fetch returns the specified number of rows from the currently active set. Each fetch returns the subsequent batch of rows. For example, if the currently active set has 150 rows and you select and fetch 60 rows, the first fetch returns the first 60 rows. The next fetch returns the following 60 rows. The third fetch returns the last 30 rows.
To find the total number of rows fetched, see the SQLERRD variable
in the SQLCA, as described
in “SQLCA variables”.
Use the fetch into array method when you do not know the number of rows to be returned into the array. Declare and open a cursor, then use fetch to retrieve groups of rows. If a fetch into attempts to return more rows than the array can hold, the statement returns the maximum number of rows that the smallest array can hold and SQLCODE displays a negative value, indicating that an error or exception occurred.