Creating and Using Stored Tables › Using a Data Table › Step 5: Selecting Data

Step 5: Selecting Data

The Activity Selection screen is displayed. Select the Select Data function ([PF5]) from the activity selection menu.

The Data Selection Screen

The Data Selection screen appears. This screen enables you to specify selection criteria. ASF will display only the rows that match the criteria you specify.

Columns Have ID Numbers

The column names of the table are listed below the Column Name field heading. Each column has been assigned an identification number, which is listed below the ID field heading to the left of the Column Name field. You can use the ID numbers in place of column names when specifying selection criteria.

In this example, you want to select the rows from the JOB table that have a current status of OPEN.

Select Open Jobs

The cursor is at the first position under the Selection Criteria heading. Press [Return] to move the cursor to the CURRENT STATUS column name. Type 'open', enclosed in single quotation marks, in this field.

EQ is the Default Selector

You do not need to include the conditional operator EQ in the selection criteria because it is assumed by ASF. You can also select rows on other conditions, such as less than (LT), greater than (GT), or not equal (NE). When using other conditions, you must specify the conditional operator. For example, you can enter ne 'open' to select the rows where the CURRENT STATUS column entry is not equal to OPEN.

ASF Saves the Criteria

You have just specified that you want to display the rows of the JOB table in which the CURRENT STATUS column entry is OPEN. Press [Enter].

ASF saves the selection criteria you have entered and displays the message SELECTION MODIFIED, HIT ENTER TO PROCEED TO DATA SELECTION. Press [Enter] again.

ASF Displays Open Jobs

The Data Display screen is displayed automatically. This screen displays the columns of the JOB table and the first row that matches the selection criteria you specified. Notice that the Current Status field has a value of OPEN.

Note: If you make an error when entering the selection criteria, you remain on the Data Selection screen. The field names to which the erroneous selection criteria apply are highlighted. The message display line instructs you to access the Message screen, which lists all the error conditions.

                                            CA
  DSEL   CA - Automatic System Facility            ** Data Selection **
  DC560603 ENTER SELECTION CRITERIA
  Table Name: JOB
               _ PF1 - Help      _ PF2 - Message Screen          Page:  1  of  1

   ID           Column Name                      Selection Criteria
  0001 JOB NUMBER
  0002 DEPARTMENT
  0003 TITLE
  0004 SALARY
  0005 CURRENT STATUS (FILLED OR OPEN)  'open'









                          Additional Selection Criteria

                                            CA
  DSEL   CA - Automatic System Facility            ** Data Selection **
  DC560604 SELECTION MODIFIED, HIT ENTER TO PROCEED TO DATA SELECTION
  Table Name: JOB
               _ PF1 - Help      _ PF2 - Message Screen          Page:  1  of  1

   ID           Column Name                      Selection Criteria
  0001 JOB NUMBER
  0002 DEPARTMENT
  0003 TITLE
  0004 SALARY
  0005 CURRENT STATUS (FILLED OR OPEN)  'OPEN'









                          Additional Selection Criteria

                                               CA
 PF1 = ADD; PF2 = CHANGE; PF3 = DELETE; ENTER = NEXT; CLEAR = EXIT
  JOB

  JOB NUMBER                       B359

  DEPARTMENT                       BILLING

  TITLE                            BILLING CLERK

  SALARY                            10000.00

  CURRENT STATUS (FILLED OR OPEN)  OPEN

Press [Enter] to display the next selected row. Continue to press [Enter] until all the rows you selected have been displayed.

After using Data

Press [Clear] to return to the Data Selection screen. Press [Clear] again to return to the Activity Selection screen.