Indicator Variables

I am using esql cobol to access an informix 7.2 database running on an HP 9k. The indicator variable for column x is -256 in the cobol program (indicating no value) but when I look at column x in dbaccess there is a valid value. Also when specifying a host variable for a query that will be compared with a date column in a table how should that host variable be defined? Currently I am using PIC X(8). This works but is there an internal conversion going on by comparing a host variable of x(8) with a date? I know this can be very costly. Thanks, Vic Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Share what you know. Learn what you don't.