CONTENTS Title Page Copyright Page Preface 1 Introduction to DEC InstantSQL 1.1 What Is InstantSQL? 1.1.1 Features 1.1.2 Benefits 1.2 Beginning to Use InstantSQL 1.2.1 Accessing the Sample Database 1.2.2 Invoking InstantSQL 1.2.3 Creating and Opening a Database 1.2.4 Getting Help Information 1.2.5 A Note on Terminology 1.3 Performing Some Common InstantSQL Tasks 1.3.1 Task One: Prepare the Metaquery Window 1.3.2 Task Two: Display Employee Names and Addresses 1.3.3 Task Three: Display Managers Who Live Outside Connecticut 2 Using the Main Windows 2.1 Main Purpose of Each Window 2.2 Understanding Features of the Metaquery Window 2.2.1 Metaquery Window Analogy 2.2.2 The Two Types of Metaquery Information 2.2.3 Understanding the Features of a Table Box 2.2.4 Displaying Table, View, and Column Metadata 2.2.5 Understanding the Features of a Query Graphic 2.3 Working with Objects in the Metaquery Window 2.3.1 Motif Objects and Actions 2.3.2 Motif Selection of Objects 2.3.3 Working with Table Boxes 2.3.4 Minimizing and Restoring a Table Box 2.3.5 Moving Table Boxes and Querydata Objects 2.3.6 Raising a Table Box 2.3.7 Clearing Querydata and Table Boxes 2.3.8 Hiding or Showing a Table Box 2.4 Changing the Center of Focus in the Metaquery Window 2.4.1 Overview of the Navigation Window 2.4.2 Opening and Closing the Navigation Window 2.4.3 Moving the Navigation Scope 2.5 Understanding Features of the Data Window 2.6 Understanding Features of the SQL Window 2.7 Working with Main Windows 2.7.1 Using the Windows 2.7.2 Opening Databases and Saved Queries 2.7.3 One Database Per Session 2.7.4 Filing and Printing the Metaquery Window 2.7.5 Extracting Data from the Data Window 2.7.6 Extracting Text from the SQL Window 3 Creating SQL Queries 3.1 Working with Columns and Rows 3.1.1 Indicating Columns 3.1.2 Sequencing and Resequencing Columns 3.1.3 Indicating and Removing Sort Order 3.1.4 Using an Alias 3.1.5 Creating Unique Rows 3.1.6 Limiting the Number of Rows 3.2 Creating Simple Boolean Expressions 3.2.1 Creating a Predicate Box 3.2.2 Entering and Modifying Operands 3.2.3 Changing Predicate Operators 3.3 Creating Relational Joins 3.3.1 Joining Tables and Views 3.3.2 Indicating and Modifying the Type of Join 3.3.3 Creating Cartesian Products 3.4 Modifying Compound Boolean Expressions 3.4.1 Overview of the Boolean Window 3.4.2 Comparing the Logical Tree to a WHERE Clause 3.4.3 Opening and Closing the Boolean Window 3.4.4 Moving Objects in the Boolean Window 3.4.5 Editing Comparison Predicate Boxes 3.4.6 Modifying Boolean Operators 3.4.7 Creating New Boolean Operators 3.4.8 Moving Boolean Lines 3.4.9 Deleting Boolean Operators 3.5 Entering Valid Value Expressions 3.5.1 Valid Value Expressions 3.5.2 Guidelines for Using Character Strings 3.5.3 Handling Errors 3.6 Working with Calculated Columns 3.6.1 Creating and Modifying Calculated Columns 3.6.2 Examples of Calculated Columns 3.6.3 Comparing Calculated Columns and Regular Column Names 3.6.4 Using the GROUP BY Clause 3.6.5 Using the HAVING Clause 3.7 Using Subqueries 3.7.1 Creating a Subquery 3.7.2 Comparing a Subquery Box to a Table Box 3.7.3 Using a Subquery Window 3.7.4 Hints on Creating a Query with Subqueries 3.7.5 Using a Subquery 3.8 Working with Saved Queries 3.8.1 Saving Queries 3.8.2 Restoring Saved Queries 4 Generating SQL Modules 4.1 Understanding the Generate Module Dialog Box 4.2 Creating SQL Module and Interface Files 4.2.1 Creating Table Cursor Procedures 4.2.2 Creating Singleton Select Procedures 4.3 Concatenating SQL Module Sources 4.4 Specifying Input Parameters 5 Modifying Data, Metadata and Your Environment 5.1 Moving Around the Data Window 5.2 Modifying Data in the Data Window 5.2.1 Using the Keyboard to Move Around Cells 5.2.2 Updating Column Values 5.2.3 Inserting Rows 5.2.4 Deleting Rows 5.2.5 Inserting Blank and NULL Values 5.2.6 Avoiding and Handling Data Entry Errors 5.2.7 Restrictions on Reading and Modifying Data 5.3 Working with Metadata 5.3.1 Creating Domains 5.3.2 Displaying and Modifying Information About Domains 5.3.3 Creating Tables 5.3.4 Creating and Modifying Columns 5.3.5 Table and Column Domain Selection 5.3.6 Creating Views 5.3.7 Displaying Information About Tables, Columns, and Views 5.3.8 Deleting Metadata 5.4 Committing and Rolling Back Database Modifications 5.4.1 Committing Database Modifications 5.4.2 Rolling Back Database Modifications 5.5 Customizing Your InstantSQL Environment 5.5.1 Startup Customize Considerations 5.5.2 Customizing the Metaquery Window 5.5.3 Customizing the Data Window 5.5.4 Customizing the SQL Window 5.5.5 Advanced Customization of InstantSQL 6 Quick Reference Information 6.1 Summary of the SELECT Statement Components 6.2 Summary of Metaquery Window Pull-Down Menus 6.3 Summary of Metaquery Window Pop-Up Menus 6.4 Summary of Data Window Pull-Down Menus 6.5 Summary of SQL Window Pull-Down Menus 6.6 Summary of Metaquery Window Objects 6.7 Summary of Dynamic Actions 6.8 Summary of External Operations 6.9 Summary of Help Pull-Down Menu A Information on Help A.1 Using Help Mode A.2 Using Help in Dialog Boxes A.3 Getting Help on Error Messages A.4 Using the Help Information Window A.5 Improving Help Startup Time A.6 Related Information on Using Help A.7 Learning DECwindows Motif Basics B Related Documentation B.1 DECwindows Motif B.2 VAX Rdb/VMS B.3 Books on SQL Glossary alias . . . data window DECwindows Motif Help system . . . navigation button navigation window . . . saved query select . . . volatile data FIGURES 1-1 The Startup Window 1-2 Task One Preparation Window 2-1 How the InstantSQL Windows Interact 2-2 Features of a Table Box 2-3 Features of a Query Graphic 2-4 Features of the Navigation Window 2-5 Features of the Data Window 3-1 Features of the Boolean Window 4-1 The Default Generate SQL Module Dialog box TABLES 2-1 Interaction of the Main Windows 2-2 Description of a Table Box 2-3 Description of a Query Graphic 2-4 Description of the Navigation Window 2-5 Description of the Data Window 2-6 Summary of Main Window Interaction 3-1 Description of the Boolean Window 4-1 Description of the Generate SQL Module Dialog box