There are four Boolean operators: AND, OR, NOT, and BUT. With
AND, OR, and BUT, you can join two or more Boolean expressions to
form a single Boolean expression. NOT allows you to reverse the
value of a Boolean expression.
The AND and BUT operators perform the same function. If you link
Boolean expressions with either AND or BUT, the resulting Boolean
expression is true only if all the Boolean operators linked with
either AND or BUT are true.
If you link Boolean expressions with OR, the resulting Boolean
expression is true if any one of the Boolean linked with OR are
true.
If you precede a Boolean expression with NOT, the resulting
Boolean expression is true if the Boolean expression following
NOT is false.
The following examples show the use of Boolean operators:
DTR> READY YACHTS
DTR> PRINT YACHTS WITH BUILDER = "PEARSON" AND LOA = 30
LENGTH
OVER
MANUFACTURER MODEL RIG ALL WEIGHT BEAM PRICE
PEARSON 30 SLOOP 30 8,320 09
DTR> FIND YACHTS WITH BUILDER = "PEARSON" OR LOA = 30
[21 records found]
DTR> READY FAMILIES
DTR> PRINT FAMILIES WITH FATHER NOT EQ "JIM" AND
[Looking for Boolean expression]
CON> ANY KIDS WITH AGE GT 31
NUMBER KID
FATHER MOTHER KIDS NAME AGE
JEROME RUTH 4 ERIC 32
CISSY 24
NANCY 22
MICHAEL 20
HAROLD SARAH 3 CHARLIE 31
HAROLD 35
SARAH 27
DTR>
You can also use parentheses to group Boolean expressions. DEC
DATATRIEVE evaluates Boolean expressions in parentheses before
evaluating other Boolean expressions. If a Boolean expression
contains Boolean operators as well as parentheses, DEC DATATRIEVE
evaluates the Boolean expression in the following order:
1. Expressions enclosed in parentheses
2. Expressions preceded by NOT
3. Expressions combined with AND or BUT
4. Expressions combined with OR