Pointer to a File Data Type~

A field that displays the value of the ".01" field of another file.

This can be chained, so a field that points to one file which has a ".01" field of a pointer will display the value of the second pointed-to file.

The type of the pointed-to file is taken into consideration.

if it is a Set_of_Codes_Data_Type, then the pointer field will display the expanded form of the Set.

if it is a Date_Time_Data_Type, then the pointer field will display a date with a possible time.

if it is a Free_Text_Data_Type, then the pointer field will display the text characters.

if it is a Pointer_to_a_File_Data_Type, then the pointer field will display the value of the pointed-to file's ".01" field.

if it is a Variable_Pointer_Data_Type, then the pointer field will use the file information and entry information to display the value of the ".01" field of the specific entry of the appropriate file.

The ".01" field of the file may not be a Computed_Data_Type, nor a Word_Processing_Data_Type

Source: VistApedia

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Pointer to a File Data Type

A field that refers to an entry in another File. This relationship is called a pointer.

Source: Adverse Reaction Tracking User Manual Version 4.0

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This is a Glossary term from the VistA Documentation Library