Last week I advised you to avoid referencing logical files in SQL queries. This week I have a little more information for you regarding SQL and its love-hate relationship with logical files.

This week’s tip: In your QAQQINI file, set IGNORE_DERIVED_INDEX to *YES.

So what does that mean? First, QAQQINI is a file that you can use to control query processing. If you’re not familiar with it, follow the links at the end of this article to learn about it.

At this point, I assume you know what QAQQINI is and that you have duplicated it from QSYS to QUSRSYS

Here’s yet another performance tip from a fellow subscriber and System i consultant. Thanks for the feedback on previous tips.

Today’s tip: “Use soft commit when committing transactions containing a small number of update, insert, and/or delete operations.”

According to the IBM V5R4 Information Center, “Soft commit is a form of commitment control that limits the number of times that the system writes journal entries associated with a transaction to disk.” In this regard, it is much like journal caching, but unlike journal caching, there is no additional fee for soft commit.

Be warned that soft commit does

Last week, I started making a list of some of the more memorable V6R1 operating system enhancements for the i5/OS administrator. This week, I continue the list and point out some other V6R1 functions that you should be on the lookout for.

Before starting, please note that all the information contained here comes from available information about the new release as well as information I picked up at the COMMON user conference from IBMers and various System i experts. Since V6R1 is brand new and not installed in the wider base of i5/OS shops yet, there isn’t a lot