The DEFINE RECORD command creates a record element.

    If you supply a record name that is already used for a record
    element in your default directory, CDO creates a new version of
    the existing record definition.

    The DEFINE RECORD command evaluates the record name you supply
    to determine if it is a logical name. If the record name is a
    logical name, CDD translates it. In some cases, the translation
    of the logical name for the record may not be a valid name
    for a record definition, and CDO will not create the record
    definition. For example, if you have defined JOE as a logical
    name that translates to MYNODE::[RICHIE], CDD translates the
    symbol JOE. The following DEFINE RECORD command fails because
    MYNODE::[RICHIE] is not a valid name:

    CDO> DEFINE RECORD JOE.
    %CDO-F-ERRDEFINE, error defining object
    -CDD-F-NOTADIC, Does not contain a CDO dictionary:
    MYNODE::

    If this error occurs, deassign the logical name with the same
    name as the object, and perform the operation again. To avoid
    this logical name conflict, use unique names that represent the
    type of entity you are naming.