How to: |
The LOOKUP function retrieves a data value from a cross-referenced FOCUS data source in a MODIFY request. You can retrieve data from a data source cross-referenced statically in a synonym or a data source joined dynamically to another by the JOIN command. LOOKUP retrieves a value, but does not activate the field. LOOKUP is required because a MODIFY request, unlike a TABLE request, cannot read cross-referenced data sources freely.
LOOKUP allows a request to use the retrieved data in a computation or message, but it does not allow you to modify a cross-referenced data source.
LOOKUP can read a cross-referenced segment that is linked directly to a segment in the host data source (the host segment). This means that the cross-referenced segment must have a segment type of KU, KM, DKU, or DKM (but not KL or KLU) or must contain the cross-referenced field specified by the JOIN command. Because LOOKUP retrieves a single cross-referenced value, it is best used with unique cross-referenced segments.
The cross-referenced segment contains two fields used by LOOKUP:
For example, LOOKUP retrieves all the fields from the segment
RTN = LOOKUP(SEG.DATE_ATTEND);
When using LOOKUP, the MODIFY request reads a transaction value for the host field. It then searches the cross-referenced segment for an instance containing this value in the cross-referenced field:
LOOKUP(field);
where:
Is the name of the field to retrieve in the cross-referenced file. If the field name also exists in the host data source, you must qualify it here. Do not include a space between LOOKUP and the left parenthesis.
Note: LOOKUP does not use an output argument.
LOOKUP finds the enrollment date from DATE_ENROLL. The result can then be used to validate an expression.
LOOKUP(DATE_ENROLL)
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