Valid in: ESQL

The WHENEVER statement enables your application to handle error and exception conditions arising from embedded SQL database statements. The WHENEVER statement directs the DBMS Server to perform a specified action when a specified condition occurs. The WHENEVER statement detects conditions by checking SQLCA variables, so an SQLCA must be included in your program before you issue the WHENEVER statement.

After a WHENEVER has been declared, it remains in effect until another WHENEVER is specified for the same condition. The WHENEVER statement has lexical (as opposed to logical) scope. For details, see the chapter “Working with Transactions and Handling Errors.”

WHENEVER statements can be repeated for the same condition and can appear anywhere after the INCLUDE SQLCA statement.