What do you do when you need to create a field that's a calculated value based on real data?

By Tyler Even

If you've used the DB2 Web Query for IBM i development tools, you may have noticed the ability to create two types of virtual fields: defined fields and computed fields. Often, when building a report, you need to create a field that is not in the original database but is instead a calculated value based on real data. For example, "gross profit" may not actually exist in your data, but it can be calculated from revenue and cost values. Each virtual field type has its own distinct advantages and purpose in report development. This TechTip uses a real-world example to illustrate when you should use which field type.

DB2 is the only database many of us have ever known.  This article shows you how you can broaden your database options.

By Joe Pluta

If you're an i programmer, you've been using DB2 from the beginning of your career (unless, of course, you started like me back in the cave computer days of the System/3). You didn't know you were using DB2; in fact, you didn't know that your database had a name, and you didn't care because it just worked. That in fact was one of the great selling points of the platform: the integrated database and by extension the nearly bare-metal speed of compiled languages like RPG, which could take advantage of that database. Nowadays, though, a single standalone database like DB2 for the i isn't enough for many shops. Commercial databases like SQL Server and Oracle have found their way into many shops. A more recent phenomenon is the appearance of databases such as MySQL and PostgreSQL, especially as components of open-source packages.

Development teams continue to enhance Symphony as IBM bundles it with Lotus Notes and Sametime in a move to edge Microsoft off the desktop.

By Chris Smith

IBM Lotus released V1.1 of Symphony last week, a release that runs significantly faster than the earlier V1.0 and features mail-merge functions using .nsf files.

Users had been waiting for some time for the ability to do a direct mail merge between a document and their Notes Contacts address book or other Notes database file without going through a time-consuming file conversion. This will further enhance the value of Symphony for Notes users, many of whom still switch back and forth between Notes and Microsoft Office (including this reporter). Others simply forego the Notes Contacts (Personal Name and Address Book in 7.X) altogether in favor of Microsoft Outlook.

With the QUSLJOB API and my MONBCH program working for you, you can relax when you're away from the office.

By Bruce Vining

My recent series of articles prompted the following note from reader Jerry G.:

"I enjoy reading your articles as a learning exercise.... Would you consider demonstrating an API example to monitor jobs [in order to] notify [someone of] a troubled state like MSGW?"

I think this is an excellent idea! In this article, we'll look at how to use the List Job (QUSLJOB) API to monitor batch jobs and, if any job is found to be waiting on a message, to then send a generic message to a *DTAQ, identifying the job that is waiting for a reply.