DB2 for the COBOL Programmer: An Advanced Course

Overview

Once you know the basics of writing DB2 programs, there's still plenty to learn. So Part 2 of DB2 for the COBOL Programmer takes up where Part 1 leaves off, teaching you the advanced features you're going to want to know about as you continue working in DB2.

Section 1 covers advanced DB2 features that you'll use from time to time in one program or another:
-- how to handle data manipulation applications, especially those that involve time and date data
-- how to use advanced error handling techniques
-- how to handle dynamic SQL statements
-- how to use the distributed data management capabilities of DB2
-- what you should know about concurrency and locking considerations to maintain the integrity of the data your programs are operating on (although DBAs control this, some of the options you specify in your programs can affect concurrency and locking efficiency)

Section 2 shows you how to process DB2 tables in CICS programs. This section does not teach CICS itself (if you need CICS training, see our CICS books on pages 10 and 11). If you already know CICS, however, this section will teach you all you need to know to handle DB2 data in your CICS programs.

Section 3 introduces you to the concepts and practices of DB2 data base administration, to enable you to define and create your own test tables. That's a skill that comes in handy both when you're testing programs and when you want to experiment interactively with SQL statements before you code the statements in a program. In short, knowing about these features will make you a more productive and professional programmer...even if you're not aspiring to be a DBA.

Section 4 covers IBM's Query Management Facility(QMF), an interactive software product that lets users access data stored in DB2 tables. QMF is targeted to a wide range of users, from those with no data processing experience to experts. This section focuses on the basic QMF concepts and skills you can use as you develop your application programs.

So don't wait to expand your DB2 skills. Get a copy of this book Today. I think you'll be delighted at how quickly you'll master the advanced features of DB2.

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