SEC_SQLI VARA Objects

SEC_SQLI or Secure SQL Internal VARA objects retrieve values from the Automation Engine database in a secure manner. The difference between SQLI (SQL Internal) and SEC_SQLI VARA objects is that with SEC_SQLI variables can always be inserted in the SQL statements regardless of the VAR_SECURITY_LEVEL setting in the UC_SYSTEM_SETTINGS - Systemwide Settings variable. To include variables in the SQL, you need to use bind parameters. In doing so, you cannot compose SQL statements, and this protects the database from the risk of an SQL injection.

As in SQLI VARA objects, the variable values in SEC_SQLI are directly retrieved from the Automation Engine database. This means that you do not need a database Agent.

For technical reasons, the system cannot check whether only SELECT commands are used in the variable SQL.

Important!

When using SEC_SQLI VARA objects take the following into account:

• This type of VARA object does not support binary fields. Binary data that result from an SQL query causes an error in the preview or when the values are retrieved at runtime.

• For technical reasons, the system does not check the SQL statements that are processed with database VARA objects (SEC_SQLI, SEC_SQL, SQLI, and SQL types). This means that you can change or delete data records by using VARA objects. For security reasons, consider restricting user access accordingly. If possible, deploy a database user with read-only rights for VARA objects that can access an external database (SQL, SQL SECURE). For internal SQL variables (SQLI, SQLI SECURE), you can limit object access via a privilege (create and modify SQL-internal variables).

• Depending on the data type, this VARA object returns "" (string, date, time, timestamp) or 0 (number) for NULL values.

• Use PromptSet variables here when you use the Dynamic Reload feature for combo box prompts. The PromptSet variables are resolved when the object that includes the PromptSet is executed.

• You can include PromptSet variables here when using the dynamic reload feature for combo box prompts. When you use PromptSet variables in a dynamic VARA object, the Preview feature returns an error. This is because the PromptSet variables do not exist in the dynamic VARA object. However, the PromptSet variables will be resolved when objects including the PromptSet are executed.

Prerequisites

• SQLVAR_INTERNAL is set to YES in the UC_SYSTEM_SETTINGS - Systemwide Settings  
• The maximum number of returned lines in the SQLVAR_MAX_ROWS is set (UC_SYSTEM_SETTINGS)
• Your user definition has the right to Create and modify SQL-internal variables

Overview

A SEC_SQLI VARA object definition is made up of the following pages:

• General Page

  Common to all object types, here you define basic object information and apply custom values to it

• Variables

  Here you define the object-specific settings. Some sections on this page are common to all VARA objects and are described for all of them in dedicated topics:

  • Variable Settings, see below
  • Bind Parameters, see below
  • Data Types and Formatting
  • Script Access
  • Client 0 VARA Objects in Other Clients
  • Preview, see below

• Version Management Page

  Common to all object types, here you find a list of all versions of the object

• Documentation Page

  Common to all object types, here you enter information that you consider important to understand the configuration and behavior of the object

To Define an SEC_SQLI VARA Object

1. In the Variable Settings section, specify the following:

   • Type

     Read-only, always SQL - internal

   • SQL Server / Oracle / DB2 / PostgreSQL Statement

     Statements used to select specific database entries that serve as variable values. You have two options:

     • Type your statement in the input field
     • Click the icon to open the cell editor and enter your SQL statement

     Maximum length: 4096 characters.

     Important! Variables that are directly specified in SQL are replaced. To include variables, use bind parameters.

2. In the Bind Parameters section, you insert variable values within SQL statements. You can use variable or VARA object names as bind parameters with any values of your choice. If a variable or VARA object does not exist, no values are replaced but the variable or VARA object name is used. This can cause an error when the variable or VARA object is resolved.

   You can enter the following type of variables and VARA objects:

   • Script variables
   • Object variables
   • Predefined variables
   • Predefined and user-defined VARA objects

   Each line in the table represents one bind parameter.

   Supported Data Types and Input Formats

   • Date: yyyy-mm-dd
   • Time: hh:mm:ss
   • Timestamp: yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss
   • String: any string
   • Boolean: possible values: 0 / 1 or true / false
   • Number: no thousand separator, a decimal point as a decimal separator

   Important!

   • Only the field types and formats previously listed are supported
   • Data types are not converted (no conversion from timestamp to date)
   • Inserting an invalid value causes an error when the SQL commands are processed
   • The VAR_SECURITY_LEVEL variable does not impose any limitations
   • In the SQL statements, you must use a "?" character at every location where the replaced value of a bind parameter should be inserted. A bind parameter must exist for each "?". Ensure that you maintain the correct order (table).
   • You cannot use bind parameters multiple times
   • Do not use SQL functions as bind parameters because in some cases they do not match the data type and input format.

3. Define the Data Types and Formatting.

4. Define the Script Access.

5. To run a command, select it and click Preview. The statements are executed and their results displayed. The preview function serves to check for potential errors in the database statements (for example, it the data type of the VARA object and of the database do not match).

   Example:

   The following SQL statement is entered in the SQL Server Statement field. The values of the bind variables replace the "?" characters.

   select ah_name as ObjectName,ah_timestamp1 as ActivationTime,ah_timestamp2 as StartTime,ah_timestamp4 as EndTime from ah

   where ah_client = ?

   and ah_otype = ?

   and ah_deleteflag = ?

   and ah_hostdst = ?

   order by ah_name asc

6. To export the content of the preview table to a CSV file, click Export Table. All rows and column are exported. Use this function if you need to further process the content of the CSV file (paste it to a different application for further processing and so on).

7. To copy one or more rows in the Preview table, select the Copy button. The selected rows are copied to the clipboard and you can paste them to a third party tool (Google, Sheets, Excel, text editor, and so on).

   Note: This function is available only if https is used on the Automic Web Interface .

8. Save your changes.

See also:

• User-Defined VARA Objects
• Variables and VARA Objects
• Inserting Variables/VARA Objects in Objects and Scripts