Exploring IBM OmniFind Text Search
Presenter: Rob Bestgen
Explore the newest text indexing technology for DB2 for i with the IBM OmniFind Text Search Server product. Learn how to leverage OmniFind in applications in order to perform advanced, linguistic text searches on plain text fields as well as searches against rich text documents in formats such as Microsoft Word and Adobe PDF. This session will describe the capabilities of the OmniFind product, the differences between a traditional DB2 index and a Text Search Index, and show how to create and use text search indexes for advanced text searches.
What's New in DB2 for i
Presenter: Rob Bestgen
Find out how the latest DB2 features can be leveraged to help your IBM i databases and applications take a big step forward. You will learn how these new DB2 features, such as advancements in the integration of SQL & RPG, support for XML, transparent column encryption through column level exits, Hidden Timestamp columns, and other enhancements can be used to improve your applications and reduce your development time.
You will also find about the self-learning and adaptive query technologies of the SQL Query Engine and the productivity gains delivered by the enhancements to the DB2 OnDemand Performance tools in Navigator for i. In addition, the session will cover several new functions that DB2 has added for v7.1, and even v6.1, in the last year. All this and many more DB2 for i capabilities will be covered.
What’s New for DB2 Web Query in 2012
Presenter: Rob Bestgen
DB2 Web Query is IBM's strategic replacement for the Query/400 product that offers a robust and powerful alternative to its predecessor. The latest 1.1.2 version of DB2 Web Query contains many improvements to the product, from function to performance. Come to this session to learn about these exciting enhancements, including InfoAssist, the sleek new development tool. In addition, the session will cover several tips, techniques, and best practices that you should be aware of when using Web Query to make the overall DB2 Web Query experience more enjoyable for developers and end users alike.
SQL Stored Procedures and Functions
Presenter: Rob Bestgen
Support for SQL Procedural Language (SQL PL) in IBM i has become instrumental in application modernization and porting projects. The procedural language can be brought to bear in many different aspects of database processing. In this session, we provide an overview of the SQL procedural language and describe the major areas in which it can be used: procedures, functions and triggers. This session will also highlight recent advancements in SQL PL as well as performance tips.
Accessing Non-Relational Data with SQL
Presenter: Dan Cruikshank
Since its inception as a System/38, the IBM i has always had a rich set of metadata or data about data. In this session we will review the evolution of IBM i metadata, from the outfile support of the heritage DSP cross-reference commands to the complete set of SQL-ready DB2 and ANSI standard system catalog views. In addition, we will walk through the process of creating your own views of other types of system or non-relational data (objects, message files, jobs, etc.) and how to access this data via SQL.
Accessing SQL Functions using Rational Open Access: RPG Edition
Presenter: Dan Cruikshank
Do you want to use the advanced capabilities of ILE service programs and embedded SQL but are overwhelmed by the volume of existing programs that would have to be changed?
In this session you will learn how to create program handlers that will “bridge” existing applications to SQL based services without the need to rewrite these applications in SQL.
All it takes is one line of code to begin using the advanced capabilities provided by embedded SQL.
The session will cover what you need to know to begin creating program handlers that can transform traditional IO to SQL functions.
Advanced Data-Centric Programming Concepts
Presenter: Dan Cruikshank
In this session you will be introduced to SQL programming techniques that take advantage of advanced methods such as blocked FETCH and INSERT, extended indicators, along with new 7.1 capabilities such as MERGE and result set consumption in host languages. In addition, this session will introduce you to the methodology used to identify existing applications that will benefit from the use of SQL set based processing techniques.
Building a Solid Database Foundation Using SQL DDL
Presenter: Dan Cruikshank
In this session you will be introduced to using SQL Data Definition Language (DDL) to define a database that will become the foundation for all existing and future application development. You will learn how to take advantage of DB2 for i data centric constructs such as the auto-generation of data through the use of identity columns, row change timestamps, sequence objects, row ids, etc.
In addition you will learn about the core fundamental items that are the basic building blocks for any relational database, and, how to add these items to an existing database without recompiling programs or changing a single line of program code utilizing the IBM recommended “measure twice, cut once” approach.
Enhanced Database Support
Presenter: Dan Cruikshank
In this session we will look at various data-centric techniques that are only available to SQL based applications. This includes Index Only Access to avoid physical file access; Instead of Triggers for masking major database changes from existing update applications; eliminating copies of data thru the use of Inclusion/Exclusion tables or via table expressions; eliminating derived columns thru expression based indexing including EVI fast count and aggregate (sum) index support.
