Query Functions
This section documents each query function, its purpose, and other notes. The functions are organized into sections by “element types returned by functions.” Within each section, functions are organized by “type of element in the input list.” Each function description includes the query from the Query Model tool of Statemate that matches it, if applicable.
Query functions extract lists of elements from the database that conform to a specific criterion.
The search enables you to query the Statemate database. This tool uses a comprehensive set of predefined queries to obtain information. All these queries operate on a list of Statemate elements, called the input list. Each query generates an output list of elements that meet a criterion designated by the specific query. Generally, elements in the output list are related to elements in the input list in one of two ways:
● The output list is a subset of input list elements that have a specific characteristic. For example, the output list consists of all And-states in the input list.
● Elements in the output list fulfill a specific relationship to elements in the input list. For example, the output list consists of all states that are descendants of states in the input list.Most query functions correspond to queries from the search. These functions give you the same information that the corresponding queries do. Most functions require you to provide an input list as an input argument. This input list generally consists of elements of a particular type. The function returns a list of elements of the same or different type (as the input list).
The retrieval process is as follows:
2. Specify the query and input list. Receive the input list. Note that other procedures may be performed before you use the retrieved information.