We Want to Hear from You

We Want to Hear from You!

As the reader of this book, you are our most important critic and commentator. We value your opinion and want to know what we're doing right, what we could do better, what areas you'd like to see us publish in, and any other words of wisdom you're willing to pass our way.

As an associate publisher for Sams Publishing, I welcome your comments. You can email or write me directly to let me know what you did or didn't like about this book ”as well as what we can do to make our books better.

Please note that I cannot help you with technical problems related to the topic of this book. We do have a User Services group , however, where I will forward specific technical questions related to the book.

When you write, please be sure to include this book's title and author as well as your name , email address, and phone number. I will carefully review your comments and share them with the author and editors who worked on the book.

What's New in This Edition?

This book is completely revised and updated for DB2 Versions 7 and 8, and it includes coverage of

• How to make changes to DB2 objects using online schema evolution features and the impact of doing so on your systems.

• New utilities and utility functionality, including UNLOAD , BACKUP SYSTEM , RESTORE SYSTEM , LISTDEF , historical RUNSTATS , templates, and wildcards. Also includes an analysis of the impact of IBM charging for DB2 utilities as of V7 (instead of providing them free of charge with DB2).

• Deploying the Real Time Statistics capability of DB2 to capture performance statistics and populate them into catalog-like tables, as DB2 runs ”without the need to run an external utility. Also, guidance on how to use the new RTS tables.

• Using DB2 Type Extenders, including the XML Extender, to extend the functionality of DB2 into the object/relational realm.

• Capacity improvements, including support for the new IBM z/Architecture and 64-bit z/OS operating system.

• How to code recursive SQL queries using common table expressions. Recursive SQL is helpful for traversing hierarchies like bill-of-materials and reporting structures.

• Application development and SQL programming changes, such as the new XML and MQSeries built-in functions, larger SQL statements, long names , UNION and UNION ALL in views, FETCH FIRST n ROWS ONLY , SQL Procedure Language, and so on.

• Administration changes, such as deferred data set creation, multilevel security, padded indexes, and online DSNZPARMs.

• Information on migrating to DB2 V8, including the three modes of V8, new utilities for migrating, and basic migration guidance.

• How to effectively manage logic stored in DB2 databases in the form of stored procedures, user -defined functions, and triggers.

Additional revisions were made to the entire book to expand the techniques that were previously covered, and to add new tips, tricks, and techniques for developing performance-oriented, stable DB2 application systems. New and revised SQL and DDL tips, dynamic SQL usage considerations, and DB2 subsystem performance and reporting techniques will prove to be invaluable to DB2 Version 7 and 8 sites. The sections on DB2 tools and vendors were completely revised to take mergers and acquisitions and new products into account.

Three brand new chapters have been added. The first covers the DB2 V8 Online Schema Evolution functionality. The second new chapter covers indexing; it consolidates information from other sections, and adds new guidelines and tips on proper index creation strategies for DB2 applications. And the third new chapter covers how to use DB2 Connect to hook up workstations to mainframe DB2 databases.

With this edition, I have removed the appendixes covering SQLCODE s and DB2 Catalog tables. This reference information is easily obtained by downloading the appropriate manuals from IBM's Web site at:

http://www-306.ibm.com/software/data/db2/library/

A full list of the SQLCODE s can be found in the DB2 Messages and Codes manual, and the DB2 Catalog table descriptions can be found in the DB2 SQL Reference manual.