Overview

The statements defined in the Control category are the basis for the SQL procedural language used by SQL routines. An SQL routine usually contains procedural language statements and data manipulation statements. It can also use any statement as specified by the procedure-statement syntax.

Note: For more information, see CREATE PROCEDURE or CREATE FUNCTION.

The statements of the Control category include syntax to perform the following:

Direct the flow of control
Assign the result of expressions to variables and parameters
Specify condition handlers to process various conditions
Signal and resignal conditions
Declare local cursors

The advantages for writing SQL routines in the SQL language include:

Easy readable and simple but powerful programs
Single Language to access and process data
Native support for all the SQL data types makes handling of VARCHAR, DATE, TIME, and TIMESTAMP data a lot easier
Built-in NULL support avoids the burden of having to define and manipulate NULL indicators for nullable data such as table columns or parameters of SQL routines which are always nullable
Flexible handlers are able to process SQL events easily
A single development and test platform fully integrated in all CA IDMS supported environments