SQL editor

When you choose the New of Modify option, you see the SQL editor. You can type as many lines of text as you need. You are not limited by the size of the screen, although you might be limited by the memory constraints of your system. If you do not use the Save option to save your typed statements, they are deleted when you select an option that clears the SQL editor (such as New or Choose).

The SQL editor does not display more than 80 characters on a line and does not wrap lines.

  • If you choose an existing command file in which the characters in a line extend beyond the 80th column, DB-Access displays a percent sign (%) in the 80th column to indicate an overflow. You cannot see all the characters beyond the percent sign, but the statement runs correctly.
  • If you type characters in a new command file so that a line extends beyond the 80th column, DB-Access overwrites all the characters in the 80th column. You cannot see the overflow, and the statement does not run correctly.

To make the full text show on the screen, press Enter at a logical place in the first 80 characters of each line.

If you must type a quoted character string that exceeds 80 characters, such as an insert into a long CHAR column, use a system editor instead of the SQL editor.

If you want to include comments in the text:
  • Use double minus signs for ANSI-compliant databases.
  • Preface each comment line with a double minus sign (--) comment indicator. The comment indicator spans the entire line.
  • Use braces ({ }) for databases that are not ANSI-compliant. Enclose the entire comment indicator between the braces.