Overall Considerations

Restriction: This topic applies to Windows environments only.

The varying-list SELECT requires use of the SQLDA and address functions (COBOL pointer variables). The other types of dynamic SQL may require those features under certain conditions.

The SQL Descriptor Area (SQLDA) is a data structure that holds information about the execution of dynamic SQL statements. See the SQL Reference for more information about including an SQLDA in your program. Also see your COBOL documentation for an explanation of the use of address functions.

Some SQL statements cannot be executed dynamically, usually because they are needed to enable dynamic SQL commands themselves. The SQL commands that cannot be executed dynamically are shown below.