REPORT procedure

Syntax

   R[EPORT] [output control statements;] procedure name [,character]

For example:

   >REPORT REP4,J 

Where procedure name = REP4, character = J

   >R FINDTAX

Where procedure name = FINDTAX

Discussion

QUERY searches the current Proc-file and executes the REPORT command stored under the procedure name. The data entries used are those located by the previous retrieval command. If the procedure does not exist in the current Proc-file, or if the Proc-file has not been declared, QUERY prints an error message.

Before the procedure is executed, QUERY checks it for proper syntax. If any statement (except the first one) is incorrect, QUERY issues an error message and prompts you with >>. At this point, you can enter one or more statements to replace the statement causing the error. The statements must be on one line and separated by semicolons. If any of these substitute statements is in error, QUERY issues another error message and prompts you again. Once satisfactory statements have been entered, QUERY executes the procedure using the newly entered statements in place of the statements in error. If the first report statement is in error, the REPORT command terminates.

The corrected statements are not permanent. Once the procedure has executed, the entered statements are lost. The procedure remains unchanged in the Proc-file. To permanently change the procedure, you must use the ALTER command.

Figure 6-1 “REPORT Procedure Named SHIPMNTS”, for example, shows a REPORT procedure named SHIPMNTS. The third line contains a sort statement with a comma missing.

Figure 6-1 REPORT Procedure Named SHIPMNTS

PROCEDURE: REP4 001 REPORT 002 H1,"MONTHLY SHIPMENTS",25,SPACE A2 003 S1 STOCK,STOCK# 004 G1,STOCK#,15 005 D1,LASTSHIPDATE,25 006 END

When the procedure is executed. QUERY prints the offending sort statement and prompts for a correction. Once you enter a correct statement or series of statements, execution of the procedure continues. For example you might respond with:

   >REPORT REP4
   003  S1 STOCK#
   EXPECTED A ","
   >>S1,STOCK#;S,LASTSHIPDATE

Not only has the sort statement been temporarily fixed, but another sort statement has been added as well. Once the procedure has executed, the corrections and additions are lost.

When using REPORT procedures, you can leave out END. When the procedure is executed, QUERY will prompt you for the missing END. You can then enter special sort or output control statements to vary the report and its output parameters. The added statements are lost once the procedure is executed.