1. IBM DB2 Express-C Available Free in the Cloud

An alternative to MySQL, the no-cost IBM database solution can be deployed on-premise or in the cloud with no size constraints. Written by Chris Smith There are many applications today built on top of MySQL, but widespread concerns about Oracle's i

2. Move Over DB2, Here Comes Zend DBi

Customers waiting for a solution from IBM to support their PHP applications running on IBM i can breathe a sigh of relief. Written by Chris Smith Most of the estimated 1,000 PHP developers at ZendCon this year were excited about Zend Technologies'

3. Get Your System Humming: 7 Great Tips for Tuning DB2 for i

Faster! Faster! Everybody wants their apps and reports to run faster! Written by Kent Milligan All of you have users and bosses who regularly ask if it's possible to make applications and reports run faster on your IBM i. Usually, these application

4. DB2 for i: Observing, Learning, Adapting, and Generating Faster Queries Automatically!

Having AQP is like having "quality control" inside your query plans. Written by Mike Cain According to Wikipedia, "adaptive behavior" is a type of behavior that is used to adjust to another type of behavior or situation. This is often characterized

5. Enable Transparent Encryption with DB2 Field Procedures

New in 7.1, FieldProc allows column-level encryption without requiring changes to existing applications. Written by Kent Milligan With all the scrutiny and legislation associated with protecting personal sensitive data, a good number of IBM i devel

6. IBM DB2 Web Query for i: New and Improved!

Version 1.1.2 of DB2 Web Query is teeming with product improvements. New features such as InfoAssist, the JD Edwards adapter, and RIA can help you create eye-popping reports. Written by Gene Cobb On December 10, 2010, a new and improved version of

7. QuickLook: Linoma Software's GoAnywhere Director

Exchange files with customers, trading partners, and other servers without writing tedious scripts. Written by Linoma Software Editor's Note: To download and try GoAnywhere Director at no obligation, visit the MC Software Center.   GoAnywhere Di

8. Create ASCII Text Files Using DB2 in Qshell

Pipe iconv into your Qshell command to create ASCII instead of EBCDIC. Written by Tom Snyder In my previous article, "Using DB2 with Sed, Tail, Pipes, and Redirection from Within Qshell," we used SQL to export files directly to text files on the IF

9. DB2 for i 7.1: More Than Meets the Eye

So you think you've already heard about all the enhancements to DB2 for i? Don't be so sure. Written by Kent Milligan The IBM i 7.1 announcement materials have given the most ink to DB2 enhancements for XML integration and column-level encryption e

10. Navigate DB2 for i Through the SQL Server Galaxy

Explore current methods of interconnecting SQL Server to the IBM i in batch or real time. Written by Michael Sansoterra Astronomers tell us that many galaxies are colliding, which can cause quite an upheaval. "Collision" is a good word to describe ho

11. New Solutions from IBM and Avnet Technology Address Growth in Data

IBM responds to Oracle's Exadata 2 database appliance with DB2 pureScale clustering feature. Written by Chris Smith I remember once I was on my high school cross country team. Only a limited number of runners were going to be chosen to travel across

12. How Will IBM DB2 Web Query for System i Benefit Your Shop?

 Learn about the new IBM query and reporting tool for the i5/OS market. By Gene Cobb If you have been following recent IT industry trends, you may have noticed that there has been a lot of activity in the area of Business Intelligence (BI). Mergers,

13. OmniFind, Part II: Integrating OmniFind Text Search Server with DB2 Web Query

Organize and secure your documents, and create a GUI to perform text searches on them. Written by Gene Cobb In my previous article "OmniFind, Part I: Add Sizzle to Your SQL with OmniFind Text Search Server for DB2 for i," I introduced IBM OmniFind Te

14. OmniFind, Part I: Add Sizzle to Your SQL with OmniFind Text Search Server for DB2 for i

With this text search server, you can locate documents that contain specific search strings in Excel, Word, PDF, PowerPoint, etc. By Gene Cobb V6R1 of the IBM i operating system introduced many exciting new features, including numerous DB2 for i

15. Avoid the Hassle of Accessing DB2 Data from .NET Applications

HiT Software's snappy Ritmo/i middleware makes accessing the IBM i a pleasure, say loyal customers. By Chris Smith If you're a .NET programmer developing applications that need to access data in DB2 for i, you might be concerned that the

16. Smart i Business Intelligence Solution Debuts in Los Angeles

Initial installation of the low-cost BI solution based on DB2 Web Query running on IBM i is ready for user-acceptance testing. By Chris Smith The first installation of Smart i, a new and bold business intelligence utilization of a Power System s

17. Making the Case for a Database Administrator (DBA) on IBM i

Do you need a DBA for DB2 for i? Maybe more than you realize. By Mike Cain As I travel around the world engaging clients, one question that I am always asked is "Do we need a DBA"? Sometimes, the question takes the form of apparent con

18. Is Working with the .NET Tribe a Secret to Surviving in Paradise?

LANSA's Open for .NET solution is designed to help make integrating Microsoft applications and IBM data a trouble-free experience. By Chris Smith Ever roll into work and think you're actually in Gabon on the set of Survivor? Everyone has

19. Making Better Use of DB2 Web Query with *LIBL

Search the library list when accessing and querying a referenced database object such as a physical file or SQL view. By Gene Cobb In a previous article titled "Maximize SQL Query Engine (SQE) Usage of Your DB2 Web Query Reports," I ex

20. Exploit IBM DB2 for i Database Development with JDBC 4.0

Learn how to exploit enhanced BLOB/CLOB support, SQL XML data type, and better connection management. By Jarek Miszczyk If you were, like me, watching closely the evolution of the JDBC specification, you probably noticed how it morphed from a ru

