Chapter 5
This chapter shows you how to modify data in a thesaurus database. It describes the following:
 how to perform a thesaurus transaction
 the various update operations
 browsing specific thesaurus relations
For information about a thesaurus database definition, see “General Setup.”
With the functions mentioned in this section, you can add and modify relations in a thesaurus database. You can do any of the operations shown in the following table:
To Call add a thesaurus relation OpiAddThesRelation delete a thesaurus relation OpiDeleteThesRelation edit a thesaurus relation OpiEditThesRelation
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All the update activities listed above must be performed within a transaction. The procedure for using the transaction routines is shown below. For more information about transactions in general, see Database Loading and Maintenance.
1.
Make sure the desired thesaurus database is already open, or open it now.
OpiOpenThesDb
2.
Start a thesaurus transaction.
OpiStartThesTrans
3.
Perform the desired update operation (for example, modify a relation).
4.
If the update is successful, complete the transaction.
OpiFinishThesTrans
Otherwise, abort the transaction.
OpiAbortThesTrans
5.
When finished with it, close the thesaurus database.
OpiCloseThesDB
To add a relation, follow the steps in the procedure below.
1.
If the thesaurus database is not yet open, open it.
OpiOpenThesDb
2.
Create the necessary objects: thesaurus and thesaurus relation.
OpiMakeThesaurus
OpiMakeThesRelation
3.
Add the new relation.
OpiAddThesRelation
4.
Set the value of an attribute in the thesaurus relation object.
OpiSetThesRelationAttr
(VBOpiSetThesRelationAttr) 1
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5.
Destroy the objects when you are finished with them.
OpiDestroyThesaurus
OpiDestroyThesRelation
1 Visual Basic users call this routine instead of the preceding one.
To delete a relation, follow the steps in the procedure below.
1.
If the thesaurus database is not yet open, open it.
OpiOpenThesDb
2.
Create the necessary objects: thesaurus and thesaurus relation.
OpiMakeThesaurus
OpiMakeThesRelation
3.
Search the thesaurus for the desired terms and write these terms to the thesaurus object.
OpiBrowseExtended
4.
Delete the relation.
OpiDeleteThesRelation
5.
Repeat steps 3 - 4 until all the thesaurus terms in the databuff object have been processed.
6.
Destroy the objects when you are finished with them.
OpiDestroyThesaurus
OpiDestroyThesRelation
To modify a relation, follow the steps in the procedure below.
1.
If the thesaurus database is not yet open, open it.
OpiOpenThesDb
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2.
Create the necessary objects: thesaurus and thesaurus relation. You need two thesaurus relation objects, one for the existing relation and one for the new, edited relation.
OpiMakeThesaurus
OpiMakeThesRelation
3.
Search the thesaurus for the desired terms and write these terms to the thesaurus object.
OpiBrowseExtended
4.
Transfer a relation from the thesaurus object to the relation object.
OpiGetThesRelation
5.
Make a copy of the existing relation.
OpiNewThesRelation
6.
Set the values desired for the new relation.
OpiSetThesRelationAttr
(VBOpiSetThesRelationAttr) 1
7.
Perform the edit on the relation.
OpiEditThesRelation
8.
Repeat steps 4 - 7 until all the thesaurus terms in the thesaurus object have been edited as desired.
9.
Destroy the objects when you are finished with them.
OpiDestroyThesaurus
OpiDestroyThesRelation
1 Visual Basic users call this routine instead of the preceding one.
As an alternative to OpiBrowse (for information about accessing thesaurus terms, see
“Searching a Database.” ) you can use OpiBrowseExtended to browse thesaurus terms based on a specific relation-type, relation usage, or hierarchical relation. For example, with OpiBrowseExtended, you could have the system return specifically the narrow term relations and the scope notes for terms in the LOCATION index.
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Note: OpiBrowseExtended and OpiBrowse use their own separate sets of routines for transferring terms and attributes. You cannot mix these sets. For example, you cannot use OpiGetBrowseTermAttr with OpiBrowseExtended. The routines in each set are:
OpiBrowse uses OpiBrowseExtended uses
OpiMakeBrowseTerm OpiMakeThesRelation
OpiGetBrowseTerm OpiGetThesRelation
OpiGetBrowseTermAttr OpiGetThesRelAttr
To browse specific relations in a thesaurus, use the routines listed in the procedure below.
1.
Create the necessary objects: databuff and thesaurus relation.
OpiMakeDataBuff
OpiMakeThesRelation
2.
Search the thesaurus for the desired terms and write these terms to the databuff object.
OpiBrowseExtended
3.
Transfer a thesaurus term from the databuff object to the thesaurus relation object.
OpiGetThesRelation
4.
Transfer a specific thesaurus relation attribute to a specified location.
OpiGetThesRelationAttr
5.
Destroy the objects when you are finished with them.
OpiDestroyDataBuff
OpiDestroyThesRelation
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