SQL/MP Reference Manual

HP NonStop SQL/MP Reference Manual—523352-013
B-8
BREAK ON Command
BREAK ON Command
BREAK ON is an SQLCI report writer command that groups detail lines together by the
value of a specified column. You can use BREAK ON only from the select-in-progress
prompt, not from the standard SQLCI prompt.
The default is SUPPRESS.
col
identifies a column of the select list or a named detail column, the value of which is
used to group lines. col can be a column name, an alias, a detail alias, or COL
number (which specifies the position of the column in the select list).
A break occurs when the value of col changes, even if col is not a column in the
DETAIL list. The break can cause the printing of a break title, break footing, or
subtotal.
You can specify the same column more than once in a BREAK ON command, but
report writer sets only one break on the column.
SUPPRESS
specifies printing the break column value only in the first detail line of the group
and the first detail line on a page.
NOSUPPRESS
specifies printing the break column value on each detail line.
Considerations—BREAK ON

Only one BREAK ON command is in effect at any time. When you enter a BREAK
ON command, it replaces any existing BREAK ON command and returns you to
the beginning of the SELECT output. The new BREAK ON command should
include every break column referred to in the existing SUBTOTAL, BREAK TITLE,
and BREAK FOOTING commands.

If you use BREAK ON to specify groups and subgroups, specify the columns in
order, from the most inclusive group to the least inclusive group.

To sort break columns, include an ORDER BY clause in the associated SELECT
statement.
BREAK ON col [SUPPRESS] [, col [SUPPRESS]]... ;
[NOSUPPRESS] [ [NOSUPPRESS]]