Re: Embedded SQL in RPG -- MIDRANGE-L

Here's a way to avoid the NULLs -- use the COALESCE function for all the columns from file b. This function returns the first value in the list that is not NULL. So put your field from file b first, then a default value - 0 for numerics, ' ' for character fields.

select a.char1, a.num1, coalesce(b.char1, ' '), coalesce(b.num1, 0) from a left outer join b on a.join1 = b.join1

This way you do not need the indicator stuff at all.

BTW, you can use the VALUE( ) funciton instead of COALESCE( ) - they are the same thing.

HTH
Vern

At 12:49 PM 8/10/2004, you wrote:

I'm trying to find out how to code the following SQL statement.  I'm doing a
left outer join of file a to file b.  on filed Z.  Some of the values for
field Z do not exist in file b so SQL is returning null values for those
fields.  My RPG program is getting a negative value in the SULKED field and
when I look at the job log I get the following:
Indicator variable required
My question is how do I define the indicator variable?

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