>>-SYSTEM--+-expression-+--;-----------------------------------><
           '-SPL_var----'
 

If the specified expression is not a character expression, it is converted to a character expression and passed to the operating system for execution.

The command that SYSTEM specifies cannot run in the background. The database server waits for the operating system to complete execution of the command before it continues to the next statement in the SPL routine. The SPL routine cannot use any returned values from the command.

If the operating-system command fails (that is, returns a nonzero status for the command), an exception is raised that contains the returned operating-system status as the ISAM error code and an appropriate SQL error code.

A rollback does not terminate a system call, so a suspended transaction can wait indefinitely for the call to return. For instructions on recovery from a deadlock during a long transaction rollback, see the IBM Informix Administrator's Guide.

The dynamic log feature of Dynamic Server automatically adds log files until the long transaction completes or rolls back successfully.

In DBA- and owner-privileged SPL routines that contain SYSTEM statements, the command runs with the access privileges of the user who executes the routine.