The Inquire mode is used to find a particular record in a file. This mode allows one to "thumb through" a file searching for the required data. There are usually two ways of searching through records. For example, in the loan routine when an "I" is typed the cursor will move up to the loan number field and wait for the user to type in the loan number that is to be found. If the loan number is not known an ENTER can be pushed and the cursor will move down to the last name field and the operator then types all or part of the last name. When the ENTER is entered, the cursor will jump to the first name field. Enter the full first name or initial and then ENTER. This will cause the routine to start searching at that point in the file where the letters entered are the same. One should be careful when using the inquire mode, if a record is searched for and the system did not find it, the system will display the next record assuming that is where the user wanted to start inquiring through the file. Continuing to push a ENTER displays the next record.
