Database Calls

AMB Database (DB) calls are predefined, easy-to-use statements with common syntax that allows transparent access to a variety of databases. The AMB DB calls let you focus on what needs to be accomplished, rather than the mechanics of the target environment. To address environment-specific requirements, you can extend these calls with arguments; no native coding is required. These calls facilitate both generic processing and specialized requests.

Restriction: This topic applies only when the AppMaster Builder AddPack has been installed, and applies only to Windows platforms.

AMB supports the following database calls and targets.

Database Call	Description	Targets
DB-CLOSE	Close a file or cursor set.	SQL VSAM Batch
DB-COMMIT	Perform the COMMIT function.	IMS SQL
DB-DECLARE	Declare a cursor set.	SQL
DB-ERASE	Delete a row or record.	IMS SQL VSAM Batch VSAM Online
DB-FETCH	Obtain a row from a cursor set.	SQL
DB-FREE	Release file resources.	VSAM Online
DB-MODIFY	Update a row or record.	IMS SQL VSAM Batch VSAM Online
DB-OBTAIN	Read a table or record.	IMS SQL VSAM Batch VSAM Online
DB-OPEN	Open a cursor set or file.	SQL VSAM Batch
DB-PROCESS	Read a table or file and loop on it.	IMS SQL VSAM Batch VSAM Online
DB-ROLLBACK	Perform the ROLLBACK function.	IMS SQL
DB-STORE	Add a record to the database or file.	IMS SQL VSAM Batch VSAM Online
DB-SUBSCHEMA	Include a data view in your program.	IMS SQL

Note: AMB Logical View DB calls can consist of a call name, keywords, and arguments. Observe the General Rules when you code a DB call.

General Rules:

Code the call using COBOL indentation. Improperly indented calls may cause errors.
Argument values can be:
- Variables
- 1- to 7-digit numbers
- Literal strings delimited by single or double quotation marks
An alternate value can be a literal, column name, or host-variable.
A host-variable is any COBOL data item referenced in your AMB SQL code; can a be data item generated automatically by AMB to match a DB2 column name.
An alternate host-variable is one you instruct AMB to use instead of the automatically generated one for a column.
Precede host-variables and alternate host-variables with a colon. AMB generates a # symbol for the colon.
Separate each call component with a space, unless indicated otherwise in the syntax.
Never code comments within database calls.
Continue a call on as many as 101 subsequent lines by coding an ellipsis followed by a space (... ). Break a call for continuation at any blank space, but do not break a parameter.