Search Criteria

Single Source. If an information type has only one source, such as nisplus a routine using the switch searches for the information in that source only. If it finds the information, it returns a success status message. If it does not find the information, it stops searching and returns a different status message. What the routine does with the status message varies from routine to routine.

Multiple Sources. If a table has more than one source for a given information type, the switch directs the routine to start searching for the information in the first source that is listed. If it finds the information, it returns a success status message. If it does not find the information in the first source, it tries the next source. The routine will search through all of the sources until it has found the information it needs, or it is halted by encountering a return specification. If all of the listed sources are searched without finding the information, the routine stops searching and returns a non-success status message.