IDENTIFYING THE QUERY ENVIRONMENT

The three commands used to open data bases are DATA-BASE=, DEFINE, and MULTIDB. All of these commands prompt for various environment specifications with two greater than symbols (>>).

The DATA-BASE= or the DEFINE command is used to open the primary data base. You can use either command, but only one data base can be the primary data base at any time. You use the DATA-BASE= command to open the primary data base if you only want to open a data base. The DATA-BASE= command prompts for the password and access mode. You must specify a password (if the data base has security) and an access mode.

      >DATA-BASE=ORDERS
      PASSWORD = >>CLERK
      MODE = >>5
      >

You use the DEFINE command to open the primary data base if you want to define additional environment specifications. The DEFINE command prompts you for the password and access mode, as well as the data set list, procedure file, and output device. You may press RETURN in response to these additional prompts or you may supply information. If you do not supply information, you can define these specifications later by using the DATA-SETS=, PROC-ENTITY =, and OUTPUT= commands. The default output device is your terminal. You may define a different output device by responding to the OUTPUT=.

      >DEFINE
      DATA-BASE = >>ORDERS
      PASSWORD = >>CLERK
      MODE = >>1
      DATA-SETS = >>CUSTOMER
      PROC-ENTITY = >>MANPROC
      OUTPUT = TERM
      OUTPUT = >>RETURN
      >

After you have opened a primary data base using the DATA-BASE= or the DEFINE command, you can open additional data bases using the MULTIDB command. The MULTIDB command prompts for the password, access mode, and data set list. You can press RETURN at the DATA-SET prompt. You can open multiple data bases with one MULTIDB command. To terminate the command, press RETURN at the DATA-BASE= prompt.

      >MULTIDB
      DATA-BASE = >>CITY
      PASSWORD = >>OPEN
      MODE = >>3
      DATA-SETS = >>DISTRICT
      DATA-BASE = >>STATE
      PASSWORD = >>USE
      MODE = >>3
      DATA-SETS = >>COUNTY
      DATA-BASE = >>RETURN
      >

Both the DEFINE and MULTIFIND commands can also be used to display the current environment specifications. Each of the environment prompts can also be used as a command to change the specifications. For information on the function of each prompt, refer to the corresponding command.