Fixed-length character strings (CHAR) are SQL data types with a driver-defined maximum length. They are declared in COBOL as:
PIC X(n)
where
n is an integer between 1 and the maximum length.
Host Variable Formats
- OpenESQL and DB2 ECM
-
01 char-field1 PIC X(5).
01 char-field2 PIC X(254).
The largest supported fixed length character string is 254 bytes for the DB2 ECM. If you need a character string greater than 254 bytes in length, use a VARCHAR field.
OpenESQL trims trailing spaces from input parameters before sending them to the database server. Trimming the trailing spaces can improve performance when comparing CHAR and VARCHAR values.
Important: For OpenESQL, the database server pads the value with spaces as necessary. When space padding is required for a host variable used in an expression, use an explicit SQL CAST function to ensure that the server converts the host variable to the required data type.
- OpenESQL
-
01 char-field3 SQL TYPE IS CHAR(200).
The
char-field3 format uses the CHAR SQL TYPE.
- OpenESQL
JVM Managed Runtime
- In addition to the definitions valid for OpenESQL, the following definition is also valid for the OpenESQL
JVM Managed Runtime:
01 char-net string(200).
