Re: Embedded SQL

> Is there a way to use variables in embedded sql commands in C/UNIX > environment? This is what I want to do > select :var_column_name from :var_table_name; > I know how to host variables but wanted to know if host variables > canbe used for the table and column names. > Thanks in advance There are many ways. Someone else will probably tell you how to use the PREPARE statement from within I-4GL. If you are using Informix ESQL/C then I'm sure there is a way there, too, but I don't know it offhand. (sorry) One way you probably won't hear about is using only unix shells. We have a couple of instances where we build a command string using unix scripts (including env variables) and pipe them to isql. It works like this: $ TABLE_NAME="table";export TABLE_NAME #!/bin/sh echo "type in the column name:" read column_name echo "select $column_name from $TABLE_NAME where..." | isql dbname You could also do something like: $ run_shell_to_build_sql_statement.sh $ cat sql_statement.sql | isql dbname One caveat is that if you check the status of the isql command it will return whether the command "isql" *itself* worked, and not whether it had an error getting rows, or with the database, or whatever. This method is pretty simple, but also pretty simplistic. After a short while it becomes worth the effort to use 4GL or ESQL/C. Enjoy, __________________________________________________________________ | Clem Akins Standard Disclaimers Apply | |Reynolds Metals Co, Alloys Plant "Climb High, Cave Deep!" | | Muscle Shoals, Alabama USA cwakins@leia.alloys.rmc.com | |________________________________________________________________|