Sometimes your input (commands, statements, or data) is too long to fit on the single input area line. When this happens, you can continue typing by using the continuation character, which is usually a hyphen. When the database manager is installed, the hyphen is the continuation character. The continuation character can be changed. For more information on the continuation character, see the SET command description in Chapter 10, ISQL Commands. This continuation character causes what you type to be redisplayed in the output area and frees the input area for more typing.
If a line ends in a complete word, leave a space after it, type the hyphen, and press ENTER. If you have to break a word at the end of a line, just type the hyphen without a space before it, and press ENTER.
DB2 Server for VSE |
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The continuation character lets ISQL know that you have not finished with the command, and it responds with continue command in the status area. |
DB2 Server for VM |
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The continuation character indicates that you are not finished with the command. The system displays VM READ in the status area. It also displays the following message in the output area: ARI7068I Your input is being continued. Type more input or press Enter. |
Type the additional input for the command. When you are finished typing, press ENTER. The entire command cannot exceed 2048 characters and the last line of the command must not end with a continuation character.
If the output area becomes full, you are prompted to clear it. Press CLEAR to clear both the input and output areas to allow the command in progress to continue. Incomplete portions of the command that were in the output area are stored in the SQL command buffer, but are not displayed. You do not have to repeat them. Everything in the input area is removed from the display when you press CLEAR.
You can also press PA2 (Field Mark) to clear the output area. This clears only the output area and leaves anything that you have typed in the input area intact.