IBM SC41-5210-04 manual Selecting options for a Query for iSeries query definition

Selecting options for a Query for iSeries query definition

To select options that you want to use from those listed in the Query Definition Option column, type a 1 in the Opt (option) column beside each of those options, then press the Enter key. The displays for the options you select are then shown one after the other so you can create those parts of the query definition.

Following are brief descriptions of each of the definition steps.

Specify file selections

This option is required, and you use it to specify the file or files from which you want your query to obtain information. If you specify more than one file, you are shown the displays on which you specify how you want the files joined.

Define result fields

Use this option to define fields that do not exist in your files but you want to use in your query. For example, your selected file(s) contains a field representing the number of weeks, but it does not contain a field representing the number of days, and you want your report to show days, not weeks. You can define a result field that will hold the results of a calculation that uses the number of weeks to determine the number of days.

Select and sequence fields

Use this option to select the fields (from your selected file(s) and your result fields) that you want to appear on your report. You also specify in what order you want them to appear.

Select records

Use this option to select records, from your selected file or files, if you only want particular records to be included in your report.

Select sort fields

Use this option to specify what fields to sort on so that your output records appear in a particular order (such as alphabetically or in descending or ascending order).

Select collating sequence

Use this option to select a collating sequence for your query. The collating sequence you select can affect many different things in your query, including record selection and the order of records when they are sorted. The collating sequence usually relates to your country’s language. You can also specify a different language for a particular query. You can set your collating sequence defaults while defining your first query and thereby never have to change the collating sequence again.

Specify report column formatting

Use this option to change the column headings, column spacing, numeric editing, length, and decimal positions for fields that appear in your report.

Select report summary functions

Use this option to specify one or more (or all) of the types of summary functions for each field in your report: total, average, minimum value, maximum value, and count.

Define report breaks

Use this option to specify how to break your report into groups of records.

Select output type and output form

Use this option to specify if you want your output to be displayed, printed, or sent to a database file. If you want your output printed, you also specify printer attributes. You also use this option to specify whether you want detailed or summary-only output.

Specify processing options

Use this option to specify if you want the results of your query calculations to be truncated or rounded, if you want decimal data errors ignored, or if you want to ignore character substitution warnings during conversion.

Chapter 3. Creating a Query for iSeries query definition 29