Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!hplabs!pyramid!infmx!aland
From: aland@infmx.UUCP (Dr. Scump)
Newsgroups: comp.databases
Subject: Re: An Informix-SQL Question...
Summary: can't RTFM if it ain't in yer version
Keywords: informix, sql
Message-ID: <2358@infmx.UUCP>
Date: 15 Sep 89 04:15:37 GMT
References: <732@aut.UUCP> <2343@infmx.UUCP>
Reply-To: aland@infmx.UUCP (alan denney)
Organization: INFORMIX Professional Services ("Peace thru Normalization")
Lines: 52

In article <2343@infmx.UUCP> davek@infmx.UUCP (David Kosenko) writes:
>>The Informix-SQL demo script contains something like:
>>
>>isql - - <<!
>>-- SQL statements --
>>!
>>
>>We can't find this "- -" parameter notation documented anywhere.
>>Is it documented anywhere?, and what does it actually mean?? 
>>Naturally we've already figured out that it probably tells
>>Informix that the input comes from standard input, but perhaps
>>there is something more to it than that.
>>
>>Any answers gratefully accepted.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>	Philip.

>	See the INFORMIX-SQL Reference manual, Appendix M -
>Accessing Programs from the Operating System, page M-4.
>A facsimile is reproduced here:

Uh, Dave, it might help if you mention what version of the manual
you are using...  in the most common version of the 2.10 ISQL manual
(UNIX version, Rev. A, July '87), this usage is omitted.  (Darn it,
I just checked the .06 DOS version and it's missing there, too...
Dave, where DID you find it?)

This usage originated with ISQL 1.10 or 2.00.  It somehow dropped from
the manuals for a time when the "new" (isql -qr scriptname) method
was introduced with 2.10.  It still has been and will continue to
be supported, however, so I suggest printing out Dave's posting
and add it to your Appendix M if it isn't there already...

As he already mentioned, the first parameter is database name
and the second is script name.  A hyphen denotes omitted parameters.
If the first is omitted, a DATABASE statement must appear first
in the script (DATABASE, START DATABASE, DROP DATABASE, etc.)
If the second is omitted, statements are taken from stdin and must
be delimited by semicolons (in interactive mode, the semicolon actually
triggers statement execution).  This older method is easier for batch
use because you don't see the banner page or menus.

Alan     (the West Coast Dave  :-])

--
    Alan S. Denney  @  Informix Software, Inc.    
         {pyramid|uunet}!infmx!aland                 "I want to live!
   --------------------------------------------       as an honest man,
    Disclaimer:  These opinions are mine alone.       to get all I deserve
    If I am caught or killed, the secretary           and to give all I can."
    will disavow any knowledge of my actions.             - S. Vega