Step 2: declare the stored procedure as an external function

You can declare a non-result-set database stored procedure as an external function or external subroutine in a PowerBuilder application. If the stored procedure has a return value, declare it as a function (using the FUNCTION keyword). If the stored procedure returns nothing or returns VOID, declare it as a subroutine (using the SUBROUTINE keyword).

You must use the RPCFUNC keyword in the function or subroutine declaration to indicate that this is a remote procedure call (RPC) for a database stored procedure rather than for an external function in a dynamic library. Optionally, you can use the ALIAS FOR "spname" expression to supply the name of the stored procedure as it appears in the database if this name differs from the one you want to use in your script.

For complete information about the syntax for declaring stored procedures as remote procedure calls, see the chapter on calling functions and events in the PowerScript Reference.

1. In the Script view in the User Object painter, select [Declare] from the first list and Local External Functions from the second list.

2. Place your cursor in the Declare Local External Functions view. From the pop-up menu or the Edit menu, select Paste Special>SQL>Remote Stored Procedures.

   PowerBuilder loads the stored procedures from your database and displays the Remote Stored Procedures dialog box. It lists the names of stored procedures in the current database.

   

3. Select the names of one or more stored procedures that you want to declare as functions for the user object, and click OK.

   PowerBuilder retrieves the stored procedure declarations from the database and pastes each declaration into the view.

   For example, here is the declaration that displays on one line when you select sp_addlanguage:

   function long sp_addlanguage()
   

   RPCFUNC ALIAS FOR "dbo.sp_addlanguage"
   

4. Edit the stored procedure declaration as needed for your application.

   Use either of the following syntax formats to declare the database remote procedure call (RPC) as an external function or external subroutine (for details about the syntax, see the PowerScript Reference):

   FUNCTION rtndatatype functionname ( { { REF } datatype1 arg1, ..., 
      { REF } datatypen argn } ) RPCFUNC { ALIAS FOR "spname" }
   

   SUBROUTINE functionname ( { { REF } datatype1 arg1 , ..., 
      { REF } datatypen argn } ) RPCFUNC { ALIAS FOR "spname" }
   

   Here is the edited RPC function declaration for sp_addlanguage:

   FUNCTION long sp_addlanguage()
   

      	RPCFUNC ALIAS FOR "addlanguage_proc"