21. Finding SQL Server Mode Connecting Jobs

Now it's much easier to understand QSQSRVR usage and isolate QSQSRVR-related problem domains and origins. By Scott Forstie IBM DB2 for i customers are accustomed to seeing SQL server mode job activity, otherwise known as QSQSRVR prestart job

22. Tech Tip: Converting Legacy Date Fields to DB2 Web Query Dates, Part II

Extend your legacy date fields to support a richer set of date values and improve the performance of your reports. By Gene Cobb In my previous TechTip, "Converting Legacy Date Fields to DB2 Web Query Dates, Part I," I described how to

23. V6R1 SQL Query Engine Delivers on Its Promise

Learn how to prepare for the new DB2 for i5/OS query engine. By Jarek Miszczyk With V6R1 DB2 for i5/OS, the transition of SQL workloads from Classic Query Engine (CQE) to the new SQL Query Engine (SQE) has been basically completed. So far, the SQE

24. V6R1 DB2 for i5/OS Highlights

New capabilities allow designers and programmers to continue to produce new and exciting applications. By Jim Flanagan Because DB2 for i5/OS is embedded within i5/OS, application designers and programmers likely expected that with the V6R1 relea

25. V6R1 Breathes New Life into DB2 for i5/OS .NET Provider

Learn how to exploit ADO.NET 2.0 enhancements, DAAB, distributed transactions, and more.   Over the last couple of years, I wrote several articles and white papers that dealt with Microsoft .NET Framework integration with DB2 for i5/OS. Judging from

26. With Perseverance and Luck, You Can Conquer the DB2 Web Query Install

You have to be running at least V5R4 to load DB2 Web Query, and there are some PTFs to install. But help is just a phone call away. By Chris Smith Those folks at Centerfield Technology certainly are on their toes. An opportunity arises in their

27. Maximize SQL Query Engine (SQE) Usage of Your DB2 Web Query Reports

Ensure top-notch DB2 Web Query reports by using QAQQINI, exit points, database monitors, and Visual Explain. By Gene Cobb In July of 2007, IBM announced DB2 Web Query for System i, a product positioned as a query and reporting tool for the System

28. Book Review: DB2 9 Fundamentals

Whether you want to obtain an IBM certified DB2 professional certification or simply become well-rounded in the fundamental concepts of DB2 and general database theory, this is your book.   Roger E. Sanders has created one of today's g

29. Bridge the Legacy-to-Java Transition with DB2 for i5/OS Distributed Transactions

Learn how to share transactions and locks, avoid orphaned transactions, and more.

30. Make DB2 Data Downloads Easy with Start CGI SQL Session (STRCGISQL)

Turn a multi-step process into a one-step process.

31. DB2 Integration with SQL Server 2005, Part I: Linked Server Enhancements

Check out SQL Server 2005's new features that simplify integration with other databases.

32. Improve Your Productivity with Significant Enhancements in DB2 SQL

Master nested compound statement handlers, implicit name qualification, and other advanced programming techniques.

33. Data Access, Database Engines, and Persistence

DB2, SQL, ODBC, JDBC, EJB, JDO, and SDO--Joe guides you through the acronym soup of database technologies.

34. Cut Your Development Effort with DB2 Development Add-in for .NET

Learn how to efficiently use the Stinger Add-in for .NET with DB2 for iSeries.

35. The Power and Magic of LPG

Explore the strategy of Local Predicate Generation for Queries within DB2 UDB for iSeries V5R3.

36. .NET Integration with DB2 UDB for iSeries

Microsoft's .NET Framework is gaining acceptance among solution developers who traditionally rely on Microsoft development tools. Some of these developers want to take advantage of the robust transaction support, tight security, reliable messaging

37. Cut Your Migration Time from Oracle to DB2 UDB for iSeries

With IBM's DB2 Migration Toolkit for iSeries, you'll save time and effort.

38. Remote Journaling and Data Recovery

Remote journaling provides some options for getting back that lost data.

39. What's New with DB2 in V5R2

SQL enhancements and compatibility highlight what's coming in DB2 UDB for iSeries.

40. Random Access DB Performance Comparisons

Howard measures the load your database can carry in different environments.

41. Empowering Your Database

By using the built-in features of DB2/400, you can move code to data for more robust applications.

42. Access DB2/400 Data from Notes with JDBC

Learn the versatility and power of using JDBC access in your Domino agents.

43. Invasion of the BLOBs

BLOBs can be a valuable addition to your client/server environment.

44. OS/400 Can Balance Your DB2/400 Data Across Multiple Disks!

Most AS/400 and iSeries boxes have multiple disk units. Some machines, like the one that I work on, have not only multiple disk units but also multiple types of disk units. Since the AS/400 and iSeries hardware uses a scatter load algorithm to physic

45. Access DB2/400 Data with LS:DO

LotusScript Data Objects let you use DB2/400 data in Domino applications.

46. The Hidden Power of Query, Part 2

Link your Query/400 reports together for total flexibility.

47. The Hidden Power of Query, Part 1

It?s amazing what you can do with Query/400!

48. Implementing DB2 UDB for AS/400 UDFs

User-defined functions are the missing link to extending and customizing SQL.

49. The AS/400 and IBM's DB2 DataJoiner

IBM?s DataJoiner can help you get your data where it needs to be.

50. Hierarchical Storage Management-- Better Access to Your AS/400 Data

Take advantage of OS/400 APIs to enhance access to your data.