Query/400 System Flowcharting or Other Documention

Hi Mapics ML:

In our shop, the prior cost accountant apparantly didn't have much love for the 
reports created by Mapics DB so he set up a large web of Query Definations and 
DB Files using Query/400.  The actual numbers of Query Definations and DB Files 
in place (active and inactive) are staggering and perhaps even mindboggling.  
The result is that we create a huge number of Query/400 created reports daily, 
weekly, monthly, etc.

I've been trying to develop a method of documenting the different subsystems of 
Query Definations and DB Files that relate to a particular subject or report.  
I don't see anything in the IBM "Query/400 Use: Version 3" manual that 
discusses this point.

I went out and bought a Staedtler ADPs Flow Chart Symbols template but the 
symbols contained therein appear designed for more traditional data processing 
applications.  I've tried to apply them to the above situation with limited 
success.

It seems to me that our shop is very deficient in not having written 
documentation in place to support the various groups of Query Definations and 
DB Files and I am trying to set the record straight.

It's generally easy to print out the Query Defination on "one" particular Query 
to gain an understanding of that particular Query but when you are dealing with 
groups of Queries that interact with each other to form new external DB Files, 
etc., the process gets very complicated.

How do you document a group of Query Definations and DB Files that interrelate 
to each other in some fashion?  Is the flow chart template the best approach or 
are there better ones (spreadsheets, pencil and paper, etc.) that I should 
consider?

I look forward to your responces on this matter so please put on your "thinking 
caps."  Besides your ideas, I would like to see some samples of your 
documentation if that is possible.

Regards.......



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Above message before copy enclosure (if any) was sent by:

Al Gershen
Grants Pass, OR 97526 
aldg@mail.rvi.net & aldg@webtv.net;
and thru ICQ # 12342782

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