Older IBM i databases are, typically, databases only in name: They lack the relationships between tables, have duplicate information, and so on. Let’s start the cleanup process.
By Rafael Victória-Pereira
Modernizing the database is, most times, a tortuous and somewhat difficult process. It’s difficult to organize (there are too many variables to take into account—existing programs, external data accesses, queries, and so on), it’s difficult to justify to upper management (as this necessary process is not seen as an efficiency or profit-increasing process, sometimes it’s not easy to get the green light from the higher-ups) and finally, it’s also not easy to implement (there’s always the risk, albeit marginal if things are done correctly, of data loss or corruption). I don’t mean to discourage you, quite the contrary! However, this requires preparation, careful planning and, naturally, common sense. So let’s begin with a few important preparation steps.
