Defining Required Parent Tables
Set Add_Server_File to Customer.File_Number
A Data Dictionary needs to know about its related parent tables. By identifying all parent tables, the Data Dictionary can determine if Data Dictionary objects have been created for all of these parents and if those parent DDOs are properly connected to the main DDO. The Parent DDOs will also have a list of parent tables, and these parent DDOs can also make the same check to ensure that their Parent DDOs exist and are properly connected within the structure. This process occurs up the entire database hierarchy.
By propagating this check up an entire Data Dictionary object structure, any DDO can tell if its entire Data Dictionary structure is complete. If the structure is not complete, that DDO will not be allowed to save or delete records.
Parent table information is also used by the Studio and various wizards to help you write your applications. Therefore, it is important that this information is properly maintained in your Data Dictionary class.
You add tables to the related-parent list with the Add_Server_File message. You send this message for each required parent table.