DATASERV (kdataman) functions
LIBRARY ROUTINE
kdms_reference - create a reference of a data object.
LIBRARY CALL
kobject
kdms_reference(kobject object)
INPUT
- object - the abstract data object to be
reference.
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.