Dumping allows you to re-create the source statements from the database to a new file that is open in the application. Results of dumping (informational, warning, and error) are generated as output in the Results Pane. Source statements go to a window in the document pane.
Although variable names are case insensitive in the source statements, variable references are dumped in the case in which the variable was originally defined. For instance, a variable called DiskName can be referenced as diskname or DISKNAME, but the Dump function dumps the reference as DiskName.
Although the Build function accepts some predefined variables without a leading underscore and accepts token references without a descriptive prefix, the Dump function always includes the leading underscore of predefined variables and the descriptive prefixes of tokens. For example, if the predefined variable _RUNID is referenced as RUNID in the pattern definition, the Dump function dumps it as _RUNID. If a token is referenced as \1\ in the source pattern, the Dump function dumps it as \_TOKEN1\.
Dump Function Advantages
The dump function provides the following advantages:
It can re-create the source file for an Autoaction database if you have lost or not saved the original.
It provides useful comments, such as mapping the position of pattern tokens.
It produces source syntax that you did not specify but for which the Build function used defaults (such as token text).
It is a debugging aid to ensure that what you entered was correctly stored in the Autoaction database.
You must specify dump Options before dumping a database.
To dump a database, do one of the following:
Right-click on the project in the tree and click Dump Database.
Click Dump on the utility bar.
Click Dump Database on the Tools menu.
Press F5.
The last three dump the active project.
To stop a dump before it completes
Click Stop Utility on the Tools menu. The Autoaction Database Manager removes any files related to the database being dumped.
After you have dumped a database, you can save the dump file if you want to retain the dump information. If you do not save the dump file, the information is discarded once you close the workspace.
To save a dump file, do one of the following:
Click the Save File or Save All icon.
Click Save File or Save File As on the File menu.
Press Ctrl+S.
Notes:
The Stop Utility command is unavailable if a build, verify, or dump is not in progress.
While the Database Maintenance window is open, the Dump Database command, the Dump button on the utility bar, and the shortcut key are unavailable.