its internal format, in the Dictionary window
of the User Interface. Alternatively, it can be prepared using the
General Editor and following the format given in "Data in IDAMS" chapter.
- Matrix file (*.mat). IDAMS matrices for storing
various statistics have fixed length (80 characters) records with
no tabulation characters.
- Setup file (*.set). This file is used to store
IDAMS commands, file specifications, program control statements and
Recode statements (if any). The Setup file can be prepared in the
Setup window of the User Interface. The record length is variable
although the maximum is 255 characters.
- Results file (*.lst). IDAMS normally writes the
results into a file. The contents of this file can then be reviewed
before actually printing.
The user files are specified in the Setup file following the $FILES
command (see "The IDAMS Setup File" chapter for detailed description).
System files
System files are normally not accessed
directly by the user. They are created during the installation process
(permanent System files), during application customization (Application
files) or during the execution of WinIDAMS procedures (temporary work
files).
- Permanent System files. These include the executable
program files, dll files, system parameter files, file with the on-line
Manual (in HTML Help format), and setup prototype files.
- System control files.
- Idams.def : default file definitions providing connection
between logical and physical filenames for user files and temporary
work files.
- <application_name>.app : one file per application
containing paths of Data folder, Work folder and Temporary folder.
- lastapp.ini : file containing the name of the last application
used.
- graphid.ini : configuration settings for the GraphID component.
- tml.ini : configuration settings for the TimeSID component.
- Temporary work files. They need not concern the
user since they are defined and removed automatically. They have filename
extensions .tmp and .tra.
8.2 Folders in WinIDAMS
Files used in WinIDAMS
are stored in the following folders:
- System files in the System folder ,
- Application files in the Application folder ,
- Data, Dictionary and Matrix files in the Data folder ,
- Setup files and Results files in the Work folder , and
- temporary work files in the Temporary folder and Transposed
folder .
Five folders, mandatory for the default application,
should always be present under the <system_dir> folder.
They are defined and created first during the installation process,
Then, when WinIDAMS is started and any of the folders is missing,
it is automatically recreated.
| Application folder |
<system_dir>\appl |
| Data folder |
<system_dir>\data |
| Temporary folder |
<system_dir>\temp |
| Transposed folder |
<system_dir>\trans |
| Work folder |
<system_dir>\work |
| |
where <system_dir> is the name of the System
folder fixed during the installation.
IDAMS programs use
the paths defined in the application to prefix any filename not
beginning with "<drive>:\... " or with "\... "
- The Data folder path is prefixed to all filenames in statements
with ddnames DICT..., DATA..., or FTnn referring to matrices.
- The Work folder path is prefixed to filenames in statements with
ddnames PRINT or FT06.
- The Temporary folder path is prefixed to names of temporary files.