Working with constraints that are in check pending status

When you add a referential or check constraint to a physical file, the system automatically checks all the records in the file to ensure that they meet the constraint definition. If the constraint is not valid or if it cannot be verified, the system places it in check pending status.

This check is also performed when the system is being restored.

To work with the constraints that are in check pending status, follow these steps:

1. Make the constraint inactive by running the Change Physical File Constraint (CHGPFCST) command and specifying *DISABLED on the Constraint state parameter.

2. Display the list of records that caused the constraint to be marked as check pending by running the Display Check Pending Constraints (DSPCPCST) command.

   The length of time that this command runs depends on the number of records the file contains.

3. Schedule the verification of the constraints that are in check pending status by running the Edit Check Pending Constraints (EDTCPCST) command.

4. Make the constraint active by running the CHGPFCST command again and specify *ENABLED on the Constraint state parameter.

• Displaying records that put a constraint in check pending status
  You can use the Display Check Pending Constraint (DSPCPCST) command to display the records that put a constraint in check pending status.

• Processing constraints that are in check pending status
  It might take a long time for the system to validate constraints that are created for large files. You can list the constraints that are in check pending status and schedule them for verification as required.

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