Re: Trouble managing OVRDBF inside a program

David is right - I would only say, the I would completely avoid OVRDBF as a command from inside a RPG program - or better - I try to avoid OVRDBF completely - especially with SQL.

The easiest solution to open files from different libraries is to create the SQL statement dynamically - like:

	#sql = 'INSERT INTO '+lib+'.TABLENAME VALUES(?, ?, ?, ?, ...';
	exec sql prepare stmInsert from #sql;
	exec sql execute stmInsert using :col1, :col2, :col3, :col4, ...;

This should work - you have to prepare the statement once per library/table and then execute it once for each record.

No OVRDBF needed.
 
HTH
Daniel


> Am 02.02.2026 um 14:51 schrieb David Gibbs via RPG400-L <[email protected]>:
> 
> On Mon, Feb 2, 2026 at 7:46 AM Luca Giammattei <[email protected]>
> wrote:
> 
>> doU MyDS(x).companyLib = *blanks;
>>  If %trim(MyDS(x).companyLib) <> defaultCompany;
>>    rc=DoCmd('OVRDBF FILE(MyFILE00F) TOFILE(' +
>> %trim(MyDS(x).companyLib) + '/MyFILE00F)');
>> 
>> 
> Are you closing the file before the OVRDBF and reopening it after?
> 
> The way I've always done that is...
> 
> 1. Code the file as usropn.
> 2. Close the file if it's open (use %open bif)
> 3. Run the OVRDBF
> 4. Reopen the file
> 5. Close the file when done
> 
> david

> Am 02.02.2026 um 14:46 schrieb Luca Giammattei <[email protected]>:
> 
> Hellò everybody.
> In my IBM i we manage multiple companies.
> Each company has its own data library, and the company data libraries all
> have more or less the same files.
> I receive an ascii file from outside and need to manage it by writing some
> data to some companies, but not all of them.
> So, in my program I have a situation like this (in semipseudocode):
> 
> dcl-ds MyDS qualified Inz dim(20);
>  companyLib char(10);
>  foo char(2);
>  bar char(12);
>  rtw likeds(rowsToWrite) dim(25);
> End-DS;
> 
> ---
> doU MyDS(x).companyLib = *blanks;
>  If %trim(MyDS(x).companyLib) <> defaultCompany;
>    rc=DoCmd('OVRDBF FILE(MyFILE00F) TOFILE(' +
> %trim(MyDS(x).companyLib) + '/MyFILE00F)');
>    if rc <> 0;
>      logError(yabadaba);
>      iter;
>    else;
>      rc=insertCompanyData(MyDS(x).rtw);
>      if rc=0;
>        exec sql commit;
>      else;
>        logError(anotheryabadaba);    
>      endif
>      rc=DoCmd('DLTOVR FILE(MyFILE00F)');
>      if rc <> 0;
>       logError(yabadabadoo);
>      endif;            
>    endif;
>  endIF;
>  x +=1;
> endDo;
> 
> 
> The program runs with a user who has associated a job description that
> contains the list of libraries for company A, let's call it the default or
> main company, but it must also be able to write to the file present in the
> data library of company B and company C o D, one of the many other
> companies we manage. Program is an sqlrpgle, data insert is done via "exec
> sql insert into", pgm has no dcl-f or any f spec used, when running the
> first over dub file it works like a charm, while the second time (or the
> third or the fourth) the OVRDBF command does not work, and I don't see
> anything in the DSPJOBLOG, substitions checked via DSPOVR command shows
> nothing happened, I am for surely missing something, can any kind soul out
> there point me to what i am missing? TIA
> 
-- 
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