SQL record internals

You need to be aware of the internal layout of an SQL record in any of these situations:

• You use an EGL assignment statement to copy an SQL record to or from a record of a different type

• The run-time argument passed to an EGL program is an SQL record, but the program parameter is not an SQL record

• The run-time argument passed to an EGL function is an SQL record; in this case, the parameter must be a working storage record

• You receive an SQL record as a parameter in a non-EGL program

Four bytes precede each structure item in an SQL record. The first two bytes are a null indicator, and a null is interpreted as any negative value. The second two bytes are reserved for use as a length field, and you should not access that field.

Related concepts
Function part
Program part
SQL support

Related reference
Assignments