Each index block is made up of records that contain keys and corresponding pointers. In the case where database damage is a symptom of an incorrect key paired with a valid pointer, the repair strategy, which may be implemented with a number of tactics, is to use the pointer to locate the data and reconstruct the key.

While they occur very infrequently, invalid pointers do not permit the same strategy. If there is an invalid pointer, always eliminate the record containing the bad pointer using the DSE REMOVE command. Since no data can be stored under an invalid pointer, either the pointer error was discovered on the first attempt to use it and no data has been lost, or the pointer was damaged during use. If the pointer was damaged during use, the lost data should be located by examining "Block incorrectly marked busy" errors and generally be recovered as described in section O4.

IF MUCH DATA IS LOST, it may be worthwhile attempting to reconstruct the bad record as follows. Before removing the record containing the bad pointer, use the DUMP command to note the key in the record. Using the error reports and/or the DSE RANGE command, locate the block to which the key should point. Then use DSE ADD to replace the previously deleted record with a new record that has the correct key and pointer in place.