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RETRIEVE

RETRIEVE is used to retrieve and save, in ASER format, a file of entries specified by their reference codes.

Remarks

(a)

Either complete refcode families of entries can be retrieved or individual entries.

For families of entries only the 6 letters of the refcode need be specified, eg ABCDEF will retrieve ABCDEF, ABCDEF01, ABCDEF10 etc.

For families of entries RETRIEVE always searches the complete database since it assumes that random ordering of the entries is possible.

For individual entries RETRIEVE stops searching after it has found all the specified entries.

(b)

The list of refcodes can be typed in upper- or lower-case and can be in any order - QUEST and QUEST3D will sort the list alphanumerically before searching.

Duplicate refcode families or duplicate refcodes in the list are ignored.

If no entries are found for a specified refcode then an appropriate message will be displayed.

A maximum of 2000 refcodes can be specified.

(c)

Since RETRIEVE writes an ASER file you must not use SAVE ASER and RETRIEVE in the same job.

(d)

QUEST and QUEST3D always execute RETRIEVE before beginning any search.

Thus if RETRIEVE is combined with QUES or SCRE instructions only the retrieved ASER sub- database will be searched, not the main database.

Ex.

• Select RETRIEVE

• Do you want to retrieve entire refcode families ? [Y]

• Type Y <R>

• Please type in your refcodes. You may type more than one per line.
  Type END when you have completed the list

• Type AACMHX AACFAZ AACRUB END <R>

• The screen clears and you see the following display:

  >Wait ...
  AACFAZ retrieved
  AACFAZ10 retrieved
  AACMHX10 retrieved
  AACRUB retrieved
  AACRUB01 retrieved
  Saving hits in database format now
  

In Basic QUEST the syntax is

RETR  n
list of refcodes terminated by END

• n=1 retrieves refcode families of entries
• n=2 retrieves individual entries

RETR EXACT or RETR EXAC are equivalent to RETR 2.

The RETRIEVE command may occur only once in a job but may occur anywhere in the instruction document provided that it appears ahead of any QUES instruction.

The list of reference codes can be on one line or several lines and can be typed in upper- or lower-case.

Ex.1

RETR  1
ACALDA  AACFAZ  ACCLCU  END

As each entry is retrieved the information is displayed:

AACFAZ retrieved
AACFAZ10 retrieved
ACALDA retrieved
ACCLCU retrieved

Searches will now act on ASER subset (4  entries)

and you are prompted:

Now continue (or type "EXIT" to finish)

RETR  2
acalda  aacfaz
acclcu end

As each entry is retrieved the information is displayed:

AACFAZ retrieved
ACALDA retrieved
ACCLCU retrieved

Searches will now act on ASER subset (3  entries)

and you are prompted:

Now continue (or type "EXIT" to finish)

Note

If you use n=-1 or n=-2 then the refcodes retrieved are not displayed.

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