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XEQ

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Executes QUERY commands from a file instead of the standard input device.

Syntax


  X[EQ] filename [,NODATA]
For example: 

  XEQ CFILE,NODATA
Where filename = FILE and option = ,NODATA

Parameters

filename

is the name of an ASCII file containing commands and parameters.

NODATA

if specified, QUERY prompts for null data values and any command parameters when the XEQ file is executed.

Discussion

When the XEQ command is entered, QUERY reads the specified file and executes the commands until an end-of-file or another XEQ command is encountered. Any command input is also read from filename unless NODATA is specified. When an end-of-file is reached, control returns to the original command input device (in session mode, the terminal, or in job mode, the job input device).

Only the first 72 characters of each record are read. You can continue a command on the next record by entering an ampersand (&) as the last non-blank character in the current record.

If an error occurs while opening the data base in session mode, QUERY will close the XEQ file and prompt for another command. In job mode, QUERY closes the XEQ file and the job is terminated.

An XEQ command within another XEQ file will close the first file and open the new one. The initial file is never reopened. QUERY performs an end-of-file on the first file and control transfers to the new file.

The NODATA option specifies that the XEQ file only contains commands and does not contain any data needed by the command. QUERY will prompt you for the data.

Control Y

When you enter CONTROL-Y during the execution of an XEQ file, QUERY will terminate the command currently executing, close the XEQ file and prompt for another command.

If a FIND, MULTIFIND, or SUBSET command is executing when CONTROL-Y is entered, QUERY will print the following message. 

  x ENTRIES HAVE QUALIFIED, DO YOU WANT TO CONTINUE SEARCHING?
If you respond YES, QUERY will complete the search and execute the rest of the commands in the XEQ file. If you respond NO, QUERY will terminate the retrieval command, close the XEQ file, and prompt for another command.

If you enter CONTROL-Y in response to a value prompt, as in the case of null values and the NODATA option, QUERY will terminate the command, close the XEQ file, and prompt for another command. In some cases, a retrieval command with null values will create an execution loop where the only way to terminate the command is with CONTROL-Y.

The following is an example of an XEQ file which will create an execution loop. The XEQ file is named FINDACCT and contains: 

  FIND ACCT#=""
  REPORT ALL
  XEQ FINDACCT,NODATA

Examples

Example 1

In this example, an XEQ file called FISET is used to define a particular QUERY session environment. The FISET file contains these records: 

  DEFINE
  ORDERS
  CLERK
  5
  CUSTOMER,SALES
  PROCX
  TERM
QUERY executes the DEFINE command and uses the other records as data in response to the DEFINE command prompts. If the NODATA option had been specified, QUERY would prompt you for each DEFINE prompt. 

  >XEQ FISET
  DEFINE
  DATA-BASE = ORDERS
  PASSWORD = CLERK
  MODE = 5
  DATA-SETS = CUSTOMER,SALES
  PROC-FILE = PROCX
  OUTPUT = TERM
  OUTPUT = TERM
  END OF XEQ FILE
Example 2

This example shows how an XEQ file, PRXFIL, can be used to store and execute a pre-planned find-and-report sequence. It also shows the use of null data values and how the FIND CHAIN command can be used to access two data sets. Here, the information from CUSTOMER and SALES is used to prepare a bill. 

  >XEQ PRXFIL,NODATA

  FIND CHAIN CUSTOMER.ACCOUNT,SALES.ACCOUNT="" END
  WHAT IS THE VALUE OF - ACCOUNT
  >>2
  2  ENTRIES QUALIFIED
  REPORT BILL
       .
       .
       .
Figure 6-2 Billing Report From an XEQ File 

             BOBO'S MERCANTILE


  ACCOUNT #:   2                               BILLING DATE: 06/19/85


             HARLEY     W       LOND
                       1362 16TH AVE
            SAN FRANCISCO,  CA 94122


     PURCHASE DATE                                           PURCHASE
                                                                TOTAL

     85/05/05                                                 $418.22


     TOTAL DUE                                                $418.22
The XEQ file PRXFIL contains: 

  FIND CHAIN CUSTOMER.ACCOUNT,SALES.ACCOUNT="" END
  REPORT BILL
Since you want to be prompted for a value when the FIND CHAIN command containing a null data value is called, you use the NODATA option in the XEQ command. Note that if REPORT were called directly from the file, XEQ NODATA would prompt you for report statements instead of reading them from the file. Therefore, the REPORT command is stored as a procedure, BILL, in the current Proc-file, and is initiated from PRXFIL after the FIND CHAIN command.

The procedure BILL contains: 

  REPORT
  H1,"BOBO'S MERCANTILE",43,SPACE A4
  H2,"ACCOUNT #:",10
  H2,ACCOUNT,14
  H2,"BILLING DATE:",60,SPACE A2
  H2,DATE,70
  H3,FIRST-NAME,14
  H3,INITIAL,20
  H3,LAST-NAME,31
  H4,STREET-ADDRESS,31
  H5,CITY,20
  H5,STATE,25
  H5,ZIP,31,SPACE A2
  H7,"PURCHASE-DATE",13
  H7,"PURCHASE,"70,SPACE B3
  H8,"TOTAL",70,SPACE A2
  D,PURCH-DATE,8,E1
  E1,"XX/XX/XX"
  R4,LOAD,QUANTITY
  R4,MULT,PRICE
  R4,ADD,TAX
  D,R4,70,E2
  E2,"$$$,$$$.99"
  R0,ADD,R4
  TF,"TOTAL DUE",9,SPACE B2,SKIP A
  TF,R0,70,E2
  S,PURCH-DATE
  END



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Appendix A QUERY/V MESSAGES