====== OPEN Statement - PL/HQL Reference ======

OPEN statement opens a cursor.

**Syntax**:

<code language=sql>
OPEN cursor_name [FOR expression | select_statement];
</code>

**Description:**
| cursor_name | The name of the previously declared cursor if FOR clause is not specified |
| FOR expression | Variable or expression that contains a dynamic SQL | 
| FOR select_statement | SELECT statement |

**Examples:**

Open the previously declared cursor:

<code language=sql>
DECLARE tabname VARCHAR(20) DEFAULT 'db.orders';
DECLARE id INT;
DECLARE cur CURSOR FOR 'SELECT id FROM ' || tabname;
OPEN cur;
FETCH cur INTO id;
WHILE SQLCODE=0 THEN  
  PRINT id;
  FETCH cur INTO id;
END WHILE;
CLOSE cur;
</code>

Open a cursor using a dynamic SQL:

<code language=sql>
DECLARE tabname VARCHAR(20) DEFAULT 'db.orders';
DECLARE id INT;
OPEN cur FOR 'SELECT id FROM ' || tabname;
FETCH cur INTO id;
WHILE SQLCODE=0 THEN  
  PRINT id;
  FETCH cur INTO id;
END WHILE;
CLOSE cur;
</code>

**Compatibility:** Oracle, IBM DB2, Teradata, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL and Netezza.

**See also:**
  * [[declare-cursor|DECLARE CURSOR]]
  * [[fetch|FETCH]]
  * [[close|CLOSE]]
  * [[sqlcode|SQLCODE]]