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
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.