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About the Data Dictionary

The tool you use to create databases is the Data Dictionary. The Data Dictionary lets you move step by step through defining each table, field, and index that makes up your database. The Data Dictionary also provides an easy way to view and change the configuration of an existing database.

Each table, field, and index has a variety of properties that you can modify. Many of these properties affect Progress’s behavior. When you begin programming Progress procedures, you’ll also start exploring databases with the Data Dictionary to change properties and make Progress work more effectively for you.

Application Defaults

A major part of your application’s work involves presenting database fields for end users to view and manipulate. Each time you access and display a field, you won’t have to write lots of code—you can rely on Progress to use default information stored in the Data Dictionary to properly present the data. Progress stores these defaults in a Progress database:

This ability to store defaults in the database saves time for developers. Using defaults makes it easier to enforce data-access rules and reduces error-checking code, default value generation, and display-formatting code in your procedures.

See "Understanding the Database Environment," for more information about the Data Dictionary and Progress databases.


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