Code page conversion expansion factor

When your application successfully completes an attempt to connect to a Db2® database server, you should consider the following fields in the returned SQLCA:
  • The second token in the SQLERRMC field (tokens are separated by X'FF') indicates the code page of the database. The ninth token in the SQLERRMC field indicates the code page of the application. Querying the application's code page and comparing it to the database's code page informs the application whether it has established a connection that will undergo character conversions.
  • The first and second entries in the SQLERRD array. SQLERRD(1) contains an integer value equal to the maximum expected expansion or contraction factor for the length of mixed character data (CHAR data types) when converted to the database code page from the application code page. SQLERRD(2) contains an integer value equal to the maximum expected expansion or contraction factor for the length of mixed character data (CHAR data types) when converted to the application code page from the database code page. A value of 0 or 1 indicates no expansion; a value greater than 1 indicates a possible expansion in length; a negative value indicates a possible contraction.

The considerations for graphic string data should not be a factor in unequal code page situations. Each string always has the same number of characters, regardless of whether the data is in the application or the database code page.