INF: Invoking an Editor from ISQL or OSQL

ID: Q36929

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft SQL Server for OS/2, version 4.2

SUMMARY

The following is an explanation of how to envoke an editor from within ISQL or OSQL.

MORE INFORMATION

Before running ISQL or OSQL, the EDITOR environment parameter must be set to the name of the editor's executable file and the executable file must be available on the path. Be sure that environment parameters for the editor (such as TMP or INIT) are also set. Once inside ISQL or OSQL, use the "ed" command to invoke the editor.

ISQL writes the contents of its input buffer to a temporary file and spawns the specified editor to edit that temporary file. When the editor terminates, ISQL or OSQL reads the temporary file back into its input buffer.

The default editor is edit.exe. If the specified editor cannot be found, ISQL and OSQL will produce the following error message:

The name specified is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.

If you are having difficulty invoking and editor with the "ed" command, try using the ISQL/OSQL shell command "!!" to invoke another program or batch file. This command will use the C run-time function system() rather than spawnlp() and may help expose the source of the problem.

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbtool SSrvISQL
Version : OS/2:4.2
Platform : OS/2
Issue type :