Definition

Noun: 1. A computer file containing relatively transient data about a particular data processing task: In computing, a transaction file is a type of data file that holds records of business activities or events (transactions) for a limited period. Its primary purpose is to update a master file. The data in a transaction file is typically temporary and is often processed in batches.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The system creates a daily transaction file to record all sales, which is then used to update the inventory master file.
  • Before archiving the old transaction file, ensure all its records have been successfully processed.
  • The error occurred because the transaction file was corrupted during the transfer.

Advanced Usage

• Batch Processing Context: The term is most commonly used in the context of batch processing, where a collection of transactions is gathered over time (e.g., a day) in a transaction file before being run against a master file to update it.
  • The nightly job processes the transaction file to apply all the day's financial entries to the general ledger.

Variants and Related Words

• Transaction Log (or Audit Log): A related but distinct concept. A log is a sequential record of all events or changes, often used for recovery and auditing, while a transaction file is typically a set of data to be processed as a batch.
• Master File: The permanent file that maintains cumulative data and is updated by the transaction file (e.g., a customer master file updated by daily order transactions).
• Detail File: Another term sometimes used synonymously with transaction file.

Synonyms

• Detail File
• Batch File (in a specific transactional context)

Related Phrases

• To process a transaction file: The act of running the file's records through an update procedure.
  • The server is scheduled to process the transaction file at 2 a.m.
• Transaction file maintenance: Activities related to the creation, validation, and archiving of transaction files.
  • Proper transaction file maintenance is crucial for data integrity.

Noun

1. (computer science) a computer file containing relatively transient data about a particular data processing task