Yes sure there may be other ways to do the specific example I mentioned, however you have to remember that I have worked on all different Pick systems, not just Universe, and over the past forty years. This was just one example, where you would need to traverse an entire file and do not need it sorted in any particular order.
Original Message:
Sent: 07-26-2024 17:08
From: Mark Baldridge
Subject: Reading a file without a SELECT list?
In UniVerse, you can use the SEARCH command, and enter a TAB at the prompt. It will return a list of all ID whose record contains at least one TAB character. The SEARCH command dispatch character is a Q, so it is a query command, but not exactly a SELECT,
A large list of ID end up in UVTEMP.
------------------------------
Mark A Baldridge
Principal Consultant
Thought Mirror
Nacogdoches, Texas United States
Original Message:
Sent: 07-26-2024 16:32
From: Will Johnson
Subject: Reading a file without a SELECT list?
I will address, just the last part, the need.
I do have a case. Several times in my career I have been asked to, for example, "look for any TABs that might have gotten accidentally data-entered into this file" (Just one example)
In that case you don't need to select the file in any particular order, because you are going to traverse the entire file. So you can just open the file and do the SELECT which only opens the first group of the file and start traversing with Readnext.
I do remember someone stating that the basic SELECT has been modified to select ALL ids in the file, I don't think that could be possible. We have file with millions of ids in them and yet the readnext starts churning through them right away.
------------------------------
Will Johnson
Systems Analyst
Rocket Forum Shared Account
Original Message:
Sent: 05-24-2023 09:47
From: Scott Johnston
Subject: Reading a file without a SELECT list?
I finished my contract last week, so back on the market. I landed an interview with a "recognizable company" and went straight to the final round.
During the interview one of the panel asked me, "How do you read a file without a select list?" I paused for a moment wondering why anyone would need to do that? I thought for a moment and came to the conclusion, it may be possible, but I cannot think of how it could be done. I responded to him, "In the twenty years I've worked in multivalue, I have never seen any code that would do that. But I don't ever recall ever having the need".
Is it possible? Does anyone have an example?
Added: This person meant without using SELECT anywhere. At TCL or internally in a program. He claims he has a way, I doubt him.
------------------------------
Scott Johnston
Sr Software Engineer, Architect & Developer
Dover DE US
------------------------------