G3 – Blank Out All or Selective Records

This option is similar to the option type ‘B-Blank Out All Records’. Where this option is superior is that you can pre-set selection criteria for the update, enter text for display during the process and this option can be run within an automatic (Q) menu

Runtime Prompts Offered to User

This option allows three lines of text that can be displayed to the operator when the global update option is selected. This text could include instructions on changes required in the selection criteria perhaps.

Compact and Audit Database after processing

The blank out procedure will remove records within the file but will not free those records for automatic re-use (where records are usually added at the end of the file). This option compacts the database so that all free records are at the end of the file. Care should be taken if the database being updated contains pointer to another file – if so then the compact would render this relationship invalid and you would need to follow this update with an organise pointers routine.

Specify Search Criteria

Allow Run Time Changes to Search

Save Any Changes

Set as appropriate to pre-define any search criteria (records are removed that match the criteria), whether run-time changes to the criteria are allowed, and whether or not to save these changes for the next run.