FHG Archives - Page 47 of 144

Admin Alert: Other Options for a Post-Upgrade Backup

May 25, 2011 Joe Hertvik

In an earlier column, I wrote about how administrators can save time after an i operating system upgrade by performing a Save System (SAVSYS) backup instead of a full system save. Several readers wrote in with more information and system information backup tips. Let’s look at what they had to say about post-upgrade backups and what we can learn from them.

A Better Post-Upgrade Backup Strategy

Pete Massiello of iTech Solutions wrote in with the best suggestion for post-upgrade backups when he said:

I perform many upgrades, and I tell my customers that the best option, if time permits,

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An Introduction to Python on IBM i, Part 3

May 18, 2011 Garry Taylor

Note: The code accompanying this article is available for download here.

Guido Van Rossum, creator of Python, once said, “Python is an experiment in how much freedom programmers need. Too much freedom and nobody can read another’s code; too little and expressiveness is endangered.”

In this third part of our introduction to Python on our faithful IBM i, you’ll learn how to use the expressiveness of Python while still keeping your code readable. This will be achieved by creating classes to represent our data in a clean and manageable fashion. You have likely heard of classes and object from

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The Case of the Missing Logical File

May 18, 2011 Hey, Mike

I created a logical file that combines multiple tables into a single result set (similar to a SQL UNION.) However, when Microsoft Excel’s Query Wizard presents a list of available tables and views to query, this logical file does not show up in the list. What is the problem?

Suzy

Hi, Suzy:

The problem is that DB2 for i is classifying your logical file as a non-relational file. It turns out that the Microsoft Excel Query Wizard uses ODBC (or OLE DB for Excel 2007 and later) to access DB2 for i. When tools like the Query Wizard and Crystal

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Admin Alert: Running System i Cleanup Manually

May 18, 2011 Joe Hertvik

A reader recently wrote me inquiring about some of the finer points in running the i operating system’s cleanup tasks for clearing out messages, job logs, and other system output. While IBM offers a decent automated cleanup function, it’s not quite as clear how to manually run the cleanup option. This week, I’ll review what cleanup tasks do and show you how to run this function either automatically or manually.

What Are the Cleanup Tasks?

Cleanup is an i operating system task for manually or automatically cleaning up user messages; system and workstation messages; system journals, job logs and log

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Retrieve Column Descriptions in your ADO Client/Server Applications

May 11, 2011 Hey, Mike

Note: The code accompanying this article is available for download here.

Using the IBMDASQL provider, I want to find the field/column description/label for fields in a record set. However, all my scenarios return null. I am using IBM iSeries Access for Windows V5R3M0 service level SI30707.

–Andy

Here is the Excel VBA code snippet that Andy sent in.

Sub testit()
   Dim con, com, rs
   Set con = CreateObject("ADODB.Connection")
   con.Open "provider=IBMDASQL;data source=AS400;", "", ""
   Set rs = CreateObject("ADODB.Recordset")
   Set com = CreateObject("ADODB.Command")
   Set com.ActiveConnection = con
   com.CommandText = "select * from QIWS.QCUSTCDT for read only"
   Set rs = com.Execute()
   Debug.Print

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Sharing Simplifies Source Code

May 11, 2011 Ted Holt

I hate huge programs. For one thing, I’m not smart enough to wrap my mind around a big program. And it seems that modifying one part of the program invariably causes something to go amiss elsewhere. Dividing a program into subprocedures, modules, and multiple programs is a good way to manage large tasks. But what do you do when you’ve divided a program into two or more modules and/or programs, and more than one of them needs to contribute to a single report? You share.

Suppose you have a program that builds a report of accounts receivable. It’s a manageable

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Admin Alert: Critical Information That Every i Administrator Should Have Handy

May 11, 2011 Joe Hertvik

Similar to other hardware systems, crises can happen whenever you administer iSeries, System i, and Power i equipment in a data center. However, being a good administrator means knowing what to do and having the appropriate information available when you’re handling a crisis. This week, I’ll look at four key lists you should have handy to restore functionality after a system issue or disaster occurs.

The Big Four Lists

Generally, you’ll need the following information at your fingertips when a critical issue occurs that eliminates some or all i operating system functionality in your shop.

IP addresses, critical profile names,

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DDS Design with RD Power

April 27, 2011 Susan Gantner

In an earlier tip, I provided a peek at the DDS Designer integrated with RSE in the Rational Developer for Power Systems (a.k.a., RD Power). In this tip, I’m going to go into a few features that may not be easy to spot at first glance. But some of these things are among my favorite features of the tool.

In the last tip, I talked about how to easily see and edit the DDS source using the Source tab under the Design view. If you just want to have a peek at the source for a particular item

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Updating Through a Join with SQL, Take Two

April 27, 2011 Hey, Ted

I am studying your tip Updating through a Join with SQL, and something escapes me. I do not understand the redundancy in the first code example. Do all updates that involve joins have to have redundant code?

–Ron

I know it’s confusing, Ron. I can go into more detail for you.

This is the example to which you refer:

update customer as c
   set region =
      (select newregion
         from fixes
        where oldregion = c.region)
 where exists
      (select *
         from fixes
        where oldregion = c.region)

You’re right that there is some redundancy. Both the SET and WHERE clauses of the

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Why is my i/OS Email Coming Back Undeliverable?

April 27, 2011 Hey, Joe

We send a lot of emails from our i 6.1.1 partition using the operating system’s SMTP server and a third-party email application. We recently converted from paper to email invoices, which has resulted in a big spike in System i email. Now we’re also seeing more messages returned from our external SMTP relay as “undeliverable.” What’s going on and what can I do about it?

–Glen

Given the increased traffic, it looks like your external SMTP server is being overwhelmed with email demands and that is delaying delivery. The external server may simply be busy and not able to handle

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