Embedded and Dynamic SQL

XDB Server statements that are used in embedded and dynamic SQL programming are summarized below. While most SQL commands can be embedded in host programming languages (for example, COBOL, C and PL/I), the following commands can only appear as embedded or dynamic SQL statements.

• ALLOCATE CURSOR

  Defines a cursor and associates it with a result set locator variable.

• ASSOCIATE LOCATORS

  Gets the result set locator value for each result set returned by a stored procedure.

• BEGIN DECLARE SECTION

  Marks the beginning of declarations for host variables to be used by SQL commands (optional in COBOL).

• CALL

  Runs stored procedures on the mainframe (through XDB Link), or procedures on an XDB Server, from an application.

• CLOSE

  Closes a previously opened cursor (OPEN command).

• DECLARE CURSOR

  Defines a cursor.

• DECLARE STATEMENT

  Identifies prepared SQL statements for later use in application programs.

• DECLARE TABLE

  Provides the precompiler with information for checking embedded SQL statements. DECLARE TABLE is also used for application program documentation.

• DESCRIBE

  Obtains information about either a prepared statement (PREPARE command), or an existing table or view.

• DESCRIBE CURSOR

  Obtains information about the result set that is associated with the cursor and places the information into a descriptor.

• DESCRIBE PROCEDURE

  Obtains information about the result sets returned by a stored procedure, and places the information into a descriptor.

• END DECLARE SECTION

  Marks the end of declarations for host variables to be used by SQL commands (required if BEGIN DECLARE SECTION statement is used).

• EXECUTE

  Executes a prepared (PREPARE command) SQL statement.

• EXECUTE IMMEDIATE

  Prepares (PREPARE command) and executes (EXECUTE command) an SQL statement in one step.

• FETCH

  Positions a cursor on the next row of a result, and assigns the values of that row to host program variables.

• GET DIAGNOSTICS

  Provides diagnostic information about the last SQL statement (other than a GET DIAGNOSTICS statement) that was executed.

• INCLUDE

  Inserts declarations or code into a source program for use by SQL, as well as the host language.

• OPEN

  Opens a previously prepared (PREPARE command) cursor prior to fetching (FETCH command) result rows.

• PREPARE

  Prepares an SQL statement for execution.

• SELECT INTO

  Retrieves one row of values from a table or view, and then assigns these values to one or more host variables specified in the SELECT INTO command statement.

• SET Host Variable

  Assigns special register values to host variables.

• WHENEVER

  Specifies the host language statement to be executed whenever a specified exception condition takes place.