When retrieving data from a table with the FIX attribute, an entire row can be retrieved as a fixed-length record. In a sense, the entire row is manipulated as a single column. This is called retrieval on a row basis; ROW is specified in the selection clause of the SELECT statement.

Retrieval on a row basis reduces retrieving overhead for each column, so it enhances access performance.

Figure 2-10 shows an example of retrieval on a row basis. Here, a cursor (CUR1) is used, and product name POLO SHIRT only is retrieved from the stock table and set into the embedded variable (:XROW). For details about an embedded variable, see the HiRDB Version 6 SQL Reference manual.

Figure 2-10 Example of retrieval on a row basis