Previous Topic: FIND Browse CommandNext Topic: Syntax Rules


Syntax

FIND parameter-string col-delimiter indicator limit-parameter

Where:

parameter-string represents one of the parameters described in the following table.

Asterisk (*)

Searches for the same string used when you last issued the FIND command.

Example: FIND *

Note: FIND * is functionally equivalent to the RFIND command described later.

Quoted string

Searches for a string that includes special characters or blanks.

Enclose the text string for which you want to search in either single or double quotation marks.

Example: FIND "go to"

The example, FIND '*', finds an asterisk.

Hexadecimal string

Searches for a string of hexadecimal characters enclosed in single or double quotation marks.

Example: FIND X'00'

You must specify only hexadecimal characters (0–9 and A–F), and you must specify an even number of characters.

You can specify the hexadecimal identifier X before or after the hexadecimal string of characters (enclosed in quotation marks).

Example: FIND "FFFF"X

Picture string

Searches for a character or string that is represented by one or more of the following placeholders:

= equal sign–any single character

@ at sign--alphabetic characters

# pound sign--numeric characters

$ dollar sign--special characters

¬ logical not--non-blank characters

. period--invalid display characters

- minus sign--non-numeric characters

< less than--lowercase alphabetic characters

> greater than--uppercase alphabetic characters

You can specify the picture string identifier P before or after the picture string of characters (enclosed in quotation marks).

Examples:

FIND P'.'

Finds any invalid display character

FIND P'###'

Finds 123 as well as other 3-digit numbers, but not A23

FIND '@1'P

Finds A1, B1, but not A2, B3, and so on

Text string

Represents a text string that is not case-sensitive.

You can specify the text string identifier T before or after the text string of characters (enclosed in quotation marks).

Example:

FIND T'Total'

Finds the text strings TOTAL, Total, and total, as well as TOTALS, Totals, and totals

You can omit the text string identifier T as shown in the example. This version of the FIND command works the same as the simple FIND command. (FIND T'This' and FIND This are functionally the same).

This version of FIND performs a case less search, that is, it ignores differences in case, treating 'This', 'THIS', and 'this' the same.

Character string

A case-sensitive text string.

You can specify the text string identifier C before or after the text string of characters (enclosed in quotation marks).

This version of FIND performs a case--sensitive search, that is, it recognizes differences in case, treating 'This', 'THIS', and 'this' as three different text strings.

Example:

FIND C'Total'

Finds only the text strings Total and Totals, but not TOTAL, total, TOTALS, totals

Where

col-delimiter (in the preceding syntax) represents a single column or a set of optional columns to search for a text string. The following results are achieved depending on how you specify column numbers.

Do not specify column numbers

Searches every complete record in the member

Example:

FIND DATE

Finds all instances of 'DATE' in all records

Specify a single column number

Searches only that single column in the member

Example:

FIND P'=@1' 1

Finds labels .A1, .B1, .C1, and so on, in the first column of every record

Specify a couple of column numbers, separated by a space

Searches only those columns in the member between those you specified (inclusive)

Example:

FIND '.'P 73 80

Finds invalid characters only in columns 73–80

Where

indicator (in the preceding syntax) represents an optional navigation and restriction parameter. The parameter allows you to specify the direction to search or restrict the number of instances you want to find, as summarized in the following table.

NEXT

Finds the next instance of the text string you specify, either from the current cursor position (if the cursor is shown in the contents of a member) or from the top of the member (if the cursor is not shown in the contents of a member).

Example: FIND A365 NEXT

You do not need to specify NEXT, as text is searched in this direction by default.

PREV

Finds the previous instance of the text string you specify, either from the current cursor position (if the cursor is shown in the contents of a member) or from the top of the member (if the cursor is not shown in the contents of a member).

Example: FIND 2365 PREV

FIRST

Finds the first instance of the text string you specify, from the first record in a member until the text string is found, or until the last record in the member is reached.

Example:

FIND P'.' 73 80 FIRST

Finds the first instance of an invalid display character between columns 73 and 80

LAST

Finds the last instance of the text string you specify, from the last record in a member until the text string is found, or until the first record in the member is reached.

Example:

FIND '.'P LAST

Finds the last instance of an invalid display character anywhere

ALL

Finds all instances of the text string you specify, from the first record in a member until all text strings are found, or until the last record is reached.

Example:

FIND '.'P ALL

Finds all instances of an invalid display character in all columns

If more than one instance of the text string you specify is found, the total number is displayed, the first text string found is highlighted, and the cursor is placed on its first character.

Where:

limit-parameter represents an optional parameter that allows you to restrict a search to only specific characters at the beginning or end of a word, any characters within a word, or only a complete word, as summarized in the following table.

CHARS

Searches for any instance of a text string within a word

Example:

FIND DO CHARS

Finds DO, DON'T ADO, ADOPT, 'DO', (DON'T), and ADO

PREFIX

Searches for specific instances of a text string at the beginning of a word only.

Example:

FIND DO PREFIX

Finds only DO, DON'T, 'DO', and (DON'T), but not ADO, ADOPT, and ADO

SUFFIX

Searches for specific instances of a text string at the end of a word only.

Example:

FIND DO SUFFIX

Finds only ADO, 'DO', and ADO-, but not DO, DON'T, ADOPT, and (DON'T)

WORD

Searches for a complete word only.

Example:

FIND DO WORD

Finds only DO and 'DO', but not DON'T, ADO, ADOPT, (DON'T), and ADO-

More information:

RFIND Browse Command