Zombie data files and items

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Logical Data Model

Zombie data files and items

Overview

Defining a file or an item as being "zombie"

Handling a zombie file or item

See also

Zombie data files and items

Overview

During the life of an application, items live and die. Before dying, they can become zombies.
Which means that the item still exists in the data description, that it can be used in the existing application code, but that the item must no longer be used when writing new code.
A zombie item takes space and therefore it should be deleted.
Zombie items are often found in the dead code.
In version 23, you have the ability to identify the zombie items in the analysis; they will be signaled when they are used.

Defining a file or an item as being "zombie"

Defining a file as being "zombie"

To define a zombie file:

In the data model editor, select the data file to use.
Display the file description ("Description of data file" in the context menu).
In the "Options" tab:
- Check "Obsolete or zombie file".
- Specify a comment if necessary. This comment will be displayed in the compilation error generated when using the zombie file.
Close the description window of data file.
In the analysis graph, the zombie file is identified by the icon:
In the "Analysis" pane, the zombie file is grayed and struck out:
Generate the analysis to take the modifications into account. In the compilation error, a new error indicates the uses of zombie file.

Remark: You also have the ability to perform the reverse operation.

Defining an item as being "zombie"

To define a zombie file:

In the data model editor, select the data file to use.
Display the description of items ("Description of items" in the context menu).
In the "Advanced" tab:
- Check "Zombie item (obsolete)".
- Specify a comment if necessary. This comment will be displayed in the compilation error generated when using the zombie item.
Validate.
In the analysis graph, the zombie item is struck out in the representation of data file:
In the "Analysis" pane, the zombie item is grayed out and struck through:
Generate the analysis to take the modifications into account. In the compilation error, a new error indicates that the zombie item is used.

Remark: You also have the ability to perform the reverse operation.

Handling a zombie file or item

In the different editors that handle data files and items (window editor, report editor, query editor, etc.), zombie files and items can be easily identified because they are grayed out and crossed out.

Furthermore, a compilation error is used to easily identify the zombie elements used.