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Using GUIDE in SQL Mode › Creating a Sample Query › Sample Procedure › Step 4: Select a Table

Step 4: Select a Table

This section tells how to choose a table to be searched by the query.

After you give the query a name, library, and description, and press <PF4> CONTINUE, CA Dataquery displays this panel:

Primary Table Selection (DQM20)

 =>

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------DQM20
 DATAQUERY:  PRIMARY TABLE SELECTION              QUERY NAME:  SQLGUIDE
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 SELECT ONE TABLE FROM WHICH YOU WANT INFORMATION BY PLACING ANY CHARACTER
 NEXT TO THE DESIRED TABLE NAME.  START WITH ________________________________
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 SELECT|   TABLE NAME                            |     DESCRIPTION
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    _  | ADDRESS                                 
    _  | CAI_ACCTS_TBL                           | ORDER ENTRY DEMO ACCTS
    _  | CAI_CUST_TBL                            | CUSTOMERS RECORD
    _  | CAI_DETAIL_TBL                          | DETAILS RECORD
    _  | CAI_ITEMS_TBL                           | ITEMS RECORD
    _  | CAI_ORD_NO_TBL                          | ORDER NUMBERS RECORD
    _  | CAI_ORDERS_TBL                          | ORDERS RECORD
    _  | CAI_RCPTS_TBL                           | ORDER ENTRY DEMO RECEIPTS
    _  | CAI_SHIPTO_TBL                          | SHIP_TO RECORD
    X  | CAI_SLSHST_TBL                          | ORDER ENTRY DEMO SALES_HIST R
    _  | CAIDEMO_DEM_PNC                         | CAI SAMPLE PART COST TABLE
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 <PF1> HELP          <PF2> RETURN         <PF3> DISPLAY TEXT <PF4> CONTINUE
 <PF5> DISPLAY TABLE <PF6> DISPLAY QUERY  <PF7> BACKWARD     <PF8> FORWARD

Facts

The following presents some facts about table selection that are needed to create the sample query.

Primary Table

The primary table is the one CA Dataquery reads first in its search for data. If rows from another table are to be joined to rows selected from the primary table, that table is referred to as the secondary table.

Table Name

This column lists all tables for your current authorization ID. These are the tables you can access, unless a table name is a reserved word. (Reserved words are documented in the CA Dataquery Reference Guide.)

Table Description

Basic information about listed tables.

Steps

The following shows the steps for selecting a table for the sample query.

Step 1

Decide which table contains the data needed for the report.

Step 2

Use the Tab key to move the cursor to the field in front of CAI_SLSHST_TBL and enter an X.

Step 3

Press <PF4> CONTINUE.

Options

The following lists additional panels you might display during table selection.

Display Text

Move the cursor to the SELECT field next to a table name and press <PF3>. If a text description exists for a table, it can contain any information the person responsible for it considers pertinent.

Display Table

Move the cursor to a SELECT field next to a table name and press <PF5> to see a panel listing the column names and descriptions for that table.

Extended Definition

The Display Table panel that appears when you press <PF5> allows you to press another PF key to see basic information about how the columns are defined. You can use this information to deduce what kind of data each column should contain.

Additional Information

The following provides additional information you might want to know about selecting tables.

FROM clause

Selecting a table with GUIDE allows CA Dataquery to build the FROM clause portion of the query for you. See Edit FROM Clause for additional FROM clause details.

Decision-making tips

Decision-making aids can include: