X (Exclude)

The X (exclude) line command removes lines from the display.

Groups of excluded lines are represented on the display by a single line, which appears as follows:

Excluded Lines Message Example

The eliminated lines are replaced on the display with a single dashed line, which ends with the message: N RECORD(S) NOT DISPLAYED. n is the total number of lines excluded from display at that location in the data set.

Both data lines and information display lines can be withheld from display. When you specify a number of lines, File-AID counts both data lines and information display lines.

The X line command used without parameters excludes the specified line from the display.

EXCLUDE Line Command Syntax

X[n]
XX

n

Specifies the number of consecutive lines to be removed from the display. The range of lines to be removed from display begins with the line on which you enter Xn.

If there are less than the specified number of lines between the specified line and the end of the data set, all lines from the specified line through the end of the data set are removed from display. No error message is produced.

If you specify a line command within an exclude range, the error message: COMMAND CONFLICT is displayed.

XX

Specifies the first and last lines of a block to be removed from the display.

If you specify a line command within an exclude block, the error message: BLOCK COMMAND INCOMPLETE is displayed.

Guidelines

The X line command divides the data set into two subsets, which can be processed separately. The scope of the CHANGE, DELETE, EXCLUDE, FIND, and SORT primary commands can be confined to one or the other of these subsets by specifying the X or NX value.

The effect of the X line command is cumulative; lines affected by the X line command are eliminated from the display and added to the previously excluded subset. (Previously excluded lines remain excluded.)

You can use the following commands to redisplay excluded lines:

• CHANGE, FIND, and RESET primary commands
• F (first), L (last), and S (show) line commands

In a range of lines to be moved or copied, all excluded and nonexcluded lines are moved or copied in the same way. The excluded lines remain excluded at the new destination.

If you enter the X line command on the TOP OF DATA or BOTTOM OF DATA line, the error message: INVALID ON THIS LINE is displayed.

When records adjacent to a RECORDS NOT SELECTED information line are excluded, File-AID displays the n RECORDS NOT DISPLAYED, n RECORDS NOT SELECTED combined information line.

Multiple X line commands can be executed on different lines at the same time. You can also exclude lines with the EXCLUDE primary command.