SQL/MX 2.x Reference Manual (G06.24+, H06.03+)
Embedded-Only SQL/MX Statements
HP NonStop SQL/MX Reference Manual—523725-004
3-34
C Examples of DESCRIBE
GLOBAL | LOCAL
specifies the scope of the prepared statement. The default is LOCAL. A GLOBAL 
prepared statement can be described and executed within the SQL session. A 
LOCAL prepared statement can be described and executed only within the module 
or compilation unit in which it was prepared.
A prepared SQL statement must be currently available whose name is the value of 
ext-statement-name and whose scope is the same scope as specified in the 
DESCRIBE INPUT statement.
USING SQL DESCRIPTOR descriptor-name
identifies the SQL descriptor area for the parameters of SQL-statement-name. 
An SQL descriptor area must be currently allocated whose name is the value of 
descriptor-name and whose scope is the same scope as specified in the 
DESCRIBE statement.
When DESCRIBE INPUT executes, NonStop SQL/MX stores information for each 
input parameter of the prepared statement. Each parameter has an item descriptor. 
When DESCRIBE OUTPUT executes, NonStop SQL/MX stores information about 
each column specified in the select list for the prepared statement. Each column 
has an item descriptor.
descriptor-name
is a value-specification—a character literal or host variable with a 
character data type. When DESCRIBE executes, the content of the host 
variable (if used) gives the name of the descriptor area.
C Examples of DESCRIBE
•
Returns descriptions of input parameters for the prepared statement identified by 
:stmt_name to an SQL descriptor area identified by the host variable 
:input_sqlda:
EXEC SQL DESCRIBE INPUT :stmt_name 
 USING SQL DESCRIPTOR :input_sqlda;
•
Returns descriptions of output variables specified in the prepared statement 
identified by S1 to the SQL descriptor area identified by the character literal 
'output_sqlda':
EXEC SQL DESCRIBE OUTPUT S1
 USING SQL DESCRIPTOR 'output_sqlda'; 










