Output Parameter from stored procedures in Sybase ASE

I have never worked with Sybase, until recently – since one of my current employer’s clients is having their data almost fully in Sybase. A really early version of Sybase too.

Now there are a slew of things that you would have to re-adjust to when you are working with Sybase, especially after working extensively and entirely in SQL. Sybase is case sensitive and we are currently given to work with SQL Advantage which is a pretty naïve tool and stands no where close to my favorite Query Analyzer. But of course, it was built for the yesteryears. If there is anyone I should blame, it must be the client for still not upgrading!

So, as and when I learn something, I would try to note it down here.

First thing I learnt –
Problem:
Output parameters on Sybase stored procedures would not return back to your recordset.

Usual workarounds
Will “Select” the value and get it as part of the result set

Actual Fix
Set the CursorLocation property of the Connection object to adUseClient (adovbs.inc value 3), like this:

objConn.CursorLocation = adUseClient

OR

objConn.CursorLocation = 3