The SET command provides the user with a form that contains a series of control parameters. QUERY produces a default setting for each of these parameters. Every user can modify these settings according to his own requirements. The new values remain valid beyond a session's end.
After issuing the command SET, the following form is displayed containing the default settings of the SET parameters:
The displayed values of the SET parameters can be modified by overwriting them. Outside the input fields, the display form is write-protected.
The individual SET parameters have the following meanings:
~1. Language defines the language for the output of the database and QUERY messages: ENG stands for English, DEU for German. A language can only be specified if messages are actually available for it.
~2. Null String defines the character string for the representation of NULL values from the database. This string may have a maximum length of 20 characters.
~3. Boolean defines the character strings for the representation of BOOLEAN values from the database. The character strings may have a maximum length of 10 characters. In case of <true>/<false>, <true> defines the character string for values that are true, and <false> defines the character string for values that are false.
~4. Decimal defines the characters to be used for decimal numbers: in case of /<t>/<d>/, <t> defines the character for the thousands separator and <d> the character for the decimal sign; <t> may be omitted.
~5. Date defines the format in which DATE column values are to be input and output. This format is valid for both QUERY commands and SQL statements.
The name of a standard format or a user-defined format can be specified. If a standard representation is chosen, it is automatically applied to the three date parameters. In SQL statements, user-defined formats are treated as INTERNAL.
Standard formats are
ISO which corresponds to YYYY-MM-DD,
USA which corresponds to MM/DD/YYYY,
EUR which corresponds to DD.MM.YYYY,
JIS which corresponds to YYYY-MM-DD,
INTERNAL which corresponds to YYYYMMDD.
where D stands for D(ay), M for M(onth), and Y for Y(ear).
If three positions are specified for the month, the name of the month will be output in its common abbreviation (Oct for October). User-defined formats need not contain each of the three symbols for the date portions.
~6. Time defines the format in which TIME column values are to be input and output. This format is valid for both QUERY commands and SQL statements.
ISO which corresponds to HH.MM.SS,
USA which corresponds to HH:MM AM (PM),
EUR which corresponds to HH.MM.SS,
JIS which corresponds to HH:MM:SS,
INTERNAL which corresponds to HHHHMMSS.
where H stands for H(our), M for M(inute), and S for S(econd).
~7. Timestamp defines the format in which TIMESTAMP column values are to be input and output. This format is valid for both QUERY commands and SQL statements.
Standard formats are:
ISO which corresponds to YYYY-MM-DD-HH.MM.SS.NNNNNN,
USA which corresponds to ISO,
EUR which corresponds to ISO,
JIS which corresponds to ISO,
INTERNAL which corresponds to YYYYMMDDHHMMSSNNNNNN.
where N stands for milliseconds and microseconds; the other letters have the same meaning as explained for date and time.
~8. Separator defines the character string which is used to separate result table columns from each other. If this string is to contain blanks at its end, it must be enclosed in single quotes. The string may have a maximum length of 20 characters. The default value 'STANDARD' corresponds to the string ' | '. STANDARD column separators are displayed on the screen as drawn vertical lines if the monitor is capable of representing semigraphics.
~9. Print Format defines the format of the printout. Here the user can specify either a print format provided with the installation or a user-defined print format. Up to eight print
formats can be defined - see the description of the 
key at the end of this chapter.
10. Number of Copies specifies how many copies are to be printed.
11. For System Editor, the user can define an editor of his choice. This editor will be called with the command SYSED.
12. QUERY Presentation allows a user to specify a presentation for his personal use in QUERY. The presentation name denotes a certain setting of screen colors and attributes. This setting can be modified, enabling the user to adapt QUERY to his own liking.
With the installation, various presentations are provided which are immediately available to every user. These presentations can be paged through or redefined. Up to eight presentations can be
defined - see the description of the 
key at the end of this chapter.
13. The structure of the name of the QUERY Protocol File depends on the operating system. If the name is changed, QUERY closes the old file and opens a protocol file with the new name for the execution of the next statement.
14. If AUTOPROT ON is specified, then all SQL statements which the user sends to the database will be recorded in the file that is defined in the QUERY protocol file.
15. If SQLTIME ON is specified, the amount of time an SQL statement needed to execute is output. The time is also inserted into the QUERY protocol file, if necessary.
16. If HISTORY ON is specified, the command history is kept beyond the current session's end.
The 
key accepts the newly entered values and leaves the SET mode.
The 
key leaves the SET mode without the modifications becoming effective.
The 
key sets all displayed parameters to predefined default values. These must not be identical with the values displayed after the first call of QUERY, because the system
administrator is allowed to choose other default settings, and these will be displayed for any users who have not yet defined a parameter set of their own.
The keys 
and 
branch to further forms and are described in the following.