RE: SQL Existence Check

I could be trite and reply.
Why not use SQL.
or
Because its there
or
you need to educate yourself on SQL as you don't know what
you are missing.
or
IBM is not developing ISAM further on the AS400
or
The industry standard is becoming SQL, (obsolescence looms)
but I will try to give a reasoned response.

When SQL was first available on the AS400 I had an opportunity
to ask the IBM developers the question
'What does SQL give me that ISAM does not.'
The answer was 'nothing'.
I then asked why did IBM develop SQL.
The answer was that SQL was a 'standard' way/method to access
any relational database on any computer system.
For a long time I put aside SQL as not being relevant.
I then was involved in a project that was scoped over
multiple platforms.  I found SQL was an excellent tool
for handling NULL, VCHAR, FTL DBLFLT, etc fields.
As I used SQL more I found I could write programs that
with the same code handled different sort sequences,
multiple selection criteria EASILY. Not that you cannot
do such things with CHAIN but CHAIN sure makes you jump
thru hoops.  Sure I can whack in an F spec for a simple
CHAIN or SETLL but why should I as I have not other F SPECS
and it makes the code look silly.
I am not writing code for cross platform applications
but I sure know how to , do you.

Frank Kolmann



From: "Joe Pluta" <joepluta@PlutaBrothers.com>
>
>> From: Frank.Kolmann@revlon.com
>>
>> I am also looking for a SQL equivalent to CHAIN or SETLL.
>
>I tried to not respond, but I just can't.  I find myself forced to ask the
>obvious question:
>
>Why not use a CHAIN?
>
>Joe