[comp.lang.fortran] A small problem in FORTRAN using Oracle SQL

mldenny@bsu-cs.UUCP (Michael L. Denny) (10/22/87)

         Hello, 


This is my first post so please bear with me!

  I'm currently working on a FORTRAN program that is using
  embedded ORACLE SQL.  This program contains about 20 Subroutines
  where the call to each just uses 4 parameters. [ex.
  CALL NR_CONC(patient_ssn,patient_name,student_init,student_ssn)
  same parameters for each subroutine. ]
  There is no problem with the call. The problem occurs when I 
  display the selected data from the Data Base. 
  A BETTER EXPLANATION:   
  When I display the data retrieved from the Data Base it is fine...
  the main problem occurs when I select a different patient from 
  the Data Base.  When I try to display this new patient some of the 
  fields are still the same from the previously displayed patient! 

The questions is this: 
 1.) Why do these variables still retain some of the
     old information after the SELECT INTO statement? 
     Or the same after I declare FILE# CURSOR FOR SELECT 
     and read from the Data Base?
     (What I have noticed is that the fields are either null
     or just contain a CR, this is due to the insertion of the
     data into the data base. So, that when the selection is
     done it just ignores these fields and doesn't do any padding.)
 

What I have done so far, to get around the inconvience of this,
is to blank out the field so that at least 
a blank is there so no repitition of data is displayed.

What I would really like to do is find a way to blank out the fields
without having to put a blank in each variable.(Putting a blank into 
each variable added at least 2K to each Module.)  I have tried to 
use the COMMON block statement but that didn't seem to work or 
I might not have set it up right.  The way I was thinking about 
blanking out these fields is when I PCC (pre-compile) or in the
definition of the table itself. 

Any contributions or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
The system I'm working on is a VAX 11/785 running VAX/VMS v4.5
and using ORACLE v4.2.2 - Interim Release.


			Thanks again, 
			Michael L. Denny

/Student Intern Ball State University Computing Services
 Ball State University
 Muncie, In. 47304
[This is a project for BSU UCS but I'm working on my own; so this
 message does not necessarily reflect the views or ideas of BSU UCS.] 

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p.s.  If this is not clear a definition, send me a reply with some
      specific questions on why you weren't able to understand my 
      question. I will then repost with a better and clearer 
      definition of my problem.
thanks again!