DB2 Server for VSE & VM: Interactive SQL Guide and Reference


Using Query Results

When you have the query result on your display, you can look at it, and perhaps print it. You can manipulate query results shown on your display by using ISQL display commands. The following sections show how to look at the entire query results when it does not all fit on your display, and how to direct the query result to a printer.

Displaying Query Results

When your query results are larger than a single display, you must know the display commands with which you can view different portions of the query result. The following examples show how to use the other display commands to query longer and wider tables.

Type the following query and press ENTER:

   select * -
   from proj_act -
   where projno <> 'AD3111' -
   order by actno,acendate

This query selects all the rows that contain project numbers other than AD3111 in the column named PROJNO from the PROJ_ACT table. It produces a result similar to the display in Figure 11.

Figure 11. Example of a Long Query Result

+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| PROJNO   ACTNO  ACSTAFF  ACSTDATE    ACENDATE                                  |
| ------  ------  -------  ----------  ----------                                |
| AD3100      10     0.50  1982-01-01  1982-07-01                                |
| MA2100      10     0.50  1982-01-01  1982-11-01                                |
| IF2000      10     0.50  1982-01-01  1983-01-01                                |
| IF1000      10     0.50  1982-06-01  1983-01-01                                |
| IF1000      10     0.50  1982-01-01  1983-01-01                                |
| AD3110      10     1.00  1982-01-01  1983-01-01                                |
| OP1000      10     0.25  1982-01-01  1983-02-01                                |
| OP1010      10     1.00  1982-01-01  1983-02-01                                |
| OP2010      10     1.00  1982-01-01  1983-02-01                                |
| MA2110      10     1.00  1982-01-01  1983-02-01                                |
| MA2100      20     1.00  1982-01-01  1982-03-01                                |
| PL2100      30     1.00  1982-02-01  1982-09-01                                |
| PL2100      30     1.00  1982-01-01  1982-09-15                                |
| MA2111      40     1.00  1982-01-01  1983-02-01                                |
| MA2111      50     1.00  1982-01-01  1982-06-01                                |
| OP2000      50     0.75  1982-01-01  1983-02-01                                |
| AD3112      60     0.75  1982-01-01  1982-03-15                                |
| AD3112      60     0.50  1982-02-01  1982-03-15                                |
| MA2112      60     2.00  1982-01-01  1982-07-01                                |
| AD3113      60     1.00  1982-04-01  1982-09-01                                |
| MA2113      60     1.00  1982-02-15  1982-09-01                                |
| AD3113      60     0.75  1982-03-01  1982-10-15                                |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

This query result is used in the following topics. Do not end it yet.

Results That Have Too Many Rows for One Display

The query results that you are retrieving are longer than can be shown on one display. To see the remaining portions of the query result, you must know how to scroll forward through it. Usually, the command to scroll forward 20 rows is FORWARD 20.

Instead of entering FORWARD 20, take advantage of the special function of the ENTER key on query results. While viewing a query result, pressing ENTER without having a command in the input area repeats the previous display command. If there was no previous display command entered, the length of the display is scrolled forward. If the previous command is BACKWARD MAX and the display starts from the beginning of the table, press ENTER to scroll forward the length of the display.

Press ENTER. On a 24 X 80 terminal you see a result similar to the display in Figure 12.

Figure 12. Display 20 Rows Forward by Pressing ENTER

+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| PROJNO   ACTNO  ACSTAFF  ACSTDATE    ACENDATE                                  |
| ------  ------  -------  ----------  ----------                                |
| AD3112      70     0.50  1982-02-01  1982-03-15                                |
| AD3113      70     0.50  1982-06-15  1982-07-01                                |
| AD3112      70     1.00  1982-03-15  1982-08-15                                |
| MA2112      70     1.00  1982-02-01  1982-10-01                                |
| AD3112      70     0.75  1982-01-01  1982-10-15                                |
| AD3112      70     0.25  1982-08-15  1982-10-15                                |
| AD3113      70     0.75  1982-09-01  1982-10-15                                |
| AD3113      70     1.25  1982-06-01  1982-12-15                                |
| MA2112      70     1.50  1982-02-15  1983-02-01                                |
| AD3113      70     1.00  1982-07-01  1983-02-01                                |
| AD3113      70     1.00  1982-10-15  1983-02-01                                |
| MA2112      70     1.00  1982-06-01  1983-02-01                                |
| MA2113      70     2.00  1982-04-01  1983-12-15                                |
| AD3113      80     1.75  1982-01-01  1982-04-15                                |
| AD3113      80     0.50  1982-03-01  1982-04-15                                |
| AD3112      80     0.50  1982-10-15  1982-12-01                                |
| AD3112      80     0.35  1982-08-15  1982-12-01                                |
| MA2113      80     0.50  1982-10-01  1983-02-01                                |
| MA2113      80     1.50  1982-09-01  1983-02-01                                |
| MA2113      80     1.00  1982-01-01  1983-02-01                                |
| MA2112      80     1.00  1982-10-01  1983-10-01                                |
| IF1000      90     0.50  1982-10-01  1983-01-01                                |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

