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# Build BASIS Data Dictionaries

Each application must include the BASIS Data Dictionary files for its own data files only. The files must be named with the extension .XX, where XX is the application ID. You can build and maintain the data dictionaries for an application in three ways:

- use the utilities in the Software Development Utilities
- use the utilities in the ODBC Kit
- use the BASIS DDBuilder utility included in the Developer’s Tool Kit.

The application dictionaries (*.XX) are merged into the master dictionary files (*.1) during the application installation process using the RMMERGE.PUB program. You do not need to add this as a last task in your xxAPPL.TXT file as the installation will look for these files, and only merge them if found.

To create the mergeable files, build the definitions for the application. Then use the Software Development Utilities to create a new set of dictionary files with the extension from the application ID. Finally, use the SD Utilities to copy the data dictionary information for the application to the new files.