The DEFINE COLLECTION command creates a collection. A collection
allows you to view and manipulate a group of related elements
that make up a particular system or subsystem.
Because a collection is a controlled element, you use the DEFINE
COLLECTION command to create the initial version of a collection.
Use the RESERVE and REPLACE commands to create new versions.
Before you issue the DEFINE COLLECTION command, you must create
and set a context. The SHOW CONTEXT command indicates whether you
have completed these steps.
Because all elements in a collection hierarchy are children
of the top collection, you can issue commands that affect the
entire hierarchy with the /DESCENDANTS or /CLOSURE qualifiers.
Because most elements in a collection hierarchy are also children
of smaller subcollections beneath the top collection, you can
also issue commands that affect only one subcollection and its
children.
To create a collection hierarchy, issue the DEFINE COLLECTION
command immediately after the SET CONTEXT command. SET CONTEXT
implicitly sets the collection you define as the top collection
in the hierarchy, provided that you did not set a top collection
within the DEFINE CONTEXT command.
To extend the hierarchy beneath the top collection, you issue the
following commands:
1. DEFINE COLLECTION to create the collections that participate
in the hierarchy. This command attaches all collections in the
first level beneath the top collection.
2. DETACH FROM COMPOSITE to detach those collections destined for
lower levels in the hierarchy from the first level beneath the
top collection.
3. RESERVE and ATTACH TO COMPOSITE to reserve collections in each
successive level and attach their immediate children.
4. REPLACE to store in a partition the elements you have created.