Deriving Views › Defining Views › Step 5: Selecting Rows

Step 5: Selecting Rows

As part of the view definition, you can specify criteria to select rows from the source tables. Only the rows that meet the criteria specified will be included in the view.

Open Jobs Only

In the JOBS AND APPLICANTS view, you want to include only the positions that are open, so you want to select the rows in which the CURRENT STATUS (FILLED OR OPEN) column has a value of OPEN. To specify criteria for selecting these rows, select the Extended Selection Definition function ([PF3]) from the Column Definition screen.

Extended Selection Definition

The Extended Selection Definition (XSEL) screen is displayed. This screen looks exactly like the Data Selection screen you used in . Use of the two screens is exactly the same as well. The selection criteria you enter on this screen, however, become part of the table definition.

The column names of the view 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 when specifying selection criteria.

Define Selection Criteria

Define the selection criteria for the JOBS AND APPLICANTS view, as follows:

• Move the cursor to the Selection Criteria field next to the CURRENT STATUS (FILLED OR OPEN) column name.
• Type 'open' in single quotation marks.

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.

                                                      CA
  XSEL   CA - Automatic System Facility       *Extended Selection Definition*
  DC560603 ENTER SELECTION CRITERIA
  Table Name: JOBS AND APPLICANTS
               _ 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'
  0006 NAME
  0007 PHONE NUMBER
  0008 POSITION APPLIED FOR
  0009 SALARY REQUIREMENT
  0010 EVALUATION: STRONG,WEAK,MEDIUM
  0011 SALARY DIFFERENTIAL



                          Additional Selection Criteria

Enter Criteria

Press [Enter]. The message SELECTION UPDATED is displayed, indicating that the selection criteria have been accepted by ASF.

Note: If you make an error in entering the selection criteria, the erroneous items are highlighted and you are instructed to access the Message screen ([PF2]). The Message screen lists the syntax errors that need to be corrected.

Press [Clear] to return to the Column Definition screen.