Introduction to ENFORM

Five Easy Steps to Using ENFORM
Using ENFORM—The Basics
058051 Tandem Computers Incorporated 2–3
Compiled Queries A compiled query is illustrated in Figure 2-4. In this type of query, ENFORM
specifications in an edit file are compiled into an ENFORM object file; the file is saved
and can be run from a TAL, COBOL, or FORTRAN program.
Figure 2-4. Compiled Queries
:ENFORM
> ? COMPILE
Query to
Object
Query
Processor
HLI
Edit Files
Query
Reports
Compiled
Query
Five Easy Steps to
Using ENFORM
When you use ENFORM, your major concern is the information that ultimately
appears on a report. That is, how do you make data move from the database files to
the report and how do you control the appearance of the information on the report?
Although this process is potentially complicated, you can initially reduce it to a simple
set of steps by: (1) visualizing the data files that you work with and (2) visualizing
how to select and format information from the files.
Figure 2-5 illustrates the steps involved in producing a report, and the following
briefly explains each of the steps.
Step 1 — identify the files (tables) to be used in the query.
Step 2 — relate files to form new views.
Step 3 — select fields (columns) of information from the files.
Step 4 — select records (rows) of information from the tables; the rows are generally
selected according to criteria that you specify.
Step 5 — format the appearance and sequence of the selected information.