The QMF Family V Newsletter 3rd Quarter 2013 Edition

Transcription

1 The QMF Family Newsletter 3rd Quarter 2013 Editin In This Issue Dive int QMF at the IBM Infrmatin On Demand Cnference irtual data surces and analytic queries in QMF A message frm the develpers f QMF: Changing clumn headings in reprt utput (and getting rid f COL1 clumn headings) Want t see the new QMF? Schedule a web sessin r dem! The exciting evlutin f QMF cntinues with the annuncement and release f QMF 11, which we described in ur previus newsletter fr 2Q13. One significant enhancement f QMF 11 is access t new data surces, such as: Hive (Hadp) IBM BigInsights IBM DB2 with BLU Acceleratin IBM IMS /SAM IBM Netezza JavaScript tables We began prviding cnnectins t mre data in QMF 9. With QMF Classic Editin, we still supprt DB2 fr z/os, but in the QMF fr Wrkstatin and QMF fr WebSphere cmpnents, we have many mre data surces. Sme f these features have been available since QMF 9, but have nt been utilized t the extent that they culd be. QMF Enterprise Editin can access nearly any database that has a JDBC driver. DB2, Oracle, SQL Server, Sybase, and Infrmix have all been tested. We als supprt ther surces such as IMS with JDBC, starting with IMS 11. OLAP surces are supprted via XMLA. We have received a number f inquiries abut hw JDBC driver supprt wrks. We d NOT prvide the JDBC drivers fr any specific database; yu must btain these drivers frm the apprpriate vendr. In this issue, we shw sme f the applicability f defining and accessing multiple data surces. This infrmatin is als in the Cmplete Analytics with IBM DB2 Query Management Facility Redbks publicatin, which is available at: QMF at the IOD Cnference Nvember 3-7, 2013 in Las egas Please be sure t ask abut QMF at the IBM Infrmatin On Demand cnference in Las egas this Nvember! We welcme yu t speak with ur experts and see dems in ne f ur bths r sessins where we will be shwcasing ur latest release QMF11! irtual Data Surces irtual data surces can be thught f as redefinitins f existing data surces r as alternative means f ppulating QMF with data, such as with a query result r by jining tw query results. irtual data surces nt nly can riginate as a federated view f data, but certain functins in QMF that were ften used in the past can be bypassed. It used t be quite cmmn t execute a query and use a save data functin t create a table t use in a subsequent step. With virtual data capabilities, the end user culd use the query itself as a virtual data surce eliminating cmplexity. System verhead and impact n the surce database might be substantially reduced as well. irtual data surces make it easier and mre efficient fr business users t access and jin infrmatin a prcess that might be beynd their technical skill level. A virtual data surce is defined by smene designated as an administratr, wh understands the underlying cmplexities and can define an access path that is accurate and efficient.

2 The example presented in the QMF Redbks publicatin addresses the use f DB2 n z/os, Oracle, and IMS as a virtual data surce t feed a dashbard fr field agents. The implicatins are that a dashbard must be easy t use and the access t data must be ptimal r business users will simply ignre it. T create a virtual data surce, the administratr des the fllwing task in administratr mde: Right-clicks irtual Data Surces and selects New > irtual Data Surce, as shwn in Figure 1 t the left. Figure 1: Creating a virtual data surce Figure 2: Adding data frm DB2 n z/os After naming the virtual data surce, the administratr either selects frm existing data r uses ther means, such as a QMF query, t add t the definitin. Figure 2 shws access t data frm DB2 n z/os as part f the definitin. Figure 3 shws a similar actin t add data frm Oracle tables that have been defined. Figure 3: Adding data frm Oracle tables

3 After defining the tables t access, the administratr then decides hw t perfrm the required JOIN(s) and specify elements f the WHERE clause and mre. The administratr can select specific clumns in a virtual data surce as well as rename the clumns. One very pwerful feature f virtual data surces is the calculatin f values. Thus, yu culd create data n the fly as a virtual entity such as SALES * INCENTIE r anther calculatin. irtual data surces prvide the ability t jin hetergeneus data, redefine the definitins that exist, use creative input such as queries, and mre. Suppse we named ur virtual data surce Business Overview, and nw want t use it within a QMF dashbard. T d s, we define a new data cnnectin in the dashbard, as shwn in Figure 4 t the right. After we have cnnected, we can use any r all f the data defined in the virtual data surce, which can cntain sme very cmplex pathways; nne f which are shwn t the end user. Fr mre detail abut this imprtant feature regarding virtual data surces, refer t the QMF Redbks publicatin. Figure 4: Creating a dashbard cnnectin t a virtual data surce The wrld tday is abuzz with discussins abut big data and a hst f new technlgy tpics. There is a wide gap between accessing data and actually putting it int the right cntext. Business users ften have cmplex data access requirements; fr example, they might want t jin DB2, IMS, Excel files, and mre as a basis fr analyzing a particular business prblem. In the QMF Redbks example, we selected a fictitius cmpany with sme cmmn business prblems invlving the need t access and utilize data frm a variety f surces. In the visual displays shwn in Figure 5, it is nt apparent which presentatin bject is being ppulated by data frm DB2, Oracle, r even IMS. We invite yu t explre and explit virtual data surces in QMF. We are cnfident that yu will have requirements similar t thse we have utlined in the Redbks publicatin. Figure 5: Ppulating a QMF dashbard with virtual data queries

