# sreformat command

The sreformat command moves the sorted
values from the attributes specified in the AQL sentence and places
them either in another file or to tape in the order of the specified
sort key (specified in *sort.criteria*).

## Syntax

```
sreformat file.reference {item.list} {selection.criteria} {sort.criteria}
{output.specification} {modifiers} {options}
filename: {destination-file|tape}
```

## Parameter(s)

| options | o | Overwrites existing items, when a duplicate item-ID exists. |
| --- | --- | --- |

## Description

If the targeted attribute is
null, the new value is placed there. If the targeted attribute is
nonnull, a new value is added to the end of the attribute. To overwrite
the attribute in D3, use the o option.

Each
entry in the *output.specification* becomes an attribute
in the destination item, in the same order as in the *output.specification*. The source item-ID is selected first and becomes the destination
item-ID, unless id-supp (or an i option) is specified. In this case, the first attribute value becomes
the new item-ID. Upon execution of this command, the prompt below
displays:

```
file name:
```
Either a file reference that directs the output to the
specified file reference, or the literal tape that directs the output
to the attached magnetic tape can be entered.

The output specification
indicate the attributes that are to be selected. The attributes are
written to the new file or tape in the order they are selected.

Note: >To write the output back to the source file, press ENTER.
If the items are to be written back to the source file, an item list
must be specified or a list must be active. Otherwise, an infinite
loop condition can result, in which items are continually added to
the file.

When a file is reformatted to tape, the values
are concatenated and either truncated or padded at the end with nulls
(hexadecimal 00) to the record length specified by the most recently
executed t-att command. One tape record is written
for each item. The item-IDs are printed as items are not printed as
the items are transferred.

A tape label containing the file
name, tape record length in hexadecimal, time, and date, is written
first unless the hdr-supp or col-hdr-supp connectives (h or c options)
are specified. Two end-of-file (EOF) marks terminate the tape.

Any processing code (or correlative) that refers to a selected
attribute is applied before the item is written to the destination
file or tape.

Warning:

- sreformat to an existing item produces different results in AP than it does in R83.

- If the targeted attribute is null, the new value is placed there. If the targeted attribute is non-null, on R83, the attribute is overwritten. In AP, a new value is added to the end of the attribute. To overwrite the attribute in Advanced PICK, use the o option.

## Example(s)

```
sreformat sls by region region total amount (d
filename: temp-sales
```

## See also

- [Active list](https://d3codex.com/definitions/active-list/)
- [col-hdr-supp modifier](https://d3codex.com/access/col-hdr-supp-modifier/)
- [AQL command categories](https://d3codex.com/access/aql-command-categories/)
- [Options (Access Query Language)](https://d3codex.com/access/options-access-query-language/)
- [reformat command](https://d3codex.com/access/reformat-command/)
- [Selection criteria](https://d3codex.com/access/selection-criteria/)
- [t-att command](https://d3codex.com/tcl/t-att-command/)
- [Tape devices overview](https://d3codex.com/tcl/tape-devices-overview/)

---
Source: https://d3codex.com/access/sreformat-command/ - part of the D3Codex reference.