A graphic string is a sequence of double-byte characters. The length of the string is the number of its characters. Like character strings, graphic strings can be empty.
When fixed-length graphic-string distinct types, columns, and variables are defined, the length attribute is specified and all values have the same length. For a fixed-length graphic string, the length attribute must be between 1 through 16 383 inclusive. See SQL limits for more information.
A Double-Byte Character Large OBject (DBCLOB) column is useful for storing large amounts of double-byte character data, such as documents written using a double-byte character set.
Distinct types, columns, and variables all have length attributes. When varying-length graphic-string distinct types, columns, and variables are defined, the maximum length is specified and this becomes the length attribute. Actual values may have a smaller length. For a varying-length graphic string, the length attribute must be between 1 through 16 370 inclusive. For a DBCLOB string, the length attribute must be between 1 through 1 073 741 823 inclusive. See SQL limits for more information.
For the restrictions that apply to the use of long varying-length strings, see Limitations on use of strings.
Although fixed-length graphic-string variables cannot be defined in PL/I, COBOL/400®, and RPG/400®, a character-string variable will be treated like a fixed-length graphic-string variable if it was generated in the source from a GRAPHIC column in the external definition of a file.