IBM i fans only - tips and tricks to start RPG free format programming with simple examples

Simple Example of Using Dynamic SQL in RPG Dynamic SQL is a powerful technique on IBM i that allows you to build SQL statements at runtime instead of hardcoding them. This flexibility is essential when your SQL needs to adapt based on user input, configuration, or variable conditions. In this post, I’ll walk you through a simple RPG example that uses a parameterized dynamic SQL statement to retrieve data from a file. The Program **FREE // ************************************************************* // * Author.......: ALDO SUCCI                                 * // * Description..: Simple example of using dynamic SQL in RPG * // *************************************************************   // Declare variable to hold the customer type (3 characters) dcl-s wCLCIB0 CHAR(3);   // Declare variable to hold the customer name retrieved from the database dcl-s wCLNOM...

SQL Indicator Variables in Embedded SQL for RPG on IBM i When working with DB2 on IBM i, handling NULL values properly is essential, especially when you retrieve data using embedded SQL in RPG. In this post, I’ll show you a simple and practical way to check if a column is NULL using what’s called an SQL Indicator Variable . The Scenario Let’s say you have a customer file called CLANA00F with the following fields: Field Type Length Description CLANN0 CHAR(1) 1 Customer status CLCCL0 DEC(7,0) 7 Customer ID CLCIB0 CHAR(3) 3 Customer type CLNOM0 CHAR(50) 50 Customer name CLSTS0 CHAR(1) 1 Customer status Now, imagine that CLSTS0 is nullable (i.e., it can contain NULL ), and you want to find out whether it has a value or not. The RPG Example **free ctl-opt dftactgrp ( *no ) actgrp ( *caller ); // **************************************************************** // * Autore.......: ALDO SUCCI ...