• 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. To determine if a margin is required, see the Embedded SQL Companion Guide.

• The keywords EXEC SQL must precede the OpenSQL statement; otherwise the statement is ignored. These words must appear together on a single line. They signal the preprocessor that the statement is an embedded OpenSQL statement.

• The statement terminator depends on the requirements of the host language. Different host languages require different terminators. Some host languages, such as Fortran, do not require a statement terminator.

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

• Labels can precede the embedded statement if a host language statement in the same place can be preceded by a label. The label must be at the correct margin for labels and no syntactic element (including comments) can appear between it and the EXEC keyword.

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

• Some host languages allow you to place a line number in the margin.