API Fun Time
Hey, Ted:

We have a job that is designed to run periodically to collect XML files from a third party via FTP. Rather than have a program that is constantly active, it was decided that the very first action of the program would be to re-submit itself to a single entry job queue with a scheduled run time derived from a maintainable value held on a file. The benefit of this approach is that if for some reason the program fails there is no need to worry about re-starting the process--unless of course the program failed at the self-submit stage! READ MORE >

Conditional Inserts with JDBC Prepared Statements
Hey Mike:

I would like to write a conditional INSERT in SQL so I can use a prepared statement through JDBC. However, SQL supports IF only in SPL, the Stored Procedures Language. Is there another way to insert the record if doesn't exist? READ MORE >