The SET command provides the user with a form that contains a series of control parameters. SQL-PL 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 containing the default settings of the SET parameters is displayed:
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 SQL-PL 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 represented in REPORT or the DATE function and accepted in SQL statements.
The name of a standard format or a user-defined format can be specified. If a standard representation is chosen, this is automatically applied to DATE and TIME 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.
Thereby D stands for D(ay), M for M(onth), and Y for Y(ear).
If three positions are specified for the month, then 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 represented in REPORT or the TIME function and accepted in 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.
Thereby 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 has to be enclosed in single quotes. The string may have a maximum length of 20 characters. The default value 'STANDARD' corresponds to the string ' | ' with the special feature that on the screen the column separations appear as a continuous line, 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 PRINTER Key at the end of this chapter.
10. Number of Copies defines how many copies are to be made on printing.
11. For System Editor the user can define an editor of his selection. This editor will be called with the command SYSED.
12. SQL-PL Presentation allows a user to specify a presentation for his personal usage in SQL-PL. The presentation name designates a certain setting of screen colors and attributes. This setting can be modified enabling the user to adapt the aspect of SQL-PL according 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 PRESEN Key at the end of this chapter.
13. SQL-PL Protocol File allows the user to choose the name of the protocol file.
14. With PRETTY it is determined whether the sequence of statements should be made more attractive by means of automatic indentations and capitalization of main entries, when storing a module.
15. With the parameter Nesting the maximum depth of the call hierarchy (CALL or SWITCHCALL) is determined.
16. With the parameter Code Area the size of the memory area is set in which the interpreter holds the program to be executed. A changed parameter only becomes effective in the next session.
17. With the parameter Variable Range the maximum memory size for the variables available at one time is set. A changed parameter only becomes effective in the next session.
18. With the parameter Program Version SQL-PL is told with which version of the program the user wants to work now.
The 
key accepts the newly entered values and leaves the SET mode.
The 
key leaves the SET mode without having the modifications come into effect.
The 
key sets all displayed parameters to predefined default values. These must not be identical with the values displayed after the first call of SQL-PL, because the system
administrator is allowed to choose other default settings which 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.
The PRINTER Key
The 
key switches from SET mode to a menu where the user can define the print formats.
At first the currently set print format is displayed. If more formats are defined, a message informs the user about it. He can switch from one format to the other by means of the scroll keys.
The settings can be modified by overwriting the entries. The following settings can be defined in such a format:
1. For Printformat Name that name is displayed which was given to the defined format.
2. Printer specifies the desired printer. This specification has to be made according to the installation.
3. Page Width defines the width of a print page. The value may be 254 at the most.
4. Page Length defines the complete length of a print page in number of lines.
5. Left and Right Margin define the number of blanks to be output to the left and to the right of the text.
6. Top and Bottom Margin define the number of blank lines to be output above and below the text.
7. New Page defines whether (ON) or not (OFF) a form feed is to be performed for each separate print job.
The keys 
, 
, and 
have the same meanings as in the superior SET form. If the user returns to the first form by means of 
, the
last displayed format becomes the current format, i.e. its name is displayed for Print Format.
Defined formats can be deleted by means of the 
key.
The 
key generates a new entry in which the format name is not yet assigned. The other parameters are taken over from the setting previously displayed and can be modified at will.
The PRESEN Key
The PRESEN(TATION) key switches from SET mode to a menu where the user can define the presentations.
At first the currently set presentation is displayed. If more presentations are defined, a message informs the user about it. He can switch from one presentation to the other by means of the scroll keys.
In such a presentation the different physical properties are assigned to the sixteen logical attribute names. Each logical attribute name (ATTR1 to ATTR16) is depicted in the menu together with the attributes and colors assigned to it.
It depends on the used installation and system, what kinds of representation and colorings are available. If colors cannot be set, the keys 
and 
are not
displayed.
To change such an assignment, mark one or more attributes with an "x" and press the keys 
, 
, or 
. Popup menus appear where the desired settings
for the coloring and kind of representation can be chosen by checking them with an "x".
The toggle switch 
has the effect that all attributes are marked with an "x". If all attributes are already marked with an "x", this key removes them instead.
The keys 
, 
, 
, 
, and 
have the same functions as in the other SET forms.
Each of the first twelve attributes is employed by SQL-PL for a definite purpose which is identified by the first column of the menu. Of these fixed attributes, the first seven are used by all ADABAS components in the same way.
The attributes from 'select char' to 'menu item passive' serve the presentation of the pulldown menus in SQL-PL.
It is recommended that the attribute 'select char' and 'menu items' be defined with the same background color and different foreground colors. The same holds for the pair of attributes 'select active' and 'menu item active'. The attribute for 'menu item passive' is used to depict a menu item that cannot yet be selected. For this reason, this attribute should be defined in a more reserved way than others.
When defining attribute characters in forms, the designations LOW, HIGH, BLK, INV, UNDERL, and DARK can still be used. The presentation menu shows to which of the logical attributes these designated attributes are assigned.