embedded-sql

name

embedded-sql

description

Use when the user needs to write, review, or migrate SQL queries in ADVPL/TLPP using BeginSQL/EndSQL blocks and macro expressions (%table%, %xfilial%, %notDel%, %exp%, %Order%) instead of raw TCQuery string concatenation -- covering INNER/LEFT JOIN patterns, aggregations (SUM/COUNT/GROUP BY/HAVING), subqueries, column type declarations, DML via TCSqlExec, and SQL-injection prevention. Also triggers on Portuguese phrasing like "consulta SQL", "query embutida", "migrar TCQuery para BeginSQL", "escrever SELECT com filial e notDel", or "montar JOIN em ADVPL".

Embedded SQL in ADVPL/TLPP

This skill covers writing SQL inside ADVPL/TLPP using BeginSQL ... EndSQL blocks and their special macro expressions -- %table:TABLE% for physical table resolution, %xfilial:TABLE% for branch filtering, %notDel% for logical-deletion filtering, %exp:EXPRESSION% for safe variable binding, and %Order:TABLE% for primary-key ordering. It also covers column type declarations, JOIN and aggregation patterns, subqueries, and migrating legacy TCQuery string-concatenation code to Embedded SQL.

Activate this skill whenever the user is writing a new query, reviewing an existing one for correctness/safety, or converting old concatenated-string SQL to the modern BeginSQL syntax. It also covers the restrictions and gotchas of BeginSQL (no * at line start, always include %notDel% and filial filtering, use GetNextAlias(), close aliases) and when to use TCSqlExec instead for INSERT/UPDATE/DELETE.

It does not cover general native function lookups unrelated to SQL (see protheus-reference), business-process context for which tables/fields to query (see protheus-business), or generating documentation for a routine that happens to contain SQL (see documentation-patterns).

Reference file	Read when
reference.md	Always -- BeginSQL syntax, macro expressions, JOIN/aggregation/subquery patterns, DML via TCSqlExec, performance tips, and TCQuery migration