HP 3000 Manuals HP 3000 Manuals
Creating an Editor File
The SORT/XL subsystem sorts information contained in records within a
file. The example files used in this manual were created using EDIT/V,
which is supplied as a subsystem of MPE XL on the 900 Series HP 3000.
SORT-MERGE/XL can manipulate files created with other editors such as
Text and Document Processing/V (TDP/V). Check with your System Manager to
determine which editors are available on your system.
To access EDIT/V, at the MPE XL colon prompt (:), enter:
:EDITOR
The EDIT/V banner appears, followed by the subsystem slash prompt (/):
HP32201A.07.17 EDIT/3000 WED, JUN 3, 1987, 8:10 AM
(c) HEWLETT-PACKARD CO. 1985
/
The following example shows how to create a file named EMPLOYEE using the
EDIT/V SET command tab function. The tab locations you establish can
then be used to designate the location of key data items with the >KEY
command when sorting files. Tabs automatically align the data in the
file for you.
After you access the EDIT/V subsystem, establish the tab character and
the tabs for file to be created. In this example the exclamation point
(!) is used as the tab character and the tabs are set at 12, 23, and 42:
/SET TABCHAR="!", TABS=(12, 23, 42)
To verify that the tab character and tabs are set correctly, enter:
/VERIFY TABCHAR, TABS
The system displays the message:
TAB CHARACTER = "!"
TABS = ( 12, 23, 42)
After establishing the tab character and tabs, create a new file using
EDIT/V. To do so, enter an A (for ADD) at the slash prompt (/) and press
the Return key. In response, a 1 followed by a blinking cursor appears
on the terminal screen:
/A
1 _ (blinking cursor)
The 1 represents the first line in your file and indicates the editor is
ready for you to enter data. As each line becomes full, or when you
press the Return key, a new line number appears. The blinking cursor
indicates where you begin entering data. Enter the data in the following
format:
/A
1 FISHER!TOM!SHIPPING CLERK!7309
2 TAYLOR!HEATHER!SECRETARY!7272
3 ANDERSON!MARY!ACCOUNTANT!6345
4 LANGE!ROBERT!ENGINEER!3235
5 ANDERSON!CHARLES!SALES REP!3456
6 ANDERSON!CHARLES!PRESIDENT!0247
7 ZIMMER!ANDREW!ENGINEER!5739
8 SMITH!HOWARD!DESIGNER!6794
9 CARLSON!ROBERTA!TREASURER!3586
10 JOHNSON!FRANCES!RECEPTIONIST!7943
11 //
Tell the system you are finished adding data by entering two slashes (//)
as the first two characters on a new line. The system responds by
displaying three dots and then the subsystem slash prompt:
...
/
At the slash prompt enter LIST ALL to display the data aligned according
to the tabs you set.
NOTE The examples in this chapter contain two extra lines of data
containing numbers (for example, 123456...5). These two lines are
included to show that the data is aligned in the columns
established as tabs which are then used for specifying key data
items with the >KEY command. These two extra lines will not appear
in your file.
/ LIST ALL
1 2 3 4
123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345
1 FISHER TOM SHIPPING CLERK 7309
2 TAYLOR HEATHER SECRETARY 7272
3 ANDERSON MARY ACCOUNTANT 6345
4 LANGE ROBERT ENGINEER 3235
5 ANDERSON CHARLES SALES REP 3456
6 ANDERSON CHARLES PRESIDENT 0247
7 ZIMMER ANDREW ENGINEER 5739
8 SMITH HOWARD DESIGNER 6794
9 CARLSON ROBERTA TREASURER 3586
10 JOHNSON FRANCES RECEPTIONIST 7943
The data is now aligned with the last names beginning in position
(column) 1 of the record, first names in position 12, job titles in
position 23, and employee numbers in position 42.
Keep (save) the file and give it the unique name EMPLOYEE by entering
KEEP EMPLOYEE, UNNUMBERED. To sort a file using SORT/XL it is necessary
to keep the file in an UNNUMBERED state. UNNUMBERED does not refer to
the line numbers that appear on the screen. These will continue to be
displayed for your convenience in editing your files.
/KEEP EMPLOYEE, UNNUMBERED
To ensure the file has been successfully created, exit EDIT/V by entering
E (for END) at the slash prompt (/). Then at the MPE XL colon prompt
(:), enter LISTF:
/E
END OF SUBSYSTEM
:LISTF
FILENAME
EMPLOYEE
The file EMPLOYEE has been created. You can now add, modify, or delete
information in the file with EDIT/V, or use the file with the SORT/XL
subsystem to arrange the information in different orders. The remainder
of this chapter illustrates how to manipulate this data in ways useful to
a Personnel Department.
If you need additional information on creating, modifying, and keeping
(saving) files refer to the EDIT/3000 Reference Manual (03000-90012).