Specifies the mode in which the FILL( ) method fills a ProDataSet member buffer. The default mode is MERGE.
Data type: CHARACTER
Access: Readable/Writeable
Applies to: Buffer object handle
The following table lists the FILL( ) method modes.
| When the mode is . . . | The FILL( ) method . . . |
|---|---|
| APPEND | Fills the table by adding new records on top of existing records in
the table, without performing any record comparisons. If this creates duplicate
records, the AVM generates a run-time error and you must manage the duplicate
records. If you are certain there are no duplicate records, an APPEND is more efficient than a MERGE. |
| EMPTY | Empties the table before the FILL operation begins. |
| MERGE | Fills the table by merging new records with existing records in the table. The FILL( ) method checks each record to ensure there are no duplicate records (based on the table's unique primary index). If the FILL( ) method finds a record with a duplicate key, it does not replace the record because the record might have dependent records elsewhere in the ProDataSet. In this case, the AVM does not generate a run-time error. Thus, you cannot use this mode to refresh existing records. |
| NO-FILL | Does not perform the FILL operation on the table. |
| REPLACE | Fills the table by replacing existing records in the table. The FILL( ) method checks each record to determine whether or not it exists in the table (based on the table's unique primary index). If the record exists in the table, the FILL( ) method replaces it. If the record does not exist, the FILL( ) method creates a new record. The BEFORE-ROW-FILL event handler is run after the original ProDataSet row is copied into the ProDataSet buffer. A REPLACE is less efficient than an APPEND or a MERGE. |