Creating Dynamic Queries

May 26, 2004 Bruce Guetzkow

If you’ve ever created a “one time” query, you know it is extremely likely that you will end up running that query on a regular basis. Typically that means manually changing the selection criteria each time it runs. While Query/400 does allow you to dynamically change the selection criteria, it can only be done if the query is executed interactively, which is usually frowned upon for performance reasons. This article outlines a method for creating a query with dynamic selection criteria and still executing the query in batch.

A SOURCE FILE FOR YOUR QUERY

The key to making a query

Security and DDM Files

May 26, 2004 Hey, Wayne

While implementing an “application-only access” security program, I ran into a problem with DDM files. The job running in the communications subsystem runs under user QUSER, which typically falls under *PUBLIC authority, so my DDM files cannot be set to *EXCLUDE, as recommended by the application-only-access security strategy.

Can the job be modified to run under a different profile, or is it best to give QUSER access to the desired DDM files? Or should we assign QPGMR as QUSER’s group profile, since the files are owned by QPGMR? QUSER has no password and cannot be signed on to.

–Doug

Calculate Ages with Query/400

May 26, 2004 Hey, Ted

I love to read Four Hundred Guru. It always contains great ideas and techniques!

We need to calculate an age using Query/400. The database file that we are using has an eight-digit zoned-decimal birthdate field, in the format YYYYMMDD. Can you help?

–Greg

You need to convert the zoned decimal field to a date field. Then you will be able to subtract it from the system date to get a date duration. A date duration is an eight-digit field representing years, months, and days. For more information about date durations, see my answer to Helen’s question.

The following

OS/400 Alert: V5R3 Has Many New Admin and Operations Features

May 26, 2004 Shannon O'Donnell

OS/400 V5R3, or, as it is called now, i5/OS V5R3, will contain a veritable fountain of new and enhanced features for the areas of administration and operations. This week, I’ll pick three of the more interesting new functions and enhancements in the new operating system. I will highlight more in coming weeks as I get a chance to digest them. I also will go through some new PTFs related to multicast IP addresses and the problems they can cause.

V5R3: A CORNUCOPIA OF NEW FEATURES

Advanced Job Scheduler. Most of us are familiar with OS/400 Job Scheduler functions. Typically,