Using the INTO sqlda Pointer Clause

The INTO sqlda_pointer clause allocates memory for an sqlda structure and store its address in an sqlda pointer. The DESCRIBE INPUT statement fills in the allocated memory with descriptive information.

The DESCRIBE INPUT statement sets the sqlda.sqld field to the number of values in the statement list. The sqlda structure also contains an array of data descriptors (sqlvar structures), one for each value in the statement list. After a DESCRIBE statement is executed, the sqlda.sqlvar structure has the sqltype, sqllen, and sqlname fields set.

If the column has an opaque data type, DESCRIBE INPUT . . . INTO sets the sqlxid, sqltypename, sqltypelen, sqlownerlen, and sqlownername fields of the item descriptor.

The DESCRIBE INPUT statement allocates memory for an sqlda pointer once it is declared in a program. The application program, however, must designate the storage area of the sqlda.sqlvar.sqldata fields.