To scroll through the query result a half display at a time, you can either enter FORWARD or press PF8.

Press PF8.

The rows on the display scroll half the display. The middle row of the previous display is now the first row of the new display.

Now, to move forward to the remaining rows, enter:

   forward max

This results in a display similar to Figure 13.

Figure 13. Display after Moving to the End of the Query Result

+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| PROJNO   ACTNO  ACSTAFF  ACSTDATE    ACENDATE                                  |
| ------  ------  -------  ----------  ----------                                |
| IF1000      90     0.50  1982-10-01  1983-01-01                                |
| IF1000      90     1.00  1982-01-01  1983-01-01                                |
| IF2000     100     0.50  1982-03-01  1982-07-01                                |
| IF2000     100     0.75  1982-01-01  1982-07-01                                |
| IF1000     100     0.50  1982-10-01  1983-01-01                                |
| IF2000     110     0.50  1982-03-01  1982-07-01                                |
| IF2000     110     0.50  1982-10-01  1983-01-01                                |
| OP1010     130     4.00  1982-01-01  1983-02-01                                |
| OP2012     140     0.25  1982-01-01  1983-02-01                                |
| OP2011     140     0.75  1982-01-01  1983-02-01                                |
| OP2013     140     0.50  1982-01-01  1983-02-01                                |
| OP2011     150     0.25  1982-01-01  1983-02-01                                |
| OP2012     160     0.75  1982-01-01  1983-02-01                                |
| OP2013     170     0.50  1982-01-01  1983-02-01                                |
| AD3113     180     1.00  1982-04-15  1982-06-01                                |
| AD3113     180     0.50  1982-06-01  1982-07-01                                |
| AD3113     180     0.75  1982-03-01  1982-07-01                                |
| AD3112     180     0.50  1982-08-15  1983-01-01                                |
| MA2113     180     0.50  1982-10-01  1983-01-01                                |
| MA2112     180     1.00  1982-07-01  1983-02-01                                |
| MA2112     180     1.00  1982-07-15  1983-02-01                                |
| * End of Result *** 70 Rows Displayed ***Cost Estimate is 1******************* |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

To move back through the query result, use a BACKWARD command. Also, you can use PF7 to move your view of the result backward one-half display. Moving back through the query result is limited; you can move back only to a limit of one full display from the last FORWARD command. If you want to go farther back, you must return directly to the beginning of the query result.

For example, to view the previous 15 rows, enter:

   backward 15

This command presents the display in Figure 14.

