Integrated File System Introduction

 

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Directory

A directory is a special object that is used to locate objects by names that you specify. Each directory contains a list of objects that are attached to it. That list may include other directories.

The integrated file system provides a hierarchical directory structure that allows you to access all objects in your server. You might think of this directory structure as an inverse tree where the root is at the top and the branches below. The branches represent directories in the directory hierarchy. These directory branches have subordinate branches that are called sub-directories. Attached to the various directory and sub-directory branches are objects such as files. Locating an object requires specifying a path through the directories to the sub-directory to which the object is attached. Objects that are attached to a particular directory are sometimes described as being "in" that directory.

A particular directory branch, along with all of its subordinate branches (sub-directories) and all of the objects that are attached to those branches, is referred to as a sub-tree. Each file system is a major sub-tree in the integrated file system directory structure. In the QSYS.LIB and Independent ASP QSYS.LIB file systems' sub-trees, a library is handled the same way as a sub-directory. Objects in a library are handled like objects in a sub-directory. Because database files contain objects (database file members), they are handled like sub-directories rather than objects. In the document library services file system (QDLS sub-tree), folders are handled like sub-directories and documents in folders are handled like objects in a sub-directory.

Because of differences in file systems, the operations you can perform in one sub-tree of the directory hierarchy may not work in another sub-tree.

The integrated file system directory support is similar to the directory support that is provided by the DOS file system. In addition, it provides features typical of UNIX systems, such as the ability to store a file only once but access it through multiple paths by using links.

Refer to the following topics for more information about integrated file system directories:

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