IOA Access Method

Several INCONTROL products include files that are processed using an internal component called the IOA Access Method.

The IOA Access Method is used to create indexed (keyed) file structures that offer enhanced data integrity. IOA Access Method files are physical sets of sequential datasets that are allocated, formatted and accessed by INCONTROL products using IOA Access Method utilities.

Most IOA Access Method files consist of two separate sequential datasets:

• a data component, where the actual record information resides
• an index component, which provides keyed access to records in the data component

Some IOA Access Method files may contain only an index or data component.

The IOA Access Method provides dual mirror image file support. This mechanism enables a quick recovery of IOA Access Method files if a disk crash occurs on a disk that contains IOA Access Method primary files.