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General Syntax and Rules of an Embedded SQL Statement

An embedded SQL statement has the following format:

[margin] EXEC SQL SQL_statement [terminator]

When creating embedded SQL (ESQL) programs, remember the following points:

  • The margin, consisting of spaces or tabs, is the margin that the host language compiler requires before the regular host code. Not all languages require margins.

  • The keywords EXEC SQL must precede the SQL statement. EXEC SQL indicates to the embedded SQL preprocessor that the statement is an embedded SQL statement.

  • The terminator, which indicates the end of the statement, is specific to the host language. Different host languages require different terminators and some, such as Fortran, do not require any.

  • Embedded SQL statements can be continued across multiple lines according to the host language’s rules for line continuation.

  • A label can precede an embedded statement if a host language statement in the same place can be preceded by a label. Nothing can be placed between the label and the EXEC SQL keywords.

  • Host language comments must follow the rules for the host language.

Some host languages allow the placement of a line number in the margin.