Datatypes of Columns, Variables, or Parameters

You must declare the datatype for a column, local variable, or parameter. The datatype can be any of the system-supplied datatypes, or any user-defined datatype in the database.

• Declaring Datatypes for a Column in a Table
  Declare the datatype of a new column in a create table or alter table statement.
• Declaring Datatypes for Local Variable in a Batch or Procedure
  Use the declare function to declare the datatype for a local variable in a batch or stored procedure.
• Declaring Datatypes for a Parameter in a Stored Procedure
  Use the declare function to declare the datatype for a parameter in a stored procedure.
• Determine the Datatype of Numeric Literals
  Numeric literals entered with E notation are treated as float; all others are treated as exact numerics.
• Determine the Datatype of Character Literals
  You cannot declare the datatype of a character literal. SAP ASE treats character literals as varchar, except those that contain characters that cannot be converted to the server’s default character set.