DB2 (Oracle funtionality in)
Hi, all I have no familiarity with DB2, but plenty in Oracle and SQL Server and other RDMS. In Oracle, I can access a flat file on disk by defining it as an External File. Similar functionality in SQL Server. My question then: Does DB@ on the mainframe have the same type of feature? Thanks in advance!
Software/Hardware used:
Software/Hardware used:
ASKED:
February 1, 2010 6:04 PM
UPDATED:
February 3, 2010 9:54 PM
Answer Wiki:
DB/2 runs on three IBM "mainframes" but the instructions would be very different on each. What is your system i-series (AS/400), AIX, or a true mainframe?
Phil
To see all answers submitted to the Answer Wiki: View Answer History.
Phil’s comment comes from regular questions about DB2 and “mainframes” where the question turns out to be about iSeries or AIX. It’s just something we deal with often.
Also, the term “flat file” can have two different meanings — a streamfile in a directory or a single-field file in a database. Sometimes a question is about one or the other but doesn’t clarify. The two types have radically different approaches.
Can you clarify a little?
Tom
reference TomLiotta’s response … I have a third definition for “flat file” On a mainframe (running z/OS) the term flat file means a sequential dataset. Physically sequential as opposed to any other type of dataset; VSAM (any of the 4 flavors) or a PDS (library).
Then, we confuse the issue even more when start speaking of RDBMSes. We think of the data as stored in tables, but the underlying dataset is VSAM LINDEAR. Very confusing.
Still, when I hear “flat file”, I think a sequential dataset on disk.