Re: Embedded SQL with DSPF problem.

A number of things:
1 - You do not need the external file name if you are accessing it via sql
2 - I'd use an external data structure for field definitions.  Like
D myds       eds                                     extname(item_pf)
3 - How many items with the same item number do you expect to find in the 
item file?  Doesn't the file have a primary key constraint?  If you are 
only expecting one, then get rid of the cursor and use a direct select 
into.  If you insist on using the cursor, then you will need to close it 
and open it within your loop.  Notice that the open on the cursor has a 
WHERE clause?  Notice that you are selecting on an item number before you 
are prompted for it?  That will work on the parameter that you passed into 
the program, but not on any values prompted.
4 - skip %found, use sqlstt for the select into, or the fetch.

If you need to test for multiple item numbers you may want to try
select count(*), itemnbr, max(itemdescr) from item_pf
group by itemnbr
having count(*)>1

Rob Berendt