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Status Delivered
Workspace IBM i
Categories Db2 for i
Created by Guest
Created on Jun 7, 2021

Add special value to RUNSQLSTM MARGINS keyword so command will detect width of source record and set margin to that width

Many of our SQL scripts are "vertically" long (number of lines) due to the rigid constraint of column 80 for MARGIN.

Although RUNSQLSTM MARGIN(constant-value) can be used, the requirement of the value being a constant makes transitioning to wider source files difficult. Any value other than "80" requires a hard-coded value in all places where the command is used.


Use Case:

To improve readability and lessen the number of lines in an SQL script, we create a "wider" source file:

CRTSRCPF FILE(SOMELIB/QSQLSTM) RCDLEN(112)

Various statements are added to source member SOMELIB/QSQLSTM SRCMBR(NEWTABLE); several statements extend past column 80.

This command is executed:
RUNSQLSTM SRCFILE(SOMELIB /QSQLSTM)
SRCMBR(NEWTABLE)
COMMIT(*NONE)
DFTRDBCOL(SOMELIB)

The command produces errors because keyword MARGINS defaults to 80.

This command results in a successful execution:
RUNSQLSTM SRCFILE(SOMELIB /QSQLSTM)
SRCMBR(NEWTABLE)
COMMIT(*NONE)
MARGINS(100)
DFTRDBCOL(SOMELIB)

If the RUNSQLSTM keyword MARGINS supported a special value -- *WIDTH for example, …

RUNSQLSTM SRCFILE(SOMELIB /QSQLSTM)
SRCMBR(NEWTABLE)
COMMIT(*NONE)
MARGINS(*WIDTH)
DFTRDBCOL(SOMELIB)

…the command would determine that SRCFILE(SOMELIB/QSQLSTM) has a width of 100 characters and use that value as if MARGINS(100) was specified.


Idea priority Low
  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    May 3, 2022
    IBM believes that the request described has been solved and is available with IBM i 7.5, and with DB PTF Groups IBM i 7.4 SF99704 Level 20 and IBM i 7.3 SF99703 Level 28.

    For a description of this change, see https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6579401
  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Sep 2, 2021

    Clearly this is an important requirement. The value to be provided might be:

    MARGINS(*SRCFILE)

  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Jul 12, 2021

    The CEAC has reviewed this requirement and recommends that IBM view this as a MEDIUM priority requirement that should be addressed.

    Background: The COMMON Europe Advisory Council (CEAC) members have a broad range of experience in working with small and medium-sized IBM i customers. CEAC has a crucial role in working with IBM i development to help assess the value and impact of individual RFEs on the broader IBM i community and has therefore reviewed your RFE.

    To find out how CEAC help to shape the future of IBM i, see CEAC @ ibm.biz/BdYSYj and the article "The Five Hottest IBM i RFEs Of The Quarter" at ibm.biz/BdYSZT

    Therese Eaton – CEAC Program Manager, IBM

  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Jun 15, 2021

    IBM will use this request as input to planning but no commitment is made or implied. This request will be updated in the future if IBM implements it.

  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Jun 8, 2021

    This is one of those cases where you have to wonder what the original designer was smoking. Why even have this parameter on the RUNSQLSTM file?