Comparing Lawson Data Dictionaries

Use the Dictionary Comparison utility (cmpdict) to compare the data structures of two product line or data area dictionaries. This utility can help identify table, field, index, condition, and relationship definition changes made between release levels of an application, product line, or data area.

The utility reports on the types of changes outlined in the following table.

Database object Changes reported
File

  • System code

  • File name

  • Action

  • View

  • Database type

  • Data Location

  • Index Location

  • Initial record count

  • Record count increment value
Index

  • System code

  • File name

  • Action

  • Name

  • Unique
File field

  • System code

  • File name

  • Action

  • Position

  • Reference field name

  • Field name

  • Occurrence

  • Field type

  • Precision
Index field

  • System code

  • Index name

  • Action

  • Position

  • Reference field name

  • Field name

  • Direction

Index condition

  • System code

  • Index name

  • Action

  • Condition name
Database file condition

  • System code

  • File name

  • Action

  • Condition name
Database file relationship

  • System code

  • File name

  • Action

  • Relation name

To compare dictionaries

  1. At a command prompt, type

    cmpdict [-d] SourceDataArea DestinationDataArea

    where

    Parameter Description
    -d Produce detailed output.
    SourceDataArea The first data area that you want to compare.
    DestinationDataArea The second data area that you want to compare.
    Note: The output of a cmpdict command can be redirected to an ASCII file and then imported into a spreadsheet.
  2. Review the output. As necessary, refer to cmpdict Output.