.hd rdsel "select tuples of a relation" 08/03/81
rdsel <sel exp>
   <sel expr> ::= <term> { '|' <term> }
       <term> ::= <factor> { & <factor> }
     <factor> ::= ~ <factor> | <primary>
    <primary> ::= <object> <rel op> <object>
     <object> ::= <domain>
                | <integer> | <real> | <string>
     <rel op> ::= < | > | = | <= | >= | ~= | == | <>
.ds
'Rdsel' is part of the toy relational data base management
system 'rdb'.  It selects tuples from a relation
based on a selection expression given as an argument.
Standard input 1 must be directed to  a
file containing an 'rdb' relation.  The result relation is
written to standard output.
.sp
The input relation must
be  a file containing a relation that was
created by 'rdmake' or other 'rdb' programs;
the relation cannot be read from
the terminal.
The output relation is displayed in a readable format if
standard output is directed to a terminal (display in binary
would be quite a mess); otherwise, the output relation is written
in binary, internal format for processing by other 'rdb' programs.
.sp
The new relation is formed (effectively) by
evaluating the selection expression for each tuple in
the input relation.  Tuples for which the selection expression
is false are then discarded and the remaining tuples are
placed in the output relation.
.sp
The selection expression is formed from the logical operators
"&" (and), "|" (or), and "~" (not) connecting relational
conditions involving two domains or a domain and a literal.
The usual operator hierarchy applies: relational conditions
first, followed by "~", "&" and then "|".  Literals must
be the same type as the domain to which they are compared:
string literals must be quoted (either single or double
quotes) and integer and real literals must follow the syntax
allowed by 'gctol' and 'ctod'.
.es
p.rel> rdsel "pno>'p1'&(color='Red'|weight<15" | rdprint -r
sp.rel> rdsel "sno<='s3'"
p.rel rdsel "weight>5&weight<20"
.me
"Usage: rdsel <selection expr>"
.br
"Cannot load input relation"
.br
"Sorry, a relation can't be read from the terminal"
.br
"Relation is corrupted!!"
.br
"Invalid expression"
.br
"Unbalanced parentheses"
.br
"Missing relational operator"
.br
"Comparing two literals is bogus!"
.br
"Comparing two literals is bogus!"
.br
"Types to be compared are not compatible"
.br
"Expected domain name or literal"
.br
"<domain>: domain not found or ambiguous"
.br
"Too many literals"
.br
"Invalid integer constant"
.br
"Invalid real constant"
.br
"Missing quote"
.br
"Illegal character"
.br
"Selection expression too complicated"
.bu
If standard output is directed to "/dev/lps", the relation
is written in binary.
.sa
ctod (2),
gctol (2),
rdcat (1),
rdextr (1),
rdjoin (1),
rdmake (1),
rdprint (1),
rdproj (1),
rdsel (1),
rdsort (1),
rduniq (1)