DB2(R) SQL PL: Essential Guide for DB2(R) UDB on Linux(TM), UNIX(R), Windows(TM), i5/OS(TM), and z/OS(R) (2nd Edition) (Hardcover)

~ Zamil Janmohamed (Author), Clara Liu (Author), Drew Bradstock (Author), Raul F. Chong (Author), Michael Gao (Author), Fraser McArthur (Author), Paul Yip (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This new edition covers the DB2 SQL Procedural language (PL) improvementsthat will be introduced as part DB2 8.2. In addition to updates in coverage forLinux, Unix and Windows, there is upside for those working on i-Series and z-Series, where SQL PL functionality did not reside prior to 8.1. In addition toimprovements, 8.2 introduces a method for resolving performance issues, i.e.how to monitor and identify bottlenecks and provide alternatives forresolution. This new book will cover ANY platform! This book teaches thereader how to setup the development environment and use all languageelements of SQL PL through concrete examples and thorough discussions ofXML, SQL procedures, stored procedures, and triggers. Also included areexpert tips and best-practices for achieving optimal performance and codemanageability. This book will be a valuable reference for SQL PL code syntaxand troubleshooting.

From the Back Cover

• IBM's definitive guide to writing DB2 SQL PL stored procedures, triggers, UDFs, and dynamic compound SQL
• Fully updated to reflect the entire DB2 UDB product family, and new SQL PL improvements for Windows, UNIX, Linux, iSeries, and zSeries
• Presents expert tips and best practices drawn from extensive experience in real customer environments
• Covers everything from basic program structure through advanced techniques
• Includes up-to-the-minute coverage of optimization and troubleshooting

Using the IBM DB2 SQL Procedural Language (SQL PL), programmers can drive major improvements in database performance, manageability, and time-to-market. Now, IBM's own experts present the definitive guide to DB2 SQL PL development on any platform: Windows, UNIX, Linux, iSeries, or zSeries.

DB2 SQL PL, Second Edition shows developers how to take advantage of every facet of the SQL PL language and development environment. The authors offer up-to-the-minute coverage, best practices, and tips for building basic SQL procedures, writing flow-of-control statements, creating cursors, handling conditions, and much more. Along the way, they illuminate advanced features ranging from stored procedures and triggers to user-defined functions.

The only book to combine practical SQL PL tutorials and a detailed syntax reference, DB2 SQL PL, Second Edition draws on the authors' unparalleled expertise with SQL PL in real business environments. Coverage includes

• Using SQL PL to improve manageability and performance, while clearly separating DBA and development roles
• Writing more efficient stored procedures, triggers, user-defined functions (UDFs), and dynamic compound SQL
• Identifying SQL PL performance bottlenecks--and resolving them
• Leveraging new language enhancements for Windows, UNIX, and Linux: improved table function support, session based locking, nested save points, new prepare options, and more
• Using new features for iSeries V5R3: built-in string and date/time manipulation functions, SEQUENCE objects, and more
• Utilizing zSeries Version 8's integrated stored procedures debugging and improved SQL Conditions support
• Mastering DB2 Development Center, the unified development environment for creating DB2 stored procedures

Whether you're developing new SQL PL applications, migrating or tuning existing applications, or administering DB2, you'll find this book indispensable.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 576 pages
• Publisher: IBM Press; 2 edition (November 25, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0131477005
• ISBN-13: 978-0131477001
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #527,526 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for developers/DBAs new to DB2, October 22, 2004

By	Ted J. Wasserman (Long Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: DB2(R) Express: Easy Development and Administration (Hardcover)

If you are a developer or DBA who is new to DB2, I would highly recommend this book to you. Both administration and development topics are covered, helpful best practices and tips are included, and illustrative examples are used.

The fundamental DB2 concepts and the different DB2 tools such as the Control Center are introduced in a very straightforward and easy-to-understand manner. This allows DB2-newbies to get fully up to speed on DB2 terminology and functionality, while serving as a gentle refresher for those who might have prior DB2 experience. The book achieves a good balance of topic selection and level of detail. More advance topics that are covered are explained in a manner that most novices would comprehend and in enough detail to be useful.

The prime focus of the book is on leveraging the ease-of-use and autonomic capabilities of DB2. If you are a developer not wanting to memorize database and/or SQL command syntax, you will particularly appreciate this book. The book shows how most common administrative tasks can be very easily performed using the GUI tools and Wizards provided with DB2. Ease of application development is demonstrated in both Java and Microsoft .net environments. An easy and intuitive introduction to DB2 SQLPL is also provided.

Overall, I think that if you are new to DB2, or need to learn the essential concepts/features needed to develop and/or administer DB2 quickly, you will be very pleased with this book. It is a perfect starting point for introducing the most important concepts, features, and tools. As you gain more experience and familiarity with the product, a more advanced book can be obtained.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Fastest Path to Mastering DB2 Stored Procedures, January 8, 2003

By	James Huddleston (Newport, DE United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: DB2(R) SQL Procedure Language for Linux, UNIX and Windows (IBM DB2 Certification Guide Series) (Paperback)

This comprehensive yet concise introduction to DB2's SQL procedural language is the first and best place to find guidance on this crucial topic. Stored procedures are fast becoming the mainstay of successful client/server and Web-based DB2 applications, and this book WILL teach you how to develop them, even if all you currently know is just a bit of SQL.

Written by DB2 experts from the IBM Toronto Labs, this is one of those rare texts that actually imparts expertise. It is eminently readable and crystal clear in its explanations of concepts and their application.

Any and every developer of DB2 stored procedures should read -- and enjoy -- this book

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars embed yourself in db2, December 26, 2004

By	W Boudville (Terra, Sol 3) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The book describes IBM's Procedural Language, which runs on their db2 servers. It is not a general purpose language, like C or Java. Rather, it is tied directly to db2 and IBM's implementation of SQL. But within this context, the book explains the expressive power of PL. It shows at length how you can write stored procedures, triggers and functions in PL. The level of detail and the cited examples should reassure you of PL's capability.

But why even write business logic code at the database layer? There have been other books on n-tier application design, which call for the locating of business logic in a middle tier and not at the database. The authors' rejoinder is that while that makes for an elegant design, practical experience shows that often, crucial logic needs to be at the database. This reduces networks traffic and can heavily improve perforance. Hence the need for PL, or something like it.

Be wary of the book's claim that PL lets you write "portable application logic". It is portable only between instances of db2 running under linux, unix, Microsoft Windows or IBM's operating systems. When you write embedded logic in PL, you are also embedding yourself or your company into db2. Which may indeed be fine by you. But just so you know.