Prepared SQL in 4GL

I hope someone can help. In a 4GL program is it quicker to prepare a piece of SQL and then execute it, rather than just embedd the SQL statement directly in the code. I know that if you need to use variables and place holders then you have to prepare the SQL, but for example, a select for use with a cursor. Is it quicker to declare the cursor directly from embedded SQL or by using a prepared SQL statment? ------------------------------------- Name: Richard Yeardly E-mail: Richard Yeardly <ryeardly@eurobrok.co.uk> Date: 09/14/95 Time: 11:08:42