Re: SQL processing in RPG programs

["R. Bruce Hoffman, Jr." <rbruceh@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

-----Original Message-----
From: ilechr@cbs.fiserv.com <ilechr@cbs.fiserv.com>
To: RPG400-L@midrange.com <RPG400-L@midrange.com>
Date: Tuesday, September 26, 2000 12:03 PM
Subject: SQL processing in RPG programs


>
>
>Gentlemen and gentlewomen,
>
>At our company the tradition has always been to use embedded SQL for
retrieving
>data from SQL tables for use in RPG programs.
>
>When I asked why the good old fashioned F spec and opcodes SETLL, CHAIN etc
were
>not used the response was that null capable fields in the SQL tables made
this
>an unreliable method to adopt.


That's a nice answer, but the wrong one (IMNSHO).

The REASON to use SQL instead of RPG ops, is to code independently of
database changes and to force some operations(like group by and sum) down
into the database manager (in liew of say OPNQRYF or more RPG code). If the
SQL is coded to select the required fields and not just a blind select *,
then any changes to the database are not reflected in having to recompile
the world, just to add a field, and you can still map the fields from the
external descriptions.

Yes, you can add the field and turn off level checking, but that is
different.

Another possible answer may lie in a question.... when was the switch made?
What version and release? Unless my alzheimer's is acting up, nulls hit the
database before RPG could deal with them. Then you might have had a valid
answer...


===========================================================
R. Bruce Hoffman, Jr.
 -- IBM Certified Specialist - AS/400 Administrator
 -- IBM Certified Specialist - RPG IV Developer

"Those who would give up essential Liberty,
  to purchase a little temporary Safety,
  deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

     - The Papers of Ben Franklin



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