SQL/MP Programming Manual for COBOL

HP NonStop SQL/MP Programming Manual for COBOL—529758-003
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1 Introduction
NonStop SQL/MP is the HP relational database management system (RDBMS) that
uses SQL to define and manipulate data in an SQL/MP database. You can run SQL
statements interactively by using the SQL/MP conversational interface (SQLCI) or
programmatically by embedding SQL statements and directives in a host-language
program written in COBOL, C, Pascal, or TAL.
This manual describes the programmatic interface to SQL/MP for COBOL programs.
This section discusses:

Advantages of Using Embedded SQL Statements

Development of a COBOL Program on page 1-2

Dynamic SQL Operations on page 1-6

SQL/MP Version Management on page 1-7

COBOL in the Open System (OSS) Environment on page 1-7

Effect on Conformance to ISO/ANSI Standards on page 1-8
Advantages of Using Embedded
SQL Statements
Embedding SQL statements and directives in a COBOL program to access an
SQL/MP database has these advantages:

A high-level, efficient database language—You can code a request to access the
database by using SQL statements. The SQL optimizer then generates an efficient
plan to perform your request.

Insulation against database changes—If a database administrator modifies an
SQL/MP database (for example, adds a column to a table), the change does not
affect the logic of your program.

COBOL statements for processing data—You can access a database by using
SQL statements and then use COBOL statements to process and manipulate the
data.

System support for data consistency—If you require audited tables and views, the
system maintains data consistency with the locking feature and the HP NonStop
Transaction Management Facility (TMF) subsystem.