2 Getting Started

Prewritten Procedures

Sometimes a sequence of commands is done repeatedly. This sequence of commands is called a procedure and can be put into a data file (with extension name .DATA) and then executed with a single command. Once the procedure is in a file you can access it at any time.

NOTE: The DATA file containing the QUERY commands might be a "special DATA file", i.e. a DATA file created with Eloquence and containing additional header information, or a plain HP-UX ascii file created, for example, by vi editor.

To execute the procedure, use your terminal's softkeys or type the following to execute Query's DO command:

DO "filename [ volume spec ]" RETURN

filename is the name of the file in which the procedure is stored, without the extension.

Query looks at the file on the volume specified and expects to find a procedure. For example, a procedure might consist of the following (the commands used are explained in the next section): 

   FIND OPTION FOR OPTION_PRICE>"100"
   SORT BY OPTION_DESC, ORDER_NO
   OUTPUT TO PRINTER
   TOTAL OPTION_PRICE
   LIST
Query will use the commands to find certain options, sort them, and list them on the printer, giving a total of OPTION_PRICE. While Query is busy, you will not be able to type commands.

Each command is displayed as it is processed (except the password command). The cursor reappears when Query has finished the procedure, allowing you to enter the next command.

Eloquence Query Manual - 19 DEC 2002