Data dictionnary

Hi

We use an empty PF for our data dictionary.
All our other PFs use this one file in its REFFLD declaration.


There are very srict rules. The dictionary is modified only by certain users
and a new zone or modification can only be done by a written request to
these users.

A zone has 5 letters : 2 syllables of 3 and 2.

In the referencing file we add a prefix for example :

A CMAJDT R REFFLD(MAJDT)


The same dictionary is used in our RPGLE. Each module imports the
definitions of the dictionary zones in a DS like this from a copy book.
D gDictionary E DS EXTNAME ( DICTIONARY )
D PREFIX ( DFN_ )
D BASED ( DFN_Ptr )
D DFN_Ptr S *


To declare a new zone in an RPGLE all that is needed is
D gStsMt S LIKE ( DFN_STSMT )

Which means gStsMt is the same as the zone STSMT in the dictionary.

This is very easy to use but makes for very long program compile lists and
increases the weight of the program object since the dictionary is declared
in every module.

The problem now is, the dictionary is full ! We can no longer add any zones
!

The solution proposed is to create a second PF ( like a volume 2 )

Replace the file DICTIONARY by a LF with the same name which points to two
PFs ( volumes 1 and 2). We will still be limited to using names of 6
characters.

Any other ideas ? How do others get round this? As we are gradually moving
towards SQL, I wonder how should we be referencing columns in SQL tables?

Thaks.