DB01 - DB2 SQL Workshop and COBOL / PL1 Programming - 5 Days

DateLocationDurationCostEnrolEnquiry
2026-02-23Virtual5 Days £1800.00 (plus VAT)
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2026-08-17Virtual5 Days £1800.00 (plus VAT)
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Course Description

This course provides the applications programmer with an in-depth knowledge of the DB2 development process. It is aimed at programmers who need to code or support DB2 application programs written in COBOL or PL1. It is essentially a combination of our SQL Workshop (DB08) and DB2 for COBOL/PL1 Developers (DB03) courses.

Pre-requisites

The delegate should be familiar with the z/OS host environment, together with a working knowledge of either COBOL or PL/I program development using TSO / ISPF.

Objectives

The aim of this course is to provide the programmer, unfamiliar with DB2, with the necessary skills required to define, access and manipulate DB2 data, either via an application program or using SPUFI.

On completion of this course the student will be able to:

  • set up a DB2 test environment, using correctly defined tables, views, indexes, synonyms and aliases
  • use both permanent and temporary tables
  • use the DB2I toolset, including SPUFI
  • code SQL statements to read and manipulate DB2 data
  • develop, prepare and execute DB2 programs
  • bind packages and plans
  • use non-scrollable and scrollable cursors
  • use multi-row INSERT and FETCH processing
  • describe the locking process used by DB2
  • define and use Referential Integrity
  • use Identity Columns and Sequences
  • produce EXPLAIN output using a PLAN_TABLE
  • use the LOAD utility to populate tables

Environment

Development will be performed using:

  • IBM Mainframe
  • DB2 for z/OS Versions 11, 12 or 13

Customisation

For on-site courses (i.e. at your premises), we are more than happy to tailor the course agenda to suit your exact requirements. In many cases, we are able to build your in-house standards and naming conventions into the delivered course.

Course Details

INTRODUCTION TO DB2
The Relational Model
Data Representation
The DB2 Environment
The DB2 Table
Accessing The Data
Interfaces to DB2
SQL Structure
Embedded SQL
DB2 Data Relationships
Access Path Selection
DB2 Table Structure
DB2 Data Types
DB2 Catalog
DB2 Interactive
SPUFI
Database Design / Data Analysis
Overview Of Normalisation
First Normal Form
Order Form Example
Second Normal Form
Third Normal Form
Check 3nf

DATA DEFINITION LANGUAGE
The Structure Of DB2 Objects
Definition Of DB2 Objects - DDL
Database Definition
Tablespace / Page Organisation
Page Sizes
Tablespace Layout
Types Of Tablespace
Tablespace Definition
Table Definition
Table Names
Copying Table Definitions
Rename Table
Data Partitioning
DB2 Column Types
Null Values
User Defined Default Values
Global Temporary Tables
Declared Temporary Tables
Declared Temporary Table Considerations
Declared Temporary Tables - Comparisons
DB2 Views
Read Only Views
Views - With Check Option
Creating A View Of Two Tables
DB2 Synonym
DB2 Alias
The Alter Statements
DB2 Indexes
Index Organisation - The B Tree Index
Index Clustering
Non-Unique Indexes
Index Definition
Partitioning Indexes
Index Design Considerations
The Drop Statement

DB2 INTERACTIVE (DB2I)
DB2I Options
SPUFI - SