Topic Using the Command Line

 Applies_To askSam for Windows

    Version 3.x

Last_Update September 17, 1996

Question

I am a former user of askSam for DOS and would like to be able to use the commands in askSam for Windows.  Can this be done?

Answer

Yes, some of the askSam for DOS commands can be used in the command line.  The askSam command line is the white line directly above the Ruler. From the command line you can enter words you wish to find in your database, or you can even enter commands. The following is a listing of the commands that can be entered.

Resolution

The following examples can be tested in the T-CLIENT file which is included with askSam for Windows.

The command line works from left to right. askSam processes the first word or command you enter and then moves on to the next word or command. You can combine searches and commands in the command line. When you do so, it is important to enter items in the following order:

     1. Selection criteria (the word or words you wish to find)

     2. Sort Command (if you want to sort the selected records)

     3. Output Commands (if you want to output the contents of a field)

For example, to select documents containing the word "TOURISM", sort these documents by the company name, and output a list of company name and phone number you would enter the following request:

     Tourism {sort Company } Company  {row 2} Phone

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COMMAND:                             EXAMPLE:

and                                  FL and golf

                                     FL golf

Use:                             Notes:

This command is used to select       Retrieves documents containing both

documents meeting 2 or more          "FL" and "golf". Both examples will

search criteria                      work. The "and" is only required in

                                     conjunction with the "or" command.                                      See page 8-11 and 8-12 for complete                                     description.

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or                                   Walt or Miles

Use:                             Notes:

This command is used to select       Retrieves documents containing documents containing one             "Walt" or "Miles"

search word or another.

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