SQL/MP Programming Manual for COBOL

Host Variables

HP NonStop SQL/MP Programming Manual for COBOL—529758-003

2-7

Using the COBOL PICTURE Clause

If you use the PICTURE clause to declare COBOL record descriptions as host

variables, the clause must conform to both COBOL syntax rules and SQL/MP

limitations.

Fixed-Length Character Data

Use the PICTURE clause to declare a host variable for fixed-length character data

(CHAR data type):

PICTURE X (length) [ USAGE IS DISPLAY ]

The length value must be a positive integer and not greater than 4096. Instead of

length, you can specify multiple Xs, with each X representing one character position,

or you can specify multiple Xs and lengths as allowed in COBOL. For example,

PIC XXX(3)X(3) is valid. DISPLAY is the default.

Variable-Length Character Data

Use a group item with two data items to declare a host variable for variable-length

character data (VARCHAR data type):

nn group-name.

nm LEN PIC S9(4) COMP.

nm VAL PIC X(len).

The group-name must follow COBOL naming conventions. The level numbers are

indicated by nn and nm: nn can be any level in the range 01 to 49, and nm is a

greater level than nn. LEN specifies the actual length of the character item in VAL. VAL

is a character data item with len specifying the maximum number of characters that

can be stored in VAL.

For example, the EMPLOYEE table has the EMP-NAME column defined as

VARCHAR(18). In a COBOL program, the column definition is:

05 EMP-NAME.

10 LEN PIC S9(4) COMP.

10 VAL PIC X(18).

In the Procedure Division, you must explicitly move a value to LEN before using

EMP-NAME in an SQL statement:

MOVE "SMITH" TO VAL OF EMP-NAME.

MOVE 5 to LEN OF EMP-NAME.

EXEC SQL INSERT INTO EMPLOYEE-TABLE(EMP_NAME)

VALUES (:EMP-NAME)

END-EXEC.