Invoking the ISPF/PDF Editor

This command is useful when you have started an Access session and find that you need to execute embedded SQL in a program, but do not want to terminate your Access session.

The PDF command allows you to invoke the ISPF/PDF editor, execute the embedded SQL in your program, exit the edit session, and return to your Access session.

When used without any keywords, the PDF command displays a customized version of the ISPF/PDF EDIT entry panel. Access profiles the data set name that you enter on this panel for future use.

You can specify the command with an asterisk (*) to obtain a member selection list of the profiled data set, as shown here:

PDF*

To limit the member selection list, you can specify a partial member name with an asterisk as a wild card. For example, to obtain a selection list of members that begin with TEST, enter:

PDF TEST*

You can also specify the PDF command with a full member name to directly enter the editor for the member:

PDF TESTMEM

If you specify a member that contains SQL in the first line or lines, you can automatically execute the SQL by specifying the EXEC keyword:

PDF SQLMEM EXEC 

The EXEC keyword executes the SQL using the Access FOPD2EXE command. If the member contains a SELECT statement, the FOPD2EXE command automatically invokes an Access edit session for the table(s) named in the SELECT statement.

For details about the PDF command, see the PDF command in the Command Reference Manual.