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Step 1: Query Identification

After you sign on to CA Dataquery and select CREATE from the Main Menu, you come to the first step in creating a query on the EDITOR. In this step, you learn how to name your query and give it a description and how to tell CA Dataquery where to store your query.

Create Mode

 =>  CREATION PANEL  --------------------------------------------------------------------------DQD10  DATAQUERY:  EDITOR            CURRENT TABLE:  ________________________________  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------  NAME:          _______________                   TYPE: ______  STATUS: _______  DESCRIPTION:   ___________________________________________________________     ....+....1....+....2....+....3....+....4....+....5....+....6....+....7....+.  .. ================================ T O P =====================================  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..     ===========================  B O T T O M  ==================================  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------  <PF1> HELP          <PF2>  RETURN     <PF3>  DISPLAY COLUMNS <PF4> DISPLAY KEYS  <PF5> DISPLAY ALL   <PF6>  LIST TABLES <PF7> BACKWARD       <PF8>  FORWARD  <PF9> TEMPLATE      <PF10> VALIDATE   <PF11> RIGHT/LEFT     <PF12> PROCESS MODE

Concepts

These are the major concepts related to this step:

CREATE MODE
You use the EDITOR: CREATE MODE panel to create a query using the CREATE function. At the top of the CREATE MODE panel, use the displayed columns to name your query, specify that it is a query, designate which library to keep it in, and provide a short description for the library directory. If you know the name of the first (or only) table you are going to search, you can also specify the name of that table. You use the panel area below the line marked TOP to actually construct the statements in your query.

Current Table
A query must search at least one database table. The table named in the Current Table field on the panel is accessed when you make requests for CA Datacom Datadictionary information about keys or columns.

NAME
A query name must be unique within its assigned library and must be one word of 1 to 15 alphabetic characters, numbers, dashes or special characters. You do not have to name a query immediately. You may execute an Active Query several times, making changes as required, before saving the query. When you save a query, CA Dataquery requires that it have a name, type, and status. Be sure to see Restrictions on Names for important restrictions on names.

TYPE
Valid entries are QUERY and DIALOG for either mode. TERM is valid in DQL Mode and, with authorization, so is REPORT. A dialog allows users to substitute variables in a query. A term is a short-hand word you create to replace frequently used parts of a query. For information about using the CA Dataquery EDITOR to create dialogs and terms, see Creating Dialogs and Creating and Using Terms.

STATUS
Valid entries are PRIVATE and PUBLIC. You can update and delete queries saved in your private library. If you assign a query to the public library, you may be unable to change or delete it once the query has been saved if your site has chosen that restriction. Contact your CA Dataquery Administrator for more information.

DESCRIPTION
A description should tell the query's purpose and note anything that makes it unique. It cannot exceed 60 characters in length.

Completed Example

 =>  CREATION PANEL  --------------------------------------------------------------------------DQD10  DATAQUERY:  EDITOR            CURRENT TABLE:  ________________________________  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------  NAME:          USER-SAMPLE                       TYPE: QUERY   STATUS: PRIVATE  DESCRIPTION:   TOTAL ORDERS PER CUSTOMER -- AVERAGE PRICE     ....+....1....+....2....+....3....+....4....+....5....+....6....+....7....+.  .. ================================ T O P =====================================  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..     ===========================  B O T T O M  ==================================  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------  <PF1> HELP        <PF2>  RETURN     <PF3> DISPLAY COLUMNS <PF4> DISPLAY KEYS  <PF5> DISPLAY ALL <PF6>  LIST TABLES<PF7> BACKWARD        <PF8> FORWARD  <PF9> TEMPLATE    <PF10> VALIDATE   <PF11>RIGHT/LEFT      <PF12>PROCESS MODE

This chart explains each entry/selection and its reason.

Field/Item

Sample Entry

Reasons

CURRENT TABLE:

Blank

This is an optional entry.

NAME:

USER-SAMPLE

Identify the query.

TYPE:

QUERY

This is not a dialog or term.

STATUS:

PRIVATE

The query should not be shared at this point.

DESCRIPTION:

TOTAL ORDERS PER CUSTOMER -- AVERAGE PRICE

Describes the query's purpose.

To Go to the Next Step

Move the cursor to the first blank line (under the line marked TOP) on this panel.

Other Things You Could Do

If you know the name of the first table you are going to search, you can fill in the CURRENT TABLE field with the table name. The defaults for TYPE and STATUS stay the same since the query is not ready to be shared.

You can define a new query as a public query, but you may be unable to change or delete it once you save it if your query library has been partitioned. After you test a private query and are satisfied with the results, you can specify public in the TYPE field.

When you create a dialog, you can specify DIALOG for the type. However, you may want to create a query first and test it to see if it gives you the desired results before you begin the process of changing it to a dialog.