Cookie value used in DBAccess Interface

Hi,

I've a questions related to cookie

// Locks a record so that it can only be updated or deleted by this client.
// Returned value is a cookie that must be used when the record is unlocked,
// updated, or deleted. If the specified record is already locked by a different
// client, the current thread gives up the CPU and consumes no CPU cycles until
// the record is unlocked.
public long lockRecord(long recNo)
throws RecordNotFoundException;

What Sun is trying to mean about cookie here in this interface. Are they trying to mean like this :
"returned value is a cookie which is nothing but it's same as magic cookie value in database file ()" ?
or
we have to randomly generate cookie value for each lock and the same generated must be used while performing other tasks like unlock/delete/update?

Thanks in advance,
Seetha...

I'll think you'll be able this question yourself, if you have a clear understanding of the lock-method itself. In ScjdFaq there is an excellent explanation of the purpose of this method.

Roel, my question is not about the usage/functionalities of these methods . My concern is all about the cookie value which will be used in the method invocation.

The doc says :

// Locks a record so that it can only be updated or deleted by this client.
    // Returned value is a cookie that must be used when the record is unlocked,
    // updated, or deleted. If the specified record is already locked by a different
    // client, the current thread gives up the CPU and consumes no CPU cycles until
    // the record is unlocked.
    public long lockRecord(long recNo) throws RecordNotFoundException;

// Modifies the fields of a record. The new value for field n
    // appears in data[n]. Throws SecurityException
    // if the record is locked with a cookie other than lockCookie.
    public void updateRecord(long recNo, String[] data, long lockCookie)
            throws RecordNotFoundException, SecurityException;

// Deletes a record, making the record number and associated disk
    // storage available for reuse.
    // Throws SecurityException if the record is locked with a cookie
    // other than lockCookie.
    public void deleteRecord(long recNo, long lockCookie)
            throws RecordNotFoundException, SecurityException;

// Releases the lock on a record. Cookie must be the cookie
    // returned when the record was locked; otherwise throws SecurityException.
    public void unlock(long recNo, long cookie) throws SecurityException;

Is this cookie value same as magic cookie value specified in the database file(first 4 byte numeric)?

Please clarify...

If you know the purpose of the lock and unlock methods, you'll be able to answer the question yourself. If you have read the ScjdFaq (as I suggested) you would also have read that the magic cookie is just used to identify database files.