# Data Dictionary Utilities

Compare Definitions |

The Data Dictionary Compare utility is used to compare two tables from the same or different data dictionaries or physical files (or a combination of both). It compares file attributes, fields and key structures in one table with the fields in another. All common field names (and record formats for non-normalized files) will have their characteristics compared. The utility reports all changes, as well as any new or deleted fields.

Invoke this utility by selecting Utilities > Compare Definitions from the Data Dictionary Maintenance menu bar.

This utility consists of the following:

Source 1 | Pathname of the providex.ddf or physical file with embedded dictionary that you want to compare from.
Table Name 1 | Table you want to compare from. Leave blank to indicate all. Click the Query Table View button (magnifying glass) for a tree view of table names by Group. For information on creating a filter to locate a specific table name, see Filtering the Table Names Lookup.
Source 2 | Pathname of the providex.ddf or physical file with embedded dictionary that you want to compare against. Enter * to use the physical files associated with the tables from Source 1.
Table Name 2 | Table you want to compare against. Leave blank to indicate all. Click the Query Table View button (magnifying glass) for a tree view of table names by Group. For information on creating a filter to locate a specific table name, see Filtering the Table Names Lookup.
Suppress details on new/deleted files | Check box to suppress table information that is found in Source 1 and not in Source 2, or vice versa.
Print | Prints the Data Dictionary Compare report.
Analyze | Button used to begin the analysis.
Close | Exits the Data Dictionary Compare utility.

## Automated Call

The Data Dictionary Compare utility can also be called from a PxPlus program.

> CALL "*dict/compdict;ANALYZE",source1$,table1$,source2$,table2$,result$,suppress$

Where:

source1$ | Full path of the providex.ddf or physical file with embedded dictionary that you want to compare from.
table1$ | Table you want to compare from. Leave blank to indicate all.
source2$ | Pathname of the providex.ddf or physical file with embedded dictionary that you want to compare against. Enter * to use the physical files associated with the tables from source1$.
table2$ | Table you want to compare against. Leave blank to indicate all.
result$ | A SEP-delimited string containing "what is being compared" + SEP + "source1$ result" + SEP + "source2$ result".
suppress$ | The flag "1" will suppress details on new/deleted files.