Continuation for SQL statements in COBOL applications that use SQL

The line continuation rules for SQL statements are the same as those for other COBOL statements, except that EXEC SQL must be specified within one line.

If you continue a string constant from one line to the next, the first nonblank character in the next line must be either an apostrophe or a quotation mark. If you continue a delimited identifier from one line to the next, the first nonblank character in the next line must be either an apostrophe or a quotation mark.

Constants containing DBCS data can be continued across multiple lines by placing the shift-in character in column 72 of the continued line and the shift-out after the first string delimiter of the continuation line.

This SQL statement has a valid graphic constant of G'<AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJKK>'. The redundant shifts are removed.

*...+....1....+....2....+....3....+....4....+....5....+....6....+....7....+....8
EXEC SQL
SELECT * FROM GRAPHTAB           WHERE GRAPHCOL =  G'<AABB>
-        '<CCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJKK>'
END-EXEC.