[ncc-services-wg] [db-wg] Query object filtering (was: suppress irt object in whois queries?)

[Apologies for duplicate emails.]

Dear Colleagues

Filtering object types returned by a query is a common use case, but the documentation is not clear on how to do this. In advance of updating documentation (and maybe changing the code), perhaps I can explain the confusion and how to work around it.

The '-T' flag limits database searches of 'operational' object types to the ones listed in the flag argument. So, for example, -T INETNUM will not return ROUTE objects.

AFTER the database searches for operational data, it then searches for some secondary object references, including PERSON, ROLE and IRT objects. So the above query will return these.

If you want to limit a query to ONLY return the operational object type(s) listed in the argument of a '-T' flag you need this query:

-r -C -T<type list> <query string>

The '-r' flag prevents any PERSON and ROLE objects returned
The '-C' flag prevents IRT objects returned
the '-T' flag limits operational object types to those specified in the comma separated list

The amount of data returned for each object can be further filtered/expanded by other query flags. For a full list of query flags please check out the "RIPE Database Queries Quick Reference Card"
http://www.ripe.net/data-tools/support/documentation

Regards
Denis Walker
Business Analyst
RIPE NCC Database Group