Return count of records from SQL select

I must be ready for the weekend, as I can't seem to remember how to do this
in RPG.

I need to know ONLY the number of rows that would be returned from an SQL
select statement. I don't need to know anything about the rows
themselves. The decision I need to make is based on whether the number of
rows from the select statement is zero or greater than zero.

I tried:
Exec SQL set :TheCount = select count(*) as aCount from File1;
which gave me:
SQL0312 30 7 Position 22 Variable THECOUNT not defined or not
usable.
SQL0199 30 7 Position 40 Keyword COUNT not expected. Valid
tokens:

I tried:
Exec SQL select * from File1;
Exec SQL Get Diagnostics :TheCount = Row_Count;
which gave me:
SQL0029 30 7 Position 17 INTO clause missing from embedded
statement.
SQL0312 30 8 Position 34 Variable THECOUNT not defined or not
usable.

- Dan