SQL descriptor area (SQLIMSDA)
An SQLIMSDA is a collection of variables that is required for execution of the SQLIMS DESCRIBE statement, and can be optionally used by the FETCH statements. An SQLIMSDA can be used in a DESCRIBE statement, modified with the addresses of host variables, and then reused in a FETCH statement.
The meaning of the information in an SQLIMSDA depends on the context in which it is used. For DESCRIBE, IMS sets the fields in the SQLIMSDA to provide information to the application program. For FETCH, the application program sets the fields in the SQLIMSDA to provide IMS with information:
- DESCRIBE statement-name
- With the exception of SQLIMSN, IMS sets fields of the SQLIMSDA to provide information to an application program about a prepared statement. Each SQLIMSVAR occurrence describes a column of the result table.
- FETCH
- The application program sets fields of the SQLIMSDA to provide
information about host variables or output buffers in the application
program to IMS. Each SQLIMSVAR
occurrence describes a host variable or output buffer.
- For FETCH, each SQLIMSVAR occurrence describes a host variable or buffer in the application program that is to be used to contain an output value from a row of the result.