---
title: "SET DESCRIPTOR"
id: ecpg-sql-set-descriptor
pg_version: "20devel"
---

<a id="ecpg-sql-set-descriptor"></a>

# SET DESCRIPTOR — set information in an SQL descriptor area

## Synopsis

```
SET DESCRIPTOR descriptor_name descriptor_header_item = value
SET DESCRIPTOR descriptor_name VALUE number descriptor_item = value [, ...]
```

<a id="id-1.7.5.20.16.3"></a>

## Description

`SET DESCRIPTOR` populates an SQL descriptor area with values. The descriptor area is then typically used to bind parameters in a prepared query execution. 

This command has two forms: The first form applies to the descriptor "header", which is independent of a particular datum. The second form assigns values to particular datums, identified by number. 

<a id="id-1.7.5.20.16.4"></a>

## Parameters

<a id="ecpg-sql-set-descriptor-descriptor-name"></a>

**`descriptor_name`**

 A descriptor name. <a id="ecpg-sql-set-descriptor-descriptor-header-item"></a>

**`descriptor_header_item`**

 A token identifying which header information item to set. Only `COUNT`, to set the number of descriptor items, is currently supported. <a id="ecpg-sql-set-descriptor-number"></a>

**`number`**

 The number of the descriptor item to set. The count starts at 1. <a id="ecpg-sql-set-descriptor-descriptor-item"></a>

**`descriptor_item`**

 A token identifying which item of information to set in the descriptor. See [Section 34.7.1](ecpg-descriptors.md#ecpg-named-descriptors) for a list of supported items. <a id="ecpg-sql-set-descriptor-value"></a>

**`value`**

 A value to store into the descriptor item. This can be an SQL constant or a host variable. <a id="id-1.7.5.20.16.5"></a>

## Examples


EXEC SQL SET DESCRIPTOR indesc COUNT = 1;
EXEC SQL SET DESCRIPTOR indesc VALUE 1 DATA = 2;
EXEC SQL SET DESCRIPTOR indesc VALUE 1 DATA = :val1;
EXEC SQL SET DESCRIPTOR indesc VALUE 2 INDICATOR = :val1, DATA = 'some string';
EXEC SQL SET DESCRIPTOR indesc VALUE 2 INDICATOR = :val2null, DATA = :val2;
<a id="id-1.7.5.20.16.6"></a>

## Compatibility

`SET DESCRIPTOR` is specified in the SQL standard. 

<a id="id-1.7.5.20.16.7"></a>

## See Also

[ALLOCATE DESCRIPTOR](ecpg-sql-allocate-descriptor.md), [GET DESCRIPTOR](ecpg-sql-get-descriptor.md)