INFO-Text SYNFILE
SYNF
ILE [file-name]
creates a synonym file
notes discussion
n
The SYNFILE command can only be used to create a synonym file. To change an existing synonym file, you must select the synonym file with the SELECT command and update it using the ADD or UPDATE commands.
n
After making additions or updates to a synonym file and before continuing to process, you must sort the file using the syntax: SORT ON SYN-LIST-NAME, MEMBER.
n
If you include a blank as part of a member-name, when you list the contents of the synonym file, INFO-Text displays that member-name's value enclosed in single quotation marks.
The SYNFILE command allows you to create a synonym file and define one or more named lists of words
(synonyms) to store in the file. The synonym file created can eventually be associated with an extended data file for use in performing synonym-based free-text queries.
The synonym facility allows you to define classes, or categories, of words for INFO-Text to use when searching text in extended data files. See the Word Expressions section of the chapter 'Building Expressions' for more information about the INFO-Text synonym facility.
When you first enter the SYNFILE command, you have the option of specifying the name of a synonym file for
INFO-Text to create. If you do not specify a name for the synonym file or if you specify the name of an existing file,
INFO-Text prompts:
ENTER SYNFILE NAME>
Respond with the name of the synonym file you wish to create. If a file by the specified name does not exist,
INFO-Text creates a synonym file with that name.
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SYNFILE INFO-Text
If a file with that name already exists, INFO-Text displays an error message and the ENTER SYNFILE NAME> prompt again.
Once you have established the name of the synonym file,
INFO-Text prompts:
INITIAL SYNONYM FILES>
Respond as follows:
To cause INFO-Text to copy the contents of an existing synonym file into the file being created, enter the name of an existing synonym file. INFO-Text copies the existing synonym file into the new file and displays the INITIAL
SYNONYM> prompt again to allow you to copy another synonym file. You can copy multiple synonym files into the new file in this manner.
Should INFO-Text find a duplicate synonym name when copying a synonym file, INFO-Text displays a warning message to that effect. INFO-Text includes both synonyms in the new file, but does not access the second synonym during later synonym processing.
To avoid or to terminate copying existing synonym files, enter <RETURN> after any INITIAL SYNONYM> prompt.
INFO-Text next prompts you to enter synonym data into the new synonym file. INFO-Text first prompts:
SYN-LIST-NAME>
In response to this prompt, enter a 1- to 15-character synonym list name. The synonym list name can be any combination of characters excepting the space and comma, and it must start with a letter (A-Z or a-z). You can later refer to all synonyms on the list that will follow by using the synonym list name. If a word you specify already exists, INFO-Text issues a warning message and again displays the SYN-LIST-NAME> prompt.
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INFO-Text SYNFILE
INFO-Text then prompts you for members of the list with the following prompt:
MEMBER>
Enter a member of the synonym list. INFO-Text again prompts MEMBER>. To end a synonym list, enter
<RETURN>. INFO-Text prompts for another SYN-LIST-
NAME>.
To terminate the SYNFILE command, enter <RETURN> to the SYN-LIST-NAME> prompt. You can save an empty synonym by entering <RETURN> to the first SYN-LIST-
NAME> prompt.
You cannot specify a member with the same name as a synonym that exists in the current synfile; otherwise,
INFO-Text cannot distinguish between the synonym name and the member name during a text search. You can, however, specify the same member in more than one synonym list in the same synonym file.
When entering a synonym member, be aware of the case sensitivity defined for items that may be searched using the synonym. If the items are defined to distinguish between uppercase and lowercase during concording, you must enter the synonym list member in the appropriate case (that is lowercase to search lowercase text or uppercase to search uppercase text). If the items are not defined as requiring case concordance, you can enter the synonym member in either case.
see also
DEFINE
MODIFY
RESELECT
SYNONYM
Word expressions in Building Expressions in Introduction
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SYNFILE example:
INFO-Text
ENTER COMMAND>SYNFILE
ENTER SYNFILE NAME>ANIMALS
SYNONYM LIST NAME>CATS
MEMBER>CAT
MEMBER>KITTY
MEMBER>TABBY
MEMBER>LION
MEMBER>
SYNONYM LIST NAME>DOGS
MEMBER>ALSATION
MEMBER>COLLIE
MEMBER>CORGY
MEMBER>DINGO
MEMBER>‘FLEA BAG’
MEMBER>SNOOPY
MEMBER>
SYNONYM LIST NAME>
ENTER COMMAND>SYNONYM
SYNONYM LIST NAME
CATS
DOGS
MEMBER
CAT
KIITY
TABBY
LION
ALSATION
COLLIE
CORGY
DINGO
‘FLEA BAG’
SNOOPY
ENTER COMMAND>SELECT PETS
ENTER SYNONYM FILE NAME>ANIMALS
48 RECORDS SELECTED
ENTER COMMAND>RESELECT *DOGS
RESELECT (ALSATION COLLIE CORGY DINGO ‘FLEA BAG’
SNOOPY)
20 RECORD(S) SELECTED
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