Using the Relational Data Framework › Storing Data in and Requesting Data From Relational Tables › How SQL Processes Host Variables

How SQL Processes Host Variables

If you defined a column as character data, SQL copies the data verbatim from the host variable. Therefore, the data SQL inserts into the table exactly matches the characters in the variable.

If you defined a column as numeric data, SQL assumes that the variable is a single sequence of digits that may have a leading minus sign. SQL ignores leading and trailing blanks.

If you defined a column as a hexadecimal value, SQL responds as follows:

• It accepts values in the form X'xxxx'.
• If the variable value is not in this form, SQL checks to see whether the value contains only hexadecimal digits 0-9, A-F, or both. If so, SQL converts the variable value into hexadecimal text.
• If the variable value does not have the form X'xxxx' or does not contain only hexadecimal digits, SQL sets the text exactly as is.