Declare host variables in COBOL applications that use SQL

The COBOL precompiler only recognizes a subset of valid COBOL declarations as valid host variable declarations.

• Numeric host variables in COBOL applications that use SQL
  The following figure shows the syntax for valid integer host variable declarations.
• Floating point host variables in COBOL applications that use SQL
  The following figure shows the syntax for valid floating point host variable declarations. Floating point host variables are only supported for ILE COBOL for iSeries™.
• Character host variables in COBOL applications that use SQL
  There are two valid forms of character host variables.
• Graphic host variables in COBOL applications that use SQL
  Graphic host variables are only supported in ILE COBOL for iSeries™.
• Binary host variables in COBOL applications that use SQL
  COBOL does not have variables that correspond to the SQL binary data types. To create host variables that can be used with these data types, use the SQL TYPE IS clause. The SQL precompiler replaces this declaration with a COBOL language structure in the output source member.
• LOB host variables in COBOL applications that use SQL
  COBOL does not have variables that correspond to the SQL data types for LOBs (large objects). To create host variables that can be used with these data types, use the SQL TYPE IS clause. The SQL precompiler replaces this declaration with a COBOL language structure in the output source member.
• Datetime host variables in COBOL applications that use SQL
  The following figure shows the syntax for valid date, time, and timestamp host variable declarations. Datetime host variables are supported only for ILE COBOL for iSeries™.
• ROWID host variables in COBOL applications that use SQL
  COBOL does not have a variable that corresponds to the SQL data type ROWID. To create host variables that can be used with this data type, use the SQL TYPE IS clause. The SQL precompiler replaces this declaration with a COBOL language structure in the output source member.