INFORM.PLIB
What is INFORM.PLIB? INFORM.PLIB is a public DataExpress catalog in which procedures are
stored that can be accessed by any of the Community and Technical Colleges. Procedures can be run
directly from this catalog, or saved to the local catalog and run from there. Note that procedures in
INFORM.PLIB can be modified, but the modified procedure must then be saved to a catalog other than
INFORM.PLIB (the local catalog, for example).. The steps for accessing procedures in this catalog are
the same as when accessing those in the local catalog, with the exception that the GROUP and
ACCOUNT must be changed to INFORM(group).PLIB(account).
What’s in INFORM.PLIB? To display all procedures in the INFORM.PLIB catalog, along with their
descriptions, select option ‘1’ at the DataExpress Main Menu. However, instead of displaying the local
catalog, select INFORM.PLIB as follows:
DataExpressCenter
C.01.90-5[20040820]
(C) MB Foster Software Labs 1985-99
MAIN MENU
------------------------------------------------------------------------------1: DISPLAY procedure catalog
2: RUN an existing procedure
3: CREATE a new procedure
4: MAINTAIN an existing procedure
8: EXIT
------------------------------------------------------------------------------Reflection W1 (7.00)
ENTER AN OPTION NUMBER
1
DataExpressCenter
DISPLAY procedure catalog
------------------------------------------------------------------------------DISPLAY the local catalog (Y/n)?
Catalog GROUP name
Catalog ACCOUNT name
PROCEDURE NAME SELECTION
N
INFORM
PLIB
@ (or press return here to view all)
347 ENTRIES FOUND
DISPLAY SELECTED ENTRIES (Y/n)?
Y
How can I get more detail about a procedure in INFORM.PLIB? The specifications of any
procedure in INFORM.PLIB can be reviewed by entering the name of the procedure and
INFORM PLIB OVERVIEW
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“INFORM.PLIB” for GROUP and ACCOUNT.
reviewed.
DataExpressCenter
In the below example the procedure ZX0008R is
C.01.90-5[20040820]
(C) MB Foster Software Labs 1985-99
MAIN MENU
------------------------------------------------------------------------------1: DISPLAY procedure catalog
2: RUN an existing procedure
3: CREATE a new procedure
4: MAINTAIN an existing procedure
8: EXIT
------------------------------------------------------------------------------Reflection W1 (7.00)
ENTER AN OPTION NUMBER
4
DataExpressCenter
MAINTAIN an existing procedure
------------------------------------------------------------------------------1: REVIEW procedure definitions
2: MODIFY procedure definitions
3: SAVE the procedure
4: DELETE an existing procedure
7: RETURN
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ENTER AN OPTION NUMBER
1
DataExpressCenter
REVIEW procedure definitions
------------------------------------------------------------------------------REVIEW name
REVIEW entry from local catalog (Y/n)?
Catalog GROUP name
Catalog ACCOUNT name
18-JAN-2003
ZX0008R
N
INFORM
PLIB
Procedure Review Report
page 1 of 4
ZX0008R(INFORM.PLIB) created by DKRS on 03-JUL-2001
------------------------------------------------------------------------------OUTPUT FILE FORMAT: procedure execution option
INFORM PLIB OVERVIEW
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OUTPUT FILE LAYOUT:
ELEMENT
U(20)
NOTE: Pages 2-4 are not shown in this example.
How do I run a procedure in INFORM.PLIB? To run a procedure directly from the INFORM.PLIB
catalog, follow these steps:
DataExpressCenter
C.01.90-5[20040820]
(C) MB Foster Software Labs 1985-99
MAIN MENU
------------------------------------------------------------------------------1: DISPLAY procedure catalog
2: RUN an existing procedure
3: CREATE a new procedure
4: MAINTAIN an existing procedure
8: EXIT
------------------------------------------------------------------------------Reflection W1 (7.00)
ENTER AN OPTION NUMBER
2
DataExpressCenter
RUN an existing procedure
------------------------------------------------------------------------------RUN procedure name
ZX0008R
RUN procedure from local catalog (Y/n)?
Catalog GROUP name
Catalog ACCOUNT name
N
INFORM
PLIB
How do I save a procedure in INFORM.PLIB to my local catalog? You can also save and
INFORM.PLIB procedure to your local catalog so that you become the owner or ‘creator’. Then you
can modify it, run it, or delete it as you could any other procedure you own. By saving the procedure to
your local catalog, you are making a copy of it. This will not affect the original INFORM.PLIB
procedure. To save a procedure in INFORM.PLIB to your local catalog (GEN.Pnnn, where nnn is your
college number), you must have already selected it, either by reviewing or running it (see above for
details on how to do either). Once the procedure is selected:
DataExpressCenter
C.01.90-5[20040820]
(C) MB Foster Software Labs 1985-99
MAIN MENU
------------------------------------------------------------------------------1: DISPLAY procedure catalog
2: RUN an existing procedure
3: CREATE a new procedure
4: MAINTAIN an existing procedure
INFORM PLIB OVERVIEW
3
1/08/2003
8: EXIT
------------------------------------------------------------------------------Reflection W1 (7.00)
ENTER AN OPTION NUMBER 4
DataExpressCenter
MAINTAIN an existing procedure
------------------------------------------------------------------------------1: REVIEW procedure definitions
2: MODIFY procedure definitions
3: SAVE the procedure
4: DELETE an existing procedure
7: RETURN
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ENTER AN OPTION NUMBER
3
DataExpressCenter
SAVE the procedure
------------------------------------------------------------------------------SAVE name
DESCRIPTION
MYZX0008R
LOCAL COPY OF ZX0008R
ENTRY ACCESS BY USER
@
ENTRY PASSWORD
SAVE entry into local catalog (Y/n)?
Y
ENTRY SAVED IN CATALOG
RETURN TO PREVIOUS/MAIN MENU (P/m)?
P
Note: The local catalog is the default catalog for saving; attempting to save the procedure back to the
INFORM.PLIB catalog would result in an error message. Your local catalog will correspond with the
group/account you are logged onto the HP3000 with.
How do I modify a procedure in INFORM.PLIB? You cannot modify a procedure in INFORM.PLIB
and save those changes in INFORM.PLIB. You must either modify the procedure and then save it to
your local catalog, or save the procedure to you local catalog and then modify it.
INFORM PLIB OVERVIEW
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