== Why is this an issue?

The number of columns in a ``++FETCH++`` statement should match the number actually selected in the relevant cursor. Use more columns in the ``++FETCH++`` than the cursor, and you've got a data problem, because the variables you expect to be updated by the cursor are never actually touched, and neither are their null indicators. Instead, they retain whatever value they had before the fetch. Meaning you're operating with bad data. 


=== Noncompliant code example

[source,cobol]
----
      EXEC SQL
        DECLARE C-SQL-CURSOR CURSOR
          SELECT COLUMN1
                ,COLUMN2
                ,COLUMN3
            FROM TBLWTABLE
          WITH UR
      END-EXEC.

      …

      EXEC SQL
        FETCH C-SQL-CURSOR
        INTO  :H-COLUMN1 :H-COLUMN1-IND  -- Noncompliant
             ,:H-COLUMN2 :H-COLUMN2-IND
             ,:H-COLUMN3 :H-COLUMN3-IND
             ,:H-COLUMN4 :H-COLUMN4-IND  -- Not selected
             ,:H-COLUMN5 :H-COLUMN5-IND  -- Not selected
----


=== Compliant solution

[source,cobol]
----
      EXEC SQL
        DECLARE C-SQL-CURSOR CURSOR
          SELECT COLUMN1
                ,COLUMN2
                ,COLUMN3
                ,COLUMN4
                ,COLUMN5
            FROM TBLWTABLE
          WITH UR
      END-EXEC.

      …

      EXEC SQL
        FETCH C-SQL-CURSOR
        INTO  :H-COLUMN1 :H-COLUMN1-IND
             ,:H-COLUMN2 :H-COLUMN2-IND
             ,:H-COLUMN3 :H-COLUMN3-IND
             ,:H-COLUMN4 :H-COLUMN4-IND
             ,:H-COLUMN5 :H-COLUMN5-IND
----
or

[source,cobol]
----
      EXEC SQL
        DECLARE C-SQL-CURSOR CURSOR
          SELECT COLUMN1
                ,COLUMN2
                ,COLUMN3
            FROM TBLWTABLE
          WITH UR
      END-EXEC.

      …

      EXEC SQL
        FETCH C-SQL-CURSOR
        INTO  :H-COLUMN1 :H-COLUMN1-IND
             ,:H-COLUMN2 :H-COLUMN2-IND
             ,:H-COLUMN3 :H-COLUMN3-IND
----


ifdef::env-github,rspecator-view[]

'''
== Implementation Specification
(visible only on this page)

=== Message

Refactor this ``++FETCH++`` to select the same number of columns selected in "xxx".


=== Highlighting

* primary: ``++INTO++`` + column list in ``++FETCH++`` statement
* secondary: ``++SELECT++`` + column list in cursor


'''
== Comments And Links
(visible only on this page)

=== relates to: S4103

endif::env-github,rspecator-view[]