Selecting Records for Your Report

Topics: Choosing a Filtering Method Selections Based on Individual Values Selection Based on Aggregate Values Using Compound Expressions for Record Selection Using Operators in Record Selection Tests Types of Record Selection Tests Selections Based on Group Key Values Setting Limits on the Number of Records Read Selecting Records Using IF Phrases Reading Selection Values From a File Assigning Screening Conditions to a File VSAM Record Selection Efficiencies

When generating a report and selecting fields, you may not want to include every instance of a field. By including selection criteria, you can display only those field values that meet your needs. In effect, you can select a subset of data that you can easily redefine each time you issue the report request. When developing a report request, you can define criteria that select records based on a variety of factors: The values of an individual field. See Selections Based on Individual Values. The aggregate value of a field (for example, the sum or average of a field's values). See Selection Based on Aggregate Values. The existence of missing values for a field; whether a field's values fall within a range; whether a field does not contain a certain value. See Types of Record Selection Tests. The number of records that exist for a field -- for example, the first 50 records -- rather than on the field's values. See Setting Limits on the Number of Records Read. For non‑FOCUS data sources that have group keys, you can select records based on group key values. See Selections Based on Group Key Values. In addition, you can take advantage of a variety of record selection efficiencies, including assigning filtering criteria to a data source and reading selection values from a file.