Defining formatted field selection criteria to browse data file

You can selectively choose records for processing by defining one or more conditions that a record must meet in order to be selected. With formatted selection criteria, you can select records based on the value of a specified field within the record layout. To search for a specific field value, you must define a test condition for that field. The test condition consists of the field name, a relational operator (RO), and the value for which you want to test.

The relational operator is entered under the RO column on the screen and can be specified in a letter or symbolic format (for example, "equal to" can be specified as EQ or =). The field value is entered to the right of the relational operator. Numeric field data is always entered as a decimal value (digits 0-9) with a decimal point if needed.

Steps:

1. Type EQ in the RO column next to the field name EMP-MARITAL-STATUS.
2. Type an S in the data area (to the right of the EQ you just typed) to define the test "MARITAL-STATUS EQUAL TO S".
3. Type DOWN in the COMMAND field and press Enter (or use PF8) to view more layout fields. File-AID scrolls the Formatted Selection Criteria screen down one full page as shown in Formatted Selection Criteria - Compound AND Condition.

Specifying a Formatted Selection Criteria Test Condition

More about selection criteria

• Other relational operators (RO) supported include:

  NE	Not equal
  LE	Less than or equal
  LT	Less than
  GT	Greater than
  GE	Greater than or equal
  EQ	Equal
  CO	Contains
  NC	Not contains
  BT	Between (specify value1:value2 - endpoints inclusive)
  NB	Not between (specify value1:value2 - endpoints exclusive)
  VA	Valid character, text, numeric, or packed data based on the specified data type. VA operator will treat character and text as numeric.
  NV	Not valid character, text, numeric, or packed data based on the specified data type. NV operator will treat character and text as numeric.
  NO	Bits are not ones (Mask data value only)
  MX	Bits are mixed, ones and zeros (Mask data value only)
  VU	Valid unsigned display numeric data based on the specified data type where the last digit must not contain a sign. VU operator will treat character and text as numeric. VU cannot be used on packed data.
  NU	Not valid unsigned display numeric data based on the specified data type where the last digit must not contain a sign. NU operator will treat character and text as numeric. NU cannot be used on packed data.

• To specify a search argument that contains case-sensitive data, you must enter the CAPS OFF primary command.
• Multiple values can be tested in non-numeric fields using the CO and EQ operators by separating the values with commas. For example: EQ ABC,DEF,GHI

• You can use the REPEAT or INSERT command to add a new selection criteria set. Sets are ORed together and only one of the test sets must be true. If a record fails to match CRITERIA NUMBER 1 in an ORed condition, File-AID tests the record to see if CRITERIA NUMBER 2 matches. Adding the parameter AND to the REPEAT or INSERT command creates an ANDed subset to the current criteria set: A record must match the criteria in subset 1.1 AND 1.2 to be selected. As soon as a record matches any set, File-AID selects it. If a record fails to match any formatted set, it is checked against each unformatted set. If the record fails all tests, it is not selected.