Introduction › What This Manual Is About

What This Manual Is About

This manual serves two purposes:

1. Shows you how to use the Advantage CA OLQ menu facility to report on information stored in an Advantage CA IDMS/DB database
2. Introduces you to the OLQ SELECT statement

This manual is for an Advantage CA IDMS/DB user who wants to:

• Learn how to use the OLQ menu facility
• Learn about the power and features of the OLQ SELECT statement
• Refresh your knowledge about the OLQ SELECT statement by referring to examples of its features

Information is presented as follows:

• An introduction describes CA OLQ and how it is used.
• A preliminary chapter introduces global CA OLQ functions.
• Step-by-step tutorials show you how to create and format different kinds of reports.

  Each tutorial defines key terms for that topic at the beginning of the discussion.

• Step-by-step tutorials show you how to save and print your reports.
• Each tutorial defines key terms for that topic at the beginning of the discussion.
• Descriptions of each feature of the OLQ SELECT statement.
• Coding steps needed to implement each feature.
• One or more examples containing a sample OLQ SELECT statement and the first screen of the CA OLQ displayed report.

  These examples are designed to:

  • Highlight each feature of the OLQ SELECT statement
  • Build on knowledge gained in preceding examples

  Note: The examples of the OLQ SELECT statement are only valid when the access switch is set to olq.

• Exercises and answers which test your knowledge of the OLQ SELECT feature discussed in each chapter.
• Sample tables and database that most of the examples use. (Some examples use database records defined in the Employee database that your site receives at installation.)
• A glossary defines important terms.

The following information provides a guideline on how to proceed through the manual.

1. Begin with the Introduction. This discussion describes CA OLQ and how it is used.
2. Read the chapter "General Information". This chapter explains how to sign on to CA OLQ; how to use the menu facility screens; and how to use the help system.
3. Look up the type of report that you want to make. Each chapter teaches you how to create a different kind of report. You can proceed sequentially through the topics or skip to the chapter that describes the report you need.

Note: If you aren't familiar with a term, see the glossary (at the end of this manual) for a definition.

If this is your first encounter with the OLQ SELECT statement, begin with the chapter “Introducing the OLQ SELECT statement”, which introduces the OLQ SELECT statement and its clauses. You'll gain even more knowledge by creating some sample tables of your own and submitting OLQ SELECT statements to CA OLQ as you advance through each chapter.

Users familiar with CA OLQ: If you have already used the OLQ SELECT statement use this manual as a refresher. Find the feature you need by using the index.

Users new to CA OLQ command mode: If you are an CA OLQ user who usually uses the menu facility, see the section “Some Tips On Using CA OLQ for some tips on submitting statements to CA OLQ in command mode.

Testing your knowledge: Chapters 15 through 19 each end with self-testing questions. By writing the OLQ SELECT statement to form the query, you can test your understanding of ideas presented in the chapter.

Queries are based on the sample tables and database in the appendix "Sample Tables and Database". Answers are in the appendix "Answers".