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Status Future consideration
Workspace IBM i
Categories Db2 for i
Created by Guest
Created on Jun 18, 2021
Merged idea
This idea has been merged into another idea. To comment or vote on this idea, please visit IBMI-I-2874 Allow more than 1 level of qualified datastructures in SQLRPGLE.

Allow nested DS as SQL hostvariable Merged

When performing a join of two tables the resulting host variable that contains (all) fields of the two tables cannot be defined as...

Dcl-DS tFileA ExtName('FILEA') Qualified Alias Template;
End-Ds;

Dcl-DS tFileB ExtName('FILEB') Qualified Alias Template;
End-Ds;

Dcl-DS Data Qualified;
FileA LikeDS(tFileA);
FileB LikeDS(tFileB);
End-Ds;

Doing so results in SQL0312 saying that the subfields is not a valid SQL type. As a result of this I need to code all individual fields which is error prone when file changes happen.


Use Case:

When performing a join of two tables the resulting host variable that contains (all) fields of the two tables cannot be defined as...

Dcl-DS tFileA ExtName('FILEA') Qualified Alias Template;
End-Ds;

Dcl-DS tFileB ExtName('FILEB') Qualified Alias Template;
End-Ds;

Dcl-DS Data Qualified;
FileA LikeDS(tFileA);
FileB LikeDS(tFileB);
End-Ds;

Doing so results in SQL0312 saying that the subfields is not a valid SQL type. As a result of this I need to code all individual fields which is error prone when file changes happen.


Idea priority High
  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Oct 10, 2021

    IBM believes this request is a duplicate of RFE
    http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/rfe/execute?use_case=viewRfe&CR_ID=144623

    Please use that RFE to cast a vote or add a comment.

    Allowing additional nesting of RPG structures is what makes these RFEs alike. The other RFE will be used tor tracking this request, and will be updated in the future if IBM decides to implement the enhancement.

  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Jul 21, 2021

    I doubt it is up to the CAAC to judge which fields I need on an SQL statement (Yes, I know that SELECT * isn't the best coding practice) but when doing basic CRUD operations it is usually 95% of the fields I need anyway. This request isn't specific related to the SELECT * neither, I could for example select a monthly turnover from a customer (being a sub DS) and some extra fields (being the main DS with the sub DS included).

    The example is just an easy way of demonstrating the issue (which is that SQL is currently very limited with both input and output structures in general, as well as other constructs like using expressions).

  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Jul 20, 2021

    The CAAC has reviewed this requirement and recommends that IBM not implement this request. Even though this nicely supports the use of SELECT *, that is not a recommended practice for many reasons. It is better to specify exactly only the columns you need.

    Background: The COMMON Americas Advisory Council (CAAC) members have a broad range of experience in working with small and medium-sized IBM i customers. CAAC has a key 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.

    For more information about CAAC, see www.common.org/caac

    Nancy Uthke-Schmucki - CAAC Program Manager

  • 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. CEAC recommends that IBM review how to easier get an external description of columns in a SQL curser.

    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 21, 2021

    https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/rfe/execute?use_case=viewRfe&CR_ID=132950