| At the core of every AS/400 is the built in DB2 | | | | indexes over existing data tables. Using views you |
| database that is tightly integrated into the | | | | can create complex subsets of data utilizing joins, |
| operating system. So if you work with the 400 | | | | sub select statements, scalar functions, logical |
| for any length of time eventually you will end up | | | | columns and more. You can also get yourself into |
| diving into the data stored within the database, | | | | trouble doing this as well, especially take |
| usually to update a field correcting inaccuracies or | | | | precautions when building views, indexes or logical |
| other foul-ups. In this article we will review a few | | | | files over files from a third party vendor as this |
| tools that you can use today to start working | | | | can cause problems when it comes time to |
| with your systems data for reporting, extracting, | | | | upgrade or patch the software. An SQL view or |
| manipulating, collecting performance data and | | | | index by itself doesn't really add much until you |
| more. | | | | use the Excel Add-in or another reporting tool to |
| The first data tool is the Excel Add-in that enabled | | | | get the data into a user friendly format. |
| you to download data right from you're AS/400 | | | | Finally the old trusty stalwart when it comes to |
| or iSeries directly into an Excel spreadsheet with | | | | data tools on the AS/400 is the Data File Utility or |
| just a couple mouse clicks. This is a great tool for | | | | more commonly reffered to DFU. It has been |
| building on the fly reports with the ability to add in | | | | around for so long that the word DFU is actually |
| data constraints, sort and sequence as part of | | | | used as a verb. Data File Utility allows you to |
| the add-in. Now with minimal training you or your | | | | manipulate data files on the fly and then save the |
| users can quickly build great looking reports in | | | | program for later use. DFU is a bit old, not exactly |
| friendly spreadsheet formats everyone is used to | | | | user friendly and sort of clunky but it does work |
| seeing. | | | | and it comes with the system for free. |
| Operations navigator is another excellent tool for | | | | I should mention that there are some other |
| taking care of your AS/400 data and includes | | | | commercial tools available that are a cut above |
| some really advanced features. With operations | | | | the old data file utility program. These tools come |
| navigator you can issue SQL queries to generate | | | | with more advanced features and are certainly |
| ad-hoc reports or update data en mass, | | | | worth looking into if you need to constantly |
| manipulate data tables, query data and use the | | | | update data manually on your system. It's almost |
| data performance tools to collect performance | | | | important to keep in mind that like DFU these |
| metrics of the query engine. With these metrics in | | | | third party tools also won't error check data that |
| hand you can thoroughly analyze query requests | | | | is input by the user. If this is important then you |
| and response times to diagnose which queries are | | | | will want to build a program from RPG or another |
| taking up the most amount of resource. | | | | language to enforce data quality and referential |
| A huge boon for data manipulation and lookup is | | | | integrity. |
| the ability to create standard SQL views and | | | | |