Figure 14. Results When You Try to Exceed the Limit of a Full Display

+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| PROJNO   ACTNO  ACSTAFF  ACSTDATE    ACENDATE                                  |
| ------  ------  -------  ----------  ----------                                |
| AD3112      70     0.50  1982-02-01  1982-03-15                                |
| AD3113      70     0.50  1982-06-15  1982-07-01                                |
| AD3112      70     1.00  1982-03-15  1982-08-15                                |
| MA2112      70     1.00  1982-02-01  1982-10-01                                |
| AD3112      70     0.75  1982-01-01  1982-10-15                                |
| AD3112      70     0.25  1982-08-15  1982-10-15                                |
| AD3113      70     0.75  1982-09-01  1982-10-15                                |
| AD3113      70     1.25  1982-06-01  1982-12-15                                |
| MA2112      70     1.50  1982-02-15  1983-02-01                                |
| AD3113      70     1.00  1982-07-01  1983-02-01                                |
| AD3113      70     1.00  1982-10-15  1983-02-01                                |
| MA2112      70     1.00  1982-06-01  1983-02-01                                |
| MA2113      70     2.00  1982-04-01  1983-12-15                                |
| AD3113      80     1.75  1982-01-01  1982-04-15                                |
| AD3113      80     0.50  1982-03-01  1982-04-15                                |
| AD3112      80     0.50  1982-10-15  1982-12-01                                |
| AD3112      80     0.35  1982-08-15  1982-12-01                                |
| MA2113      80     0.50  1982-10-01  1983-02-01                                |
| MA2113      80     1.50  1982-09-01  1983-02-01                                |
| MA2113      80     1.00  1982-01-01  1983-02-01                                |
| MA2112      80     1.00  1982-10-01  1983-10-01                                |
| IF1000      90     0.50  1982-10-01  1983-01-01                                |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

The view is moved back to the limit of one full display. Enter the following command to return to the first rows of the query result:

   backward max

Now that you are finished with this query result, end it.

Results That Are Too Wide for One Display

To learn about viewing results that are too wide for a single display, it is necessary to use a sample table of greater width than the PROJ_ACT table. For the next several examples, the EMPLOYEE table is used.

Enter the following query:

   select * -
   from employee

The resulting query on an 80-character display is similar to Figure 15.

Figure 15. Results of Query That is Too Wide for Display

+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| EMPNO   FIRSTNME     MIDINIT  LASTNAME         WORKDEPT  PHONENO  HIREDATE     |
| -----   ------------ -------  ---------------  --------  -------  ----------   |
| 000010  CHRISTINE    I        HAAS             A00       3978     1991-05-27   |
| 000110  VINCENZO     G        LUCCHESI         A00       3490     1958-05-16   |
| 000120  SEAN                  O'CONNELL        A00       2167     1963-12-05   |
| 000020  MICHAEL      L        THOMPSON         B01       3476     1973-10-10   |
| 000030  SALLY        A        KWAN             C01       4738     1975-04-05   |
| 000130  DOLORES      M        QUINTANA         C01       4578     1971-07-28   |
| 000140  HEATHER      A        NICHOLLS         C01       1793     1976-12-15   |
| 000060  IRVING       F        STERN            D11       6423     1973-09-14   |
| 000150  BRUCE                 ADAMSON          D11       4510     1972-02-12   |
| 000160  ELIZABETH    R        PIANKA           D11       3782     1977-10-11   |
| 000170  MASATOSHI    J        YOSHIMURA        D11       2890     1978-09-15   |
| 000180  MARILYN      S        SCOUTTEN         D11       1682     1973-07-07   |
| 000190  JAMES        H        WALKER           D11       2986     1974-07-26   |
| 000200  DAVID                 BROWN            D11       4501     1966-03-03   |
| 000210  WILLIAM      T        JONES            D11       0942     1979-04-11   |
| 000220  JENNIFER     K        LUTZ             D11       0672     1968-08-29   |
| 000070  EVA          D        PULASKI          D21       7831     1980-09-30   |
| 000230  JAMES        J        JEFFERSON        D21       2094     1966-11-21   |
| 000240  SALVATORE    M        MARINO           D21       3780     1979-12-05   |
| 000250  DANIEL       S        SMITH            D21       0961     1969-10-30   |
| 000260  SYBIL        P        JOHNSON          D21       8953     1975-09-11   |
| 000270  MARIA        L        PEREZ            D21       9001     1980-09-30   |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

There is no visual indication that this query result is too wide for the display; however, because the columns extend to the far right side of the display, there is a possibility that additional columns of data may be beyond the last column. To search for any additional columns that may exist, enter the following display command:

   right 7

This moves your view of the query seven columns to the right, resulting in Figure 16.

