The table editor

The Table Editor provides a convenient method of adding or changing rows in tables. Without writing a query, you can make changes to columns you are authorized to update.

You can add rows to a table, delete rows from a table, or search for and change existing rows in a table.

To access the Table Editor, depending on whether you want to change existing rows or add rows to your table, enter:

EDIT tablename (MODE=CHANGE

or

EDIT tablename (MODE=ADD

Use function keys to enter Table Editor commands. A different set of function keys is displayed depending on whether you are in ADD or CHANGE mode. Additionally, in those modes, when you edit columnar data having a type of VARCHAR, VARGRAPHIC, or LONG VARGRAPHIC, Table Editor automatically strips trailing blanks.

When performing a search, you must ensure that the length of your search string equals the column length, or the database will not find a match. If the length of your data is shorter than the column length, you must pad the search string with wildcards to equal the column length. You can use the underscore (_) wildcard to represent one character, or the percent sign (%) wildcard to represent multiple characters. For example:

• FLD1 is defined as a 5 character field.
• Its value is AB_D, which is 4 characters long and contains the reserved wildcard character "_".
• When doing a search, enter a value that represents all 5 character positions; for example AB_D_, AB_D%, AB_% or AB%. If you enter the actual four character value AB_D, QMF generates:

  SELECT FLD1 FROM tablename WHERE FLD1 LIKE 'AB_D'

  The database will not find the match in this case, since FLD1 is a 5 character field. To find the match, you must enter AB_D_ or one of the forms listed previously. For example, with AB_D_, QMF generates:

  SELECT FLD1 FROM tablename WHERE FLD1 LIKE 'AB_D_'

  and with AB%, QMF generates:

  SELECT FLD1 FROM tablename WHERE FLD1 LIKE 'AB%'

  The database finds the correct row in either case, because the wildcards account for all five character positions required by the database for FLD1.

When you press a function key, a different set of labels appears. For example, you can press a function key labeled SEARCH while in CHANGE mode to look for the rows you want to change. SEARCH displays another set of function keys.

Table 20, following, lists function keys that are displayed on the various panels of the modes indicated.

In SHOW FIELD, the Enter key closes the panel and saves the information; the Cancel function closes the panel without saving the information.

You can specify either that you want your changes saved every time you press Enter or not until you are finished with all your changes.

You can specify whether you want a chance to change your mind by having a confirmation panel displayed if the change you make could cause unexpected results.

See Using QMF for details about how to use the Table Editor. Online help is also available in the Table Editor.