Relativity must know the physical access name information for the COBOL data file that contains the actual data. The table
instance consists of two important items:
- The path name (that is, the physical COBOL data file-name) of a COBOL data file.
- The table name by which SQL statements can reference the data in the file.
Note: Should file labels be in effect, the table instance also includes the name of the file label associated with the table instance.
Relativity distinguishes between the name of a table definition and the actual SQL table name. The table definition is manipulated
in the
Table form and is normally called a table within the
Relativity Designer. Thus, several physical files that share the same COBOL file definition can be described by one Relativity table definition.
The table instance is what an ODBC-enabled application actually "perceives" as a relational table.
Note: When a new table definition is added, a default table connection having a table name that is the same as the table definition
name is created using the path name associated with the file definition, if there is one. When a table definition is renamed
using the
Rename command on the
Table menu, an option is also provided to modify the table name in such a table connection.