Visualizing an IMS database and editing IMS database field attributes

You can use the IMS DBD editor in the IMS Explorer to view the segment hierarchy for an IMS database and to edit the field attributes for a segment. From the IMS DBD editor, you can also view logical relationships and indexes for the database.

To visualize an IMS database and edit its field attributes:

1. In the IMS Explorer perspective, open an IMS Explorer project.
2. Import the DBD that contains the field attributes.
3. To view the IMS database, from the Project Explorer, open the IMS DBD editor by double-clicking the database model.
   Tip: The database model has a .dbd file extension.

   The IMS DBD editor shows a diagram that represents a single physical or logical DBD.

4. Optional: To visualize logical relationships with other databases, right-click the IMS DBD editor and then click Visualize As > Related DBDs view.
5. Optional: To visualize a secondary data structure or a potential logical DBD:
   1. In the IMS DBD editor, select the root segment or a segment that is a target segment of a secondary index.
   2. Right-click and then click Visualize As > Logical DBD modeler view.
      Tip: In this visualization mode, you can visualize possible logical data structures that can be implemented based on existing logical relationships and secondary indexes. To implement a new structure, you must manually create a new logical DBD source file.
   3. If a segment is a logical child, you can visualize how the new logical database structure would change if you concatenated the logical child segment with its logical parent. Select the logical child segment, right-click, and then click Visualize As > Concatenated Segment.
      To undo the concatenation, right-click on the top portion of a concatenated segment and then click Visualize As > Non-Concatenated Segment.
6. Optional: Add new fields or edit field attributes in the database segment, to support application requirements.
   1. In the IMS DBD editor, select the database segment. Right-click and click Add or Edit Fields.
   2. In the Add or Edit Fields wizard, you can add new fields, edit existing field attributes, and delete existing fields.
   3. Save the changes.