You can perform most forms control through 4GL. However, if you must use forms control which is not supported in 4GL, you can call an ESQL procedure which displays a form. The table "File Extensions" shows the languages in which the forms-handling facilities of SQL are available.

If the ESQL procedure uses a form that is not used by any user-specified frame, it must initialize the form with exec sql forminit or exec sql addform. In addition, a compiled form that is not used by any user-specified frame must be specified in a link-options file. For more information, see ABF Architecture.

An ESQL procedure can operate on any form that has been displayed during the current session, whether the frame is currently visible or not.

The ESQL procedure must use an exec sql display statement to display the form. The ESQL code in ESQL procedures cannot perform exec sql connect, exec sql disconnect, exec frs forms or exec frs endforms statements. For details, see the SQL Reference Guide.