# System Utilities

File View Utility |

The File View Utility is used to view, but not modify, the records within a selected data file, along with other details such as the file type, record size, primary key size, current number of records and field information.

The Search button invokes a concurrent Search window for defining filter criteria to search the records in a Keyed data file. The Customize button in the Search window launches a window for selecting which columns to display in the Search list box.

(The Search button was added in PxPlus 2023 Update 1.)
(The Customize button was added in PxPlus 2024.)

To modify and update the records in a data file, use the File Update Utility.

To invoke the File View Utility, use one of the following methods:

Location | Method
From System Utilities | In System Utilities, select the file from the list of files displayed for the current working directory or click the Directory Browse button to specify a different pathname. Click the View File toolbar button.
From Data Dictionary Maintenance | Select the file using the Query button. Click the Data toolbar button.

The File View Utility displays the details for the selected file. A grid displays the field names, current data values and field lengths for each record. Use the browse buttons to scroll through the records in the file.

This window consists of the following:

File | Full pathname of the selected file. Click the file Query button for a list of files in the specified directory.
Key | By default, displays the Primary key for the file. Click the drop-down arrow for a list of key records, if defined. See Defining Keys. (The key definition information shown in the drop-down list was added in PxPlus 2023.)
(Key Value) | Displays the primary key value of the current record, if available. Click the Query button for a list of records in the selected file or use the Browse buttons to locate a record. (The Query button was added in PxPlus 2021.)
Search | (Available when a Keyed data file is selected) Button that invokes a concurrent Search window for defining the filter criteria to search the records in the selected data file. (The Search button was added in PxPlus 2023 Update 1.)
Type | Type of data file (i.e. Keyed, Serial, Indexed).
Record Size | Maximum size (in bytes) of the data portion of the record.
Primary Key Size | Size of the primary key (in bytes).
Current # of records | Number of total records in the selected file.
(Grid) | Displays the field names, field lengths, and data values for each record in the selected file. Non-printable characters in the Value column are displayed with the Hex value in curly braces; e.g. {1F} for the standard view or a large • (dot) when using the ruler display. If copied, the value will contain what is displayed rather than the true value of the field. Copy options are available on the system popup menu when you right click within the grid. You can also double click a Value cell to select the characters you want to copy and then choose Copy from the right click menu. (The ability to copy the data in the grid was added in PxPlus 2026.)
View multiple fields per line | Select this check box to present the data records in a list box format. The Ϸ symbol is used as a field separator. Other non-printable characters in the Key and Data columns are displayed with the Hex value in curly braces; e.g. {1F}. If copied, the value will contain what is displayed rather than the true value of the field. Copy options are available on the system popup menu when you right click within the grid. (The ability to copy the data in the grid was added in PxPlus 2026.)
Expanded View | (Available when "View multiple fields per line" check box is selected) Button that is used to view additional details for a selected data record in the list.
Use ruler | (Available when "View multiple fields per line" check box is not selected) Select this check box to present the data in the grid with a fixed font and display a ruler in the top line of the Value column to indicate character positioning within the field value. (The "Use ruler" check box was added in PxPlus 2026.)
Close | Exits the File View Utility.

## Search

The Search button on the main panel invokes a concurrent Search window for defining filter criteria to search the records in the selected data file. Filter conditions can be entered as a free-form value, an expression or a regular expression.

A Case-Sensitive option is also available. The Customize button launches a window for selecting which columns to display in the Search list box.

Records matching the search criteria, if found, are displayed in the list box.

This window consists of the following:

File | (Display Only) Full pathname of the selected file.
Filter | (Optional) Filter options used to define the search criteria.
Expression | Select this check box to enter an expression as the filter value in the multi-line input. If the expression evaluates to 1 (true), the records are loaded into the list box. Examples: Example 1 - Find all records where the Region$ element is Ontario: UCS(Region$)="ONTARIO" Example 2 - Find all records that do not have a phone number entered: Phonenumber$="" #### Note: When the Expression check box is selected, the Regular Expression, Case-Sensitive and Is Not check boxes are disabled.
Regular Expression | Select this check box to enter a regular expression as the filter value in the multi-line input. This value will be used as the mask$ parameter in the MSK( ) function (along with the entire record string as the string$ parameter). If the MSK( ) function evaluates to 1 (true), the records are loaded into the list box. Examples: Example 1 - Find all records that contain the words Lazy or Cozy anywhere within the record: Lazy|Cozy Example 2 - Find all records that contain a # or $ or % character: [#$%] #### Note: When the Regular Expression check box is selected, the Expression, Case-Sensitive and Is Not check boxes are disabled.
Case-Sensitive | (Available when Expression check box is not selected) Select this check box if the filter value entered in the multi-line input is case-sensitive. (By default, this check box is not selected.)
Is Not | (Available when Expression check box is not selected) Select this check box if you want the search to exclude records in which the filter value was found. (By default, this check box is not selected.)
(Multi-line input) | Used for entering a free-form filter value. If either the Expression or Regular Expression check box is selected, enter an expression. If the filter value is case-sensitive, select the Case-Sensitive check box.
Search | Launches the search process for the specified criteria. If matches are found, the list box will be populated with records matching the search criteria. If no matches are found, the list box will be blank and a message will display.
Customize | Launches the Customize Search window for selecting (or deselecting) the columns to display in the Search list box based on any variables in the file IOList, if defined in the Data Dictionary. If the file IOList is not defined in the Data Dictionary, the Customize button will be disabled. (The Customize button was added in PxPlus 2024.) This window consists of the following:
Select/Deselect All | Check box that is used to either select or deselect all the check boxes (in the Select column) beside the listed variables.
(Variables Grid) | Lists all the variables in the file IOList, if defined in the Data Dictionary. The variables that display in the Search list box by default will show the Select check box as checked. To select (or deselect) variables, click the Select check box beside individual variables or use the Select/Deselect All check box.
OK | Exits the Customize Search window and updates the columns in the Search list box based on the selected variables. If no variables were selected, the Search list box will display four columns for the Key and the first three fields of the file definition.
Exit | Exits the Customize Search window without updating the Search list box.
(List Box) | Displays a list of records matching the search criteria, if found. Although only four columns are displayed, all fields in the record are searched. The four column headings consist of a Key (based on the selected Key) and the first three fields of the selected file definition. Click the Customize button to select (or deselect) the columns to be displayed in the Search list box. To sort the list box columns in ascending/descending order, click on the column headings.
(Right Click Menu) | Right click on a record in the Search list box to display a popup menu with the List Options selection, which invokes the List Box and Grid System Popup Menu. (The Search list box right click popup menu was added in PxPlus 2024.)
Select | Displays the details of the selected record in the main panel list box while keeping the Search window open. Double clicking on a record also selects it.
#### Note: When using the Search list to select a record with an alternate non-unique key, the first record with that non-unique key will display on the main panel, regardless of which record was selected.
Exit | Closes the Search window.

## See Also

File Update Utility