SQL vs. RPG opinions

["Dave Odom" <Dave.Odom@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Tom,

I'm glad to see that someone else has experienced the power and
capabilities of REXX.   Most likely, the reasons why the DB2 for AS/400
SQL Programming book has not been updated in ages, are:

1. Most folks on iSeries have not gone outside the box of CL, as it is
what they learned and works 
2. REXX has been around for years and is a rock-solid and
mission-critical-capable EXEC language which has not needed any
"fixing".

And to what you said: "The power of REXX combined with the power of SQL
allows lots of interesting stuff.",  your absolutely correct and an
example is doing matrix work as well as all the other things I
mentioned.  

Later,

Dave Odom
Arizona


Also, from the REXX reference:

"Note:  To use the EXECSQL environment on a system that does not have
the DB2/400 Query Management and SQL Development Kit Version 2 LPP,
5763-ST1, installed, see the DB2 for AS/400 SQL Programming for special
instructions for handling the REXX program."

That's from the section on ADDRESS with EXECSQL. It hasn't been updated
in ages, but seems to hold true into OS/400 version 5. There appears to
be zero documentation beyond the notes in the REXX Reference; DB2
manuals don't mention it, AFAIK. A call to IBM a number of months ago
led nowhere except "It's seems to work on our systems."

And it works here.

The power of REXX combined with the power of SQL allows lots of
interesting stuff.

Tom Liotta