SQL DML and HLL Traditional IO Coexistence
Presenter: Dan Cruikshank
DB2 for i has the unique capability of allowing both SQL Data Manipulation Language, or DML, and High Level Language, or HLL, to access database objects. This distinction allows heritage applications using traditional record level access (RLA) to coexist with modern applications using data SQL set at a time processing techniques. In this session we will compare SQL to RLA and where the strengths of each can be exploited.
Embedding SQL in RPG Programs
Presenter: Susan Gantner
Many RPG programmers have used interactive SQL as a tool to quickly browse data or to create test data scenarios, but have stopped short of embedding it into their RPG programs. Come to this session to learn why, when and how you may want to use SQL in conjunction with RPG.
We will cover the basics of embedding SQL into RPG, including using SQL cursors and a few tips on getting good performance from your SQL applications.
Prerequisite: This session assumes you are familiar with the basics of the SQL language, such as the SQL SELECT and UPDATE statements.
Embedding SQL into RPG - Beyond the Basics
Presenter: Susan Gantner
In this session, we'll move beyond the basics of embedding SQL, using SQL cursors and return codes for condition handling. Here we'll look at topics such as using the SET OPTION statement to control special SQL compile options, multi-row fetch and insert and dealing with Nulls as well as date, time and timestamp fields.
This session assumes attendance at "Embedding SQL into RPG - The Basics" or equivalent knowledge.
Tools and Tips to Make Your SQL Sing
Presenter: Susan Gantner
How do you know if you're getting the best performance from your embedded SQL RPG programs? The SQL engine and its optimization capabilities are always evolving so even if you did a good job of optimizing your programs originally, how do you know if they are still performing as well as they could?
In this session, Susan provides an overview of SQL performance concepts and looks at some of the no-charge tools to help you tune applications without the need to become an SQL performance guru.
Some of the questions we'll address include:
• What's the difference between CQE and SQE and why do I care?
• Should I worry about the number of Indexes/logicals I have? How many is too many?
• Does it make a difference if I use a LF name in my SQL statements vs a PF or table name?
• What tools can tell me how to improve the performance of my specific SQL statement/program?
Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence on IBM i
Presenter: Alan Jordan
Most organizations have a great need for better business intelligence capabilities. Many have already employed one of the myriad of front end BI tools with varying degrees of success. If you are planning to bring Business Intelligence to your organization, or are struggling to realize any real benefit from the front end tool you already have, you will find this session extremely useful.
The session discusses the issues that virtually all organizations struggle with, and highlight the pitfalls and best practices that you need to be aware of in order to be successful. In particular, the sessions will demonstrate how a data warehouse will solve many of these issues and enable you to unlock the huge ROI that business intelligence can bring to any organization.
Beyond the Spreadsheet – Business Intelligence for the iSeries
Presenter: Bill Weimar
This session will present new capabilities for the iSeries setting forth criteria to use when evaluating Business Intelligence and the value it can provide to increase revenue and the bottom line. Actual case studies and interactive demonstrations will be presented showing the operational and business value by upgrading to something more flexible than Excel.
How to Create an Agile Enterprise
Presenter: Bill Weimar
This session explains what it means for an enterprise to implement pervasive computing - enabling everyone to use information, creating immediacy in responsiveness for customers and partners. The presentation and discussion focus on current market trends towards better information availability for decision making and how a business can gain strategic benefit and competitive value from readily-available information.
Mobile Analytics - The Missing Link
Presenter: Bill Weimar
This session will concentrate on the requirements of mobile computing are and the business value gained by implementing them for the iSeries. Social networking and its meaning in customer relations will be discussed. Real life examples will be used to stimulate the subsequent interactive discussion.
"Instant" Web Services and Stored Procedures with XMLSERVICE
Presenter: Jon Paris
Have you even been asked to provide a web service to access your data? To allow your programs to be called as SQL stored procedures from other platforms? These are just two of the things that XMLSERVICE will allow you to do, and with minuscule effort on your part. With XMLSERVICE you can "instantly" turn any program into a web service.
This session provides an overview of the features of XMLSERVICE – a new open source project. XMLSERVICE is unusual in a number of ways. First it is a collaborative effort between IBM, Zend, and the IBM i community. Secondly it is entirely written in RPG! Yes - RPG. Zend is using XMLSERVICE as the foundation for the new PHP IBM i Toolkit which they will be making available to the entire PHP community.
We'll discuss the basics of how XMLSERVICE operates and study the details of the XML documents that form the tool's requests and responses. In addition will also study the different methods available for invoking XMLSERVICE functions. Last but not least we will quickly review the details of the new PHP Toolkit based on XMLSERVICE.