DATASERV (kdataman) functions


LIBRARY ROUTINE

kdms_reference - create a reference of a data object.

LIBRARY CALL

kobject
kdms_reference(kobject object)

INPUT

OUTPUT

none

RETURN VALUE

a kobject that is a reference of the input object on success, KOBJECT_INVALID upon failure

DESCRIPTION

This function is used to create a reference of a data object that can be treated as a second independant data object under most circumstances. A referenced object is similar conceptually to a symbolic link in a UNIX file system in most respects. For example, getting data from an input object and a reference of the object will result in the same data. Data that is put on an output object can then be gotten from one of its references.

The similarity ends there. Once an object is referenced, the two resulting objects are equivelant--there is no way to distinguish the original from the reference. In fact, closing the original does not in any way affect the reference, and visa-versa.

kdms_reference creates a new object that has presentation attributes that are independant of the original object's presentation attributes. The presentation attributes are UNCOUPLED from the physical attributes, see the description found in Chapter 6 of the the Khoros Programmer's Manual on the KDMS_COUPLING attribute for more information. The two objects (or more if there are future calls to kdms_reference) share all physical resources.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

none

EXAMPLES

none

SIDE EFFECTS

none

RESTRICTIONS

none

MODIFICATION

none

FILES

$DATASERV/objects/library/kdataman/src/public.c

SEE ALSO

kdataman(3)

COPYRIGHT

Copyright (C) 1993 - 1997, Khoral Research, Inc. ("KRI") All rights reserved.