BREAK-ON Modifier

BREAK-ON is an output modifier used with LIST and SORT commands that specifies which attribute is to be used to create breaks within a report. A control break (indicated by three asterisks or by user-specified text) occurs when the data for the specified attribute changes.

The BREAK-ON modifier is often used with the TOTAL modifier to calculate subtotals for numeric data. Normally the data is sorted by the same attribute as the one specified by BREAK-ON so that the same set of data is processed and displayed together.

To set control breaks for a MultiValued attribute, use the BY-EXP or BY-EXP-DSND modifiers to display individual detail lines for each value.

Format

BREAK-ON attribute [" [text] ['options '] [text] "]

Parameter(s)

attribute

Attribute whose changing data causes a break. INFO/ACCESS evaluates the first 24 characters of the data, from left to right. The break is displayed in this attribute's column.

text

Printed on the break line. This text replaces the three asterisks that are output by default. Enclose the text in double quotes.

options

Affect the processing of the break and must be enclosed in single quotes.

B

(Break) Includes the value of the attribute causing the break in the heading or footing. It must be used in conjunction with the B option of the HEADING or FOOTING modifiers. A new page is generated for each control break.

D

(Data) Suppresses printing of the break line if there is only one line of detail for a section, but leaves a blank line between items.

L

(Line) Suppresses the blank line preceding the break line. The L option has no effect when specified with the U option.

P

(Page) Begins a new page after every control break.

R

(Rollover) Forces all data associated with a control break to appear on the same page.

U

(Underline) Underlines all totals for each control break.

V

(Value) Inserts the current data for the attribute into the text on the break line.

Description

In the INFO/ACCESS query, the break attribute should be entered immediately after the BREAK-ON modifier and its accompanying parameters.

The attribute specified by the BREAK-ON modifier is automatically included in the output specifications for the report, so it does not need to be specified separately in the INFO/ACCESS query.

To suppress the printing of the BREAK-ON attribute, place a \ in Attribute 3 and a 0 in Attribute 10 of the Attribute Definition item (in the file dictionary) that defines the BREAK-ON attribute.

Example

This example sorts orders by last name and breaks the display at the occurrence of each new name, and illustrates use of the L option:

>SORT ORDERS BY LAST-NAME BREAK-ON  LAST-NAME" 'L' " TOTAL.AMT

 

 

 

PAGE   1    15:46:36  DD MMM YYYY

 

 

 

ORDERS.....

LAST-NAME.....

TOTAL.AMT.

 

 

 

10113

JENKINS

$357.00

 

***

 

 

 

 

10101

JOHNSON

$18.00

10107

JOHNSON

$799.00

10111

JOHNSON

$126.00

 

***

 

 

 

 

10102

LEARY

$72.00

10108

LEARY

$252.00

10112

LEARY

$231.00

10114

LEARY

$47.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

10106

ORLANDO

$63.00

 

***

 

See Also

Using INFO/ACCESS Connectives, Modifiers and Options

Connectives

Relational Operators

Modifiers

Options

Connectives, Modifiers and Options Summary