Copying VARCHAR2 Data type to a Java Host Variable of String type in embedded SQL

[sharath kv]

Hi
I would like to know 2 things:
1) Is it possible to copy varchar2 type to a java host variable of type String in an
Anonymous PL/SQL in SQLJ.
Eg:
String var1; // Java String variable var1
String a;
String x;

try { // PL/SQL Block begins here
#sql {
DECLARE
b varchar2(2000);
msg varchar2(2000);
ret boolean;

BEGIN
ret:=di.func(:IN var1, UT a,msg);
b := UT a; //Unable to copy from a to b??
ret1:=ni.func2(:IN b, UT x,msg);
-- Unable to use :IN b i,e the output buffer
-- of the above procedure as input to
-- another procedure
END;
};
catch(SQLException e) { }
2) My Second question is
Looking at the above code how do I pass the OUT buffer returned from one procedure as input to another procedure.