Modifying the Data File

All of the changes discussed so far have been exclusive to the DDFs or the ActiveX memory image of the DDFs. Changing the DDFs, however, does not alter the length or structure of the actual records in the data file. To do this, you need to make use of the functions that directly affect the data file.

Changing the length of a data file is not a one-operation issue. Essentially, the data file must be destroyed and rebuilt with the new length. If this is done to an existing file, the records should be copied using two VAccess controls and a temporary file. For example:

To add a field to a table and a data file:

Dim totalRecs as Integer 
Dim currRec as Integer

'We want to read the DDFs

VAccess1.RefreshLocations = True 
VAccess2.RefreshLocations = True

'Set up our DDFPaths

VAccess1.DdfPath = "c:\myData" 
VAccess2.DdfPath = "c:\myData"

'Set up the tables

VAccess1.TableName = "MyTable" 
VAccess2.TableName = "MyTable"

'Now use the memory images only

VAccess1.RefreshLocations = False 
VAccess2.RefreshLocations = False

'Add the new field to the VAccess2 memory image using 'routine shown above

AddNewField

'Create the actual data file & update the DDF

'The VAccess1 memory image will not be altered

VAccess2.RefreshLocations = True 
VAccess2.DdfCreateTable True

'Temporarily assign this table to another location

VAccess2.RefreshLocations = False 
VAccess2.DdfModifyLocation "tempdata.mkd"

'Open the files & get the first record

VAccess1.Open 
VAccess2.Open 
VAccess1.GetFirst

'Copy the records from one to the other

totalRecords = VAccess1.TotalRecords 
currRec = 0 
While currRec < totalRecords 
   VAccess2.Buffer(0) = VAccess1.Buffer(0) 
   VAccess2.Insert 'add error handling here 
   VAccess1.GetNext 
   currRec = currRec + 1 
Wend 
VAccess1.Close 
VAccess2.Close 
'Now we have two data files - one with the old data & one 
'with the new. Use language API to delete the old data 
'file and rename the new data file to the old name 
RenameTempDataFile 
'Reset the location to the correct location - don't 
change 'DDF, as it should be fine already 
VAccess2.DdfModifyLocation VAccess1.Location

There are other modifications that can be performed directly to the index structure of the data file. These operations can be found in ActiveX Method Reference and include DdfAddIndex, DdfDropIndex, and DdfDropIndexMaintain.