Figure 16. Display of Query Moved Seven Columns to the Right

+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| JOB      EDLEVEL  SEX  BIRTHDATE        SALARY        BONUS         COMM       |
| -------- -------  ---  ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------       |
| PRES          18  F    1933-08-01     52750.00      1000.00      4220.00       |
| SALESREP      19  M    1929-11-05     46500.00       800.00      3720.00       |
| CLERK         14  M    1942-10-18     29250.00       600.00      2340.00       |
| MANAGER       18  M    1948-02-02     41250.00       800.00      3300.00       |
| MANAGER       20  F    1941-05-11     38250.00       800.00      3060.00       |
| ANALYST       16  F    1925-09-15     23800.00       800.00      1904.00       |
| ANALYST       18  F    1946-01-19     28420.00       800.00      2274.00       |
| MANAGER       16  M    1945-07-07     32250.00       600.00      2580.00       |
| DESIGNER      16  M    1947-05-17     25280.00       500.00      2022.00       |
| DESIGNER      17  F    1955-04-12     22250.00       400.00      1780.00       |
| DESIGNER      16  M    1951-01-05     24680.00       500.00      1974.00       |
| DESIGNER      17  F    1949-02-21     21340.00       500.00      1707.00       |
| DESIGNER      16  M    1952-06-25     20450.00       400.00      1636.00       |
| DESIGNER      16  M    1941-05-29     27740.00       600.00      2217.00       |
| DESIGNER      17  M    1953-02-23     18270.00       400.00      1462.00       |
| DESIGNER      18  F    1948-03-19     29840.00       600.00      2387.00       |
| MANAGER       16  F    1953-05-26     36170.00       700.00      2893.00       |
| CLERK         14  M    1935-05-30     22180.00       400.00      1774.00       |
| CLERK         17  M    1954-03-31     28760.00       600.00      2301.00       |
| CLERK         15  M    1939-11-12     19180.00       400.00      1534.00       |
| CLERK         16  F    1936-10-05      1725.00       300.00      1380.00       |
| CLERK         15  F    1953-05-26     27380.00       500.00      2190.00       |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Now you can see that there are an additional seven columns, but it is still not clear that you have reached the last column of the table. Enter the following command to move your view two more columns to the right:

   right 2

You should now see the display in Figure 17.

Figure 17. Display of Query Moved Two More Columns to the Right

+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| SEX  BIRTHDATE        SALARY        BONUS         COMM                         |
| ---  ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------                         |
| F    1933-08-01     52750.00      1000.00      4220.00                         |
| M    1929-11-05     46500.00       800.00      3720.00                         |
| M    1942-10-18     29250.00       600.00      2340.00                         |
| M    1948-02-02     41250.00       800.00      3300.00                         |
| F    1941-05-11     38250.00       800.00      3060.00                         |
| F    1925-09-15     23800.00       800.00      1904.00                         |
| F    1946-01-19     28420.00       800.00      2274.00                         |
| M    1945-07-07     32250.00       600.00      2580.00                         |
| M    1947-05-17     25280.00       500.00      2022.00                         |
| F    1955-04-12     22250.00       400.00      1780.00                         |
| M    1951-01-05     24680.00       500.00      1974.00                         |
| F    1949-02-21     21340.00       500.00      1707.00                         |
| M    1952-06-25     20450.00       400.00      1636.00                         |
| M    1941-05-29     27740.00       600.00      2217.00                         |
| M    1953-02-23     18270.00       400.00      1462.00                         |
| F    1948-03-19     29840.00       600.00      2387.00                         |
| F    1953-05-26     36170.00       700.00      2893.00                         |
| M    1935-05-30     22180.00       400.00      1774.00                         |
| M    1954-03-31     28760.00       600.00      2301.00                         |
| M    1939-11-12     19180.00       400.00      1534.00                         |
| F    1936-10-05      1725.00       300.00      1380.00                         |
| F    1953-05-26     27380.00       500.00      2190.00                         |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Now apparently COMM is the final column in the table, because no other columns appear to the right of it in the query result. If you only want to move your view of the table one column to the right, you can omit the number and just type right. You can also move your view one column to the right by pressing PF11.

To move your view to the left, type:

   left

This command works in the same manner as RIGHT. Again, you can move your view one column to the left by pressing PF10.

Now move your view all the way back to the first column by using the following command:

   column 1

The COLUMN command aligns the column you specify with the left edge of the display. The number refers to the column's position in the query result. If you do not specify a number with the COLUMN command, column 1 is placed at the left edge of the display.

A column of characters that is wider than the display width requires another display command, TAB, to let you see the entire length attribute of a column. The TAB command is described in Chapter 10, ISQL Commands.


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