Ingres provides Dynamic SQL and Dynamic FRS to allow you to write generic programs. Dynamic SQL allows a program to build and execute SQL statements at runtime. For example, an application can include an expert mode in which the runtime user can type in select queries and browse the results at the terminal. Dynamic FRS allows a program to interact with any form at runtime. For example, an application can load in any form, allowing the runtime user to retrieve new data from the form and insert it into the database.

The Dynamic SQL and Dynamic FRS statements are described in the SQL Reference Guide and the Forms-based Application Development Tools User Guide. This section discusses the COBOL‑dependent issues of dynamic programming. For a complete example of using Dynamic SQL to write an SQL Terminal Monitor application, see The SQL Terminal Monitor Application in this chapter. For an example of using both Dynamic SQL and Dynamic FRS to browse and update a database using any form, see A Dynamic SQL/Forms Database Browser in this chapter.

The Windows examples in this section are written exclusively for Micro Focus COBOL Windows and make use of the MF extensions to the COBOL language, in particular the POINTER usage clause.

The Linux examples in this section are written exclusively for Micro Focus COBOL II and make use of the MF extensions to the COBOL language, in particular the POINTER usage clause.