Chapter 7. Indexing and loading 177
7.4.2  The index file
ACIF creates the index file. It contains the index values that are extracted from the document, 
and also the offsets and lengths of the documents in the .out file. 
The index values in the index file become the values that display in the Content Manager 
OnDemand Search Results window. The indexes are used to retrieve the document, which is 
why the index file is so important, and why no data can be loaded without indexes. Usually, 
the index file is created and used to load the documents into Content Manager OnDemand 
and you never see it. However, it might be useful to look at the index file. This section 
describes the format and content of the index file.
Run arsafpd to display an index file. The first Structured Field in the index file is a Begin 
Document Index (BDI), which contains the code page of the index names and values. Most of 
the file consists of the two AFP Structured Fields: Index Element (IEL) and Tag Logical 
Element (TLE). Two kinds of IELs exist: Page Group and Page. The index file must contain 
Page Group IELs for arsload to load the data.
A Page Group IEL is identified by the text “Begin Page Group Reference” in the arsafpd 
output. Each Page Group IEL indicates where the group starts and its length in bytes. 
Example 7-1 shows part of a Page Group IEL.
Example 7-1   Part of a Page Group IEL
2   IEL Index Element                                   005D D3B2A7
    IEL Object Byte Extent Triplet (57)
    IEL  Extent = 1614 (64E)          <- LENGTH OF GROUP
    IEL Object Byte Offset Triplet (2D)
    IEL  byte offset = 201 (C9)      <- WHERE IT STARTS IN THE .OUT FILE
    IEL Object Structured Field Extent Triplet (59)
    IEL  Extent = 18 (12)
    IEL Object Structured Field Offset Triplet (58)
    IEL  Offset = 1 (1)
    IEL Medium Map Page Number Triplet (56)
    IEL  sequence number of page = 1 (1)
    IEL Fully Qualified Name Triplet (02)
    IEL  0D Begin Page Group Reference    <- PAGE GROUP IEL
    IEL  Name = 'Smith Cyclery Co    00000001'
If you look at offset 201 in the .out file, you find a BNG Structured Field (if the .out file is 
AFP), which indicates the start of a document.
Y ou might see Page IELs in the index file. These Page IELs are created by setting the ACIF 
parameter INDEXOBJ=ALL. They are needed (and are required) only if the document is being 
loaded as large object. Example 7-2 shows part of a Page IEL.
Example 7-2   Part of a Page IEL
7   IEL Index Element                                   0044 D3B2A7
    IEL Object Byte Extent Triplet (57)
    IEL  Extent = 1342 (53E)          <- LENGTH OF PAGE
    IEL Object Byte Offset Triplet (2D)
    IEL  byte offset = 456 (1C8)     <- WHERE IT STARTS IN THE .OUT FILE
    IEL Object Structured Field Extent Triplet (59)
    IEL  Extent = 11 (B)
    IEL Object Structured Field Offset Triplet (58)
    IEL  Offset = 7 (7)