Tutorial: Generate and Embed an SQL Program

Now that the SQL query has been generated, you can use OpenESQL Assistant to generate a generic COBOL program and embed the query right into it.

Requirements
Before attempting this tutorial, you must complete the following tutorials in the order listed:
  • Tutorial: Create a SQL Server Database
  • Tutorial: Create and Configure a Visual Studio Project
  • Tutorial: Set OpenESQL Assistant Configuration Options
  • Tutorial: Catalog a Connection
  • Tutorial: Build and Test a Query
Generate a Generic SQL Program
  1. In the OpenESQL Assistant, click the Auxiliary Code tab.
  2. From the Statement Type drop-down list, select Generic SQL Program.

    OpenESQL Assistant generates a generic SQL program in the Generated Auxiliary Code box on the Auxiliary Code tab.

Open Program1.cbl
The Program1.cbl program file was automatically generated and added to the OESQLAssistantTutorial project when the project was created. Here you delete its contents so you can replace them with the code generated by OpenESQL Assistant.
  1. In Solution Explorer, double-click Program1.cbl.

    This opens the source code editor with the cursor placed at the very beginning of the file.

  2. Select and delete all text in the file.
Embed the Generic SQL Program
Now you can embed the generic SQL program generated by the OpenESQL Assistant into the Program1.cbl file.
  1. Place your cursor at the beginning of the Program1.cbl file.
  2. On the OpenESQL Assistant, with the Auxiliary Code tab showing in the right pane, click Insert query into program (Insert query into program) from the toolbar.
  3. Switch back to Program1.cbl in the COBOL Editor.

    You can see that the generated code now appears in Program1.cbl.

  4. Click Save (Save) to save the program file. Do not close the COBOL Editor.
Embed the SQL Query
Next, you embed the generated SQL query into Program1.cbl.
  1. In the COBOL Editor, place the cursor on the line just after the comment:
    *> Put your program logic/SQL statements here
    
  2. On the OpenESQL Assistant, click the Query tab; then click Insert query into program (Create New Query) from the toolbar.
  3. Switch back to Program1.cbl in the COBOL Editor.

    You can see that the generated query code now appears in Program1.cbl.

  4. Click Save (Save) to save the program file. Do not close the COBOL Editor.