4 Analytic Queries in QMF As shwn in Figure 6, an analytic query als prvides the ability t jin varius data surces, including queries, int a cmbined business definitin. There are subtle differences that happen behind the scenes when using an analytic query versus a virtual data surce that we will nt expand n at this time. The mst significant advantage is that business users can create and use an analytic query withut having t delve int the deeper functins f a virtual data surce, which requires administratr authrity. A virtual data surce r an analytic query is a specific definitin f data that addresses a particular business prblem r set f end users. Using either methd, the purpse is t create an exact definitin (perhaps including calculated clumns and data) that prvides value and resnates with business users. Business users see their wn terms and nly the infrmatin (clumns, etc.) that they require. Technical terminlgy and underlying data access paths are hidden frm their view. This apprach is particularly useful if infrmatin must be derived frm different data surces r if the data surces cntain many clumns and values that a particular user r set f users d nt need r want t see. Analytic queries are targeted tward thse users lking fr self-serve analytics that cntain a level f cmplexity within the data they need. In Figure 6, the user defines the surces, values, jins, etc. and applies their result set t specific business requirements. As with all QMF bjects, the analytic queries can be stred and shared fr future use. Figure 6: An analytic query A Message frm the Develpers f QMF Changing clumn headings in reprt utput (and remving COL1 clumn headings) QMF 10 intrduced the glbal variable DSQDC_COL_LABELS, which yu use t tggle clumn headings between the default clumn labels (if they exist) r clumn names. As always, either clumn heading (clumn name r clumn label) can easily be verridden by updating the 'COLUMN HEADING' value in FORM.MAIN r FORM.COLUMNS. An alternative methd, which requires n glbal variable r frm changes, is t use the 'AS new-clumn-name' expressin within the SQL statement itself. (This methd als slves the prblem f frgetting which clumn name yu selected in the query when an expressin is used n the clumn. Yu can easily remve the COL1, COL2 clumn heading!) The fllwing examples shw usage and utput f the methds mentined abve.

5 Setup fr examples If yu have table MYSTAFF, which was created with the fllwing SQL statement: CREATE TABLE MYSTAFF LIKE Q.STAFF; a label n clumn NAME within table MYSTAFF was created with the fllwing SQL statement: LABEL ON COLUMN MYSTAFF.NAME IS 'LABEL FOR COLUMN NAME'; The table MYSTAFF was ppulated with the SQL statement: INSERT INTO MYSTAFF (SELECT * FROM Q.STAFF); Running the query 'SELECT NAME FROM MYSTAFF ' with the default QMF glbal variable setting fr DSQDC_COL_LABELS (1), displays the label value fr clumn heading: LABEL FOR COLUMN NAME SANDERS If yu set the new glbal variable t use clumn names by issuing the QMF cmmand: SET GLOBAL (DSQDC_COL_LABELS=0 And run the query again, a reprt is prduced with the clumn name that was used fr the clumn heading: NAME SANDERS As in the past, yu can DISPLAY FORM.MAIN (r FORM.COLUMNS), vertype the COLUMN HEADING value, and press PF12 t see the updated reprt. This methd requires that yu save the mdified frm and always run the query with the saved frm. Anther way t change clumn headings is t use the AS expressin in the SQL statement, fr example: SELECT NAME AS "MY NEW COLUMN HEADING FOR NAME" FROM MYSTAFF which prduces a clumn heading like this: MY NEW COLUMN HEADING FOR NAME SANDERS The AS statement can be helpful fr specifying clumn headings fr clumns n which expressins are used. Fr example, a query such as: SELECT SUBSTR(NAME,1,8), SUBSTR(ERSION,1,8),HEX(CONTOKEN) FROM SYSIBM.SYSPACKAGE WHERE NAME LIKE 'DSQG%' ORDER BY NAME prduces a reprt with clumn headings like the ne n the fllwing page.

6 COL1 COL2 COL DSQGBINS DSQGBOR UK E4D2F6F08F6F7F3 DSQGBSQL UK E4D2F6F08F6F7F3 Mdifying the query t lk like this: SELECT SUBSTR(NAME,1,8) AS NAME, SUBSTR(ERSION,1,8) AS ERSION, HEX(CONTOKEN) AS CONTOKEN FROM SYSIBM.SYSPACKAGE WHERE NAME LIKE 'DSQG%' ORDER BY NAME prduces a reprt with mre usable clumn headings: NAME ERSION CONTOKEN DSQGBINS DSQGBOR UK E4D2F6F08F6F7F3 DSQGBSQL UK E4D2F6F08F6F7F3 Summary As yu can see, we cntinue t invest in all areas within the QMF Family. In the wrkstatin and WebSphere cmpnents, we cntinue t enhance QMF analytic capabilities with sphisticated data definitins, additinal data surces, and innvative analytic bjects. In QMF fr TSO and CICS, we cntinue t prvide enhancements that end users have requested t make QMF easier t wrk with. If yu wuld like t schedule a dem r a prduct update, please cntact us! See details belw: QMF website: Direct inquiries and cmments t: MBiere@rcketsftware.cm