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Frequently Asked Questions OPEN/DB
OPEN/DB

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16. Why can I only have 50 unique files in my Subset?

17. How do I change the index key structures in my Subset?

18. How do I access the last record of a group of related records on the target file?

19. When adding a file to a Subset, one of the key fields on the source file was eight bytes long, but its equivalent element on the target file was ten bytes long. OPEN/DB did not seem to check this, but the link seems to work ok. Why is this?

20. A twelve character database field actually comprises three sub-fields. The first four characters are a "Cost Center" code, the next two are an "Activity" code and the last six are nominal. Can sorting be done on the "Activity" sub-field only?

21. When and how does OPEN/DB use the OPNQRYF command?

22. Can you schedule a report to be run at certain times?

23.  What should I be aware of when upgrading the iSeries to V6R1?

 

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16. Why can I only have 50 unique files in my Subset?

50 unique files and 99 links are internal product limits and represents an optimal compromise between flexibility, useability and maintainability. 

If you encounter the 50 unique file limit it is recommended that you consider Subsets of smaller dimension. While not entirely unheard of, it is unusual to find that incorporating so many files leads to a good Subset. 

More usual is that two (perhaps three or four) Subsets will deliver a more effective reporting environment. End users will find this more manageable and simpler to use. Maintenance is simplified and generally, the entire reporting environment becomes more effective and user friendly. 

As a technician designing Subsets, you may think your 50 file Subset design quite clever. However, if your users have difficulty grappling with so large a data dictionary, the chances are that they will not make full use of it and your work , however "well designed", will not be effective.

 

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17. How do I change the index key structures in my Subset?

First you must have exclusive use of the Subset (not only must there be no other user, but also no reports must be running in batch). Then press the change function key from the 'Retrieval Map' display and make the required changes followed by recompiling the existing reports based on this Subset.

Note: we recommend that you run at least 2 installations of the report writer server product. You can do this easily by simply performing a second installation and nominating different library names. Now you can migrate (EXPORT/IMPORT) Subsets between a "Production" system and a "Development" system. Make changes such as this in your Development system. When changes are complete, you can migrate the new version of your Subset to the Production system. Working in this way, you will minimize any interuption to your users in the Production environment.

 

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18. How do I access the last record of a group of related records on the target file?

This requirement can occur in many data bases. For example, where you have an exchange rate file where currency code and date are the key fields. In this situation, you may always want the Subset to select the most recent exchange rate for the currency. You should define the relationship as one to one and from extended information (from the "Options" menu) when changing or defining this link, click on "*LAST" as the response to the prompt for "Matching records to retrieve".

 

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19. When adding a file to a Subset, one of the key fields on the source file was eight bytes long, but its equivalent element on the target file was ten bytes long. OPEN/DB did not seem to check this, but the link seems to work ok. Why is this?

OPEN/DB defines key lists in report programs using fields from the target file. The key argument values you specify when definining the link in the Retrieval map are moved into the actual key fields just prior to the look up.

For numeric fields the RPG (or RPG/ILE) "Z-ADD" (zeroise and add) operation is used. For character fields, the RPG (or RPG/ILE) "MOVEL" (move left adjust) operation is used. Thus, OPEN/DB is only concerned about data types when matching key fields to key arguments in the retrieval map definition.

If your data types are diffetrent, as can sometimes occur where files are being accessed across different appliction modules, you will need to use a "key macro" to define the link. You can read about key macros in the product documentation and/or you can look at the key macro example shipped with the product to help you understand how to define your own key macros.

 

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20. A twelve character database field actually comprises three sub-fields. The first four characters are a "Cost Center" code, the next two are an "Activity" code and the last six are nominal. Can sorting be done on the "Activity" sub-field only?

Yes. The sub-fields should be added to the data dictionary as derived fields with the original (database) field named as an "Associated field". The logic for each derived field should place the appropriate segment of the Associated field into the derived field. The derived fields can be used for any functional purpose - just as if they were database fields.  

Ideally, being codes, the derived fields will have associated descriptions available from look-up files. These look-up files can be built into the Retrieval map definition. Now, when using the new derived codes, their associated descriptions can be available for printing to enable greater clarity in your reports.

 

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21. When and how does OPEN/DB use the OPNQRYF command?

OPEN/DB will use the OPNQRYF (Open Query File) command to pre-process select/omit tests before records are presented to the generated report program. However, it will only do so for select/omit tests based upon fields from Subset "node" files. Node files are the Subset based-on-file (BOF) and any link defined as a one-to-many relationship. 

Select/omit tests for fields that come from files linked as one-to-one, or for derived fields or report work fields do not use OPNQRYF. 

Note that a report may contain select/omit tests using any/all of the above types of field. OPNQRYF will be used for tests against database fields from "node" files even when these are not the only select/omit tests defined for the report. 

The advanced capabilities of OPEN/DB in other areas of reporting means that other features available from OPNQRYF processing are not appropriate. OPNQRYF is not used for sorting records, joining files, creating derived fields or any purpose other than record selection. 

OPNQRYF is triggered by pre-compiler commands ($$OPNQRYF FLE=xxxxxxx etc.) which are constructed dynamically during report execution based upon SELECT fields in the report definition being identified from the data dictionary (see: FLDDEF panel #5 under the panel text label, "Original field detail") as originating from "this" file. NOTE: fields used in the report definition to "OMIT" data will not cause OPNQRYF to be used. 

Note also that $$OPNQRYF commands are automatically generated into the skeleton by the Retrieval Map generation (SBSDEF) function for every "node" file in the Subset.

 

22. Can you schedule a report to be run at certain times?
Yes - your report writer product includes an iSeries command ("RPTRUN") that will initiate execution of a report. 

The RPTRUN command resides in your Report Writer Product data library and can be executed (or submitted for BATCH execution) from your own programs, or
  • it can be done using your iSeries scheduler (see the operating system command WRKJOBSCDE - Work with Job Schedule Entries) 
  • your iSeries may have a specific product such as Robot Scheduler to facilitate this. 
See your iSeries Administrator to set this up for you.

Like all iSeries commands, RPTRUN can be prompted (using the F4 function key) either from the iSeries command line or from within SEU when editing Control Language (CL) program source. 

Here is an example of the RPTRUN command: 

<your-data-library>/RPTRUN  REPORT(<your-rpt-name>) SELECT(<select-value-1> <select-value-2> ...) 

The RPTRUN command has parameters to control a number of aspects of its execution. 

You can cut-and-paste the above example to your iSeries command line then press F4 to prompt the command. If you then press F9, you can explore all its parameters and read the available help text (press F1, while prompting the command, to see the help text). 

 

23. What should I be aware of when upgrading the iSeries to V6R1 or later?

Momentum iSeries based report writers (OPEN/DB, MIDAS/Q, Info WorkPlace) are available for V6R1 and later support with release 8.3.  Contact your supplier for details.

If you upgrade a Report Writer product, you may still find that there are some programs that are unable to be converted.  These are usually historic programs no longer in use by the Report Writer and can be deleted.  These may include O#XG3014, O#XG4300, O#XG8175, and RPTCGI (the actual programs are related to the level you are upgrading from this time or in the past).  RM#nnnnn programs are the compiled user report programs.  You will need to recompile the reports in the report writer, using the COMPILE option, if they are not convertible.

Releases of the iSeries report writer earlier than 8.3 will not run on V61R1 or later and MUST be upgraded before moving to V6R1 or later.

 

 

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