Assist Utility (Magic xpa 3.x)
The Assist utility provides an easy way to construct SQL statements that include database names for tables and columns. The SQL Command Assist utility is not a substitute for knowing the SQL language, which is a prerequisite for using the SQL command.
The SQL Assistor screen consists of a SQL Command and the following action buttons and selection lists:
Clear button – Clears the contents of the SQL Command field.
Flip button – Toggles between the Magic xpa table and column names in the SQL Command field and the database names of tables and columns in the Table and Member lists. The saved statement will always contain the database names of tables and columns.
Key Word List – A list of SQL verbs that can be used to construct a SQL Command. The value that you select will be inserted into the SQL Command according to the rules described in the SQL Command field.
Operator List – A list of SQL Operators that can be used to construct a SQL Command. The value that you select will be inserted into the SQL Command according to the rules described in the SQL Command field.
Table List – A list of all the tables in the Data repository that belong to the same database as the Database parameter specified in the SQL Command object. These are all the tables that, as far as Magic xpa "knows," can be used to construct the data view; the database may contain tables that Magic xpa has no knowledge about. If such a table is to be used, its name must be typed manually into the SQL Command. Selecting a table from the list causes the database name of the table to be inserted into the SQL Command, in the format recognized by the DBMS being used for the operation. Some databases require full notation for table and column names (refer to the database gateway documentation for detailed information on SQL Command notation).
The list contains the Magic xpa names for the tables, rather than the database names.
The value that you select will be inserted into the SQL Command according to the rules described in the SQL Command explanation.
Member List – A list of all the columns of the table currently highlighted in the Table list. Selecting a column from the list causes the database name of the column to be inserted into the SQL Command, in the format recognized by the DBMS being used for the operation. Some databases require full notation for column names (refer to the database gateway documentation for detailed information on SQL Command notation).
The list contains the Magic xpa names for the columns, rather than the database names.
The value that you select will be inserted into the SQL Command according to the rules described in the SQL Command explanation.
Use the Assist utility to reference the names of tables and columns in the database, but be careful when you use this utility to build syntax.
For example, the Assist utility will build
SELECT ALL FROM EMPLOYEE
even though this is not valid syntax. The correct syntax is:
SELECT * FROM EMPLOYEE
Using the Assist Utility
