Patent ID: 6879986

Claim:
A method of managing space within an IMS database, wherein said space is managed during loading or updating of said database, comprising: after said IMS database is loaded, assuming control from an IMS program and obtaining memory addresses of IMS control blocks built by said IMS program and obtaining information about said IMS database; passing control back to said IMS program; when said IMS program attempts to insert a first segment into said IMS database, either during loading or updating of said database, reassuming control from said IMS program, wherein said first segment comprises a prefix component and a data component; splitting said prefix component of said first segment from said data component of said first segment, and appending a data link to each said prefix and data component, said prefix component with said data link appended becoming a second segment and said data component with said data link appended becoming a third segment; selecting storage locations for said second and third segments to be stored; modifying said IMS control blocks to indicate the storage locations selected; and passing control back to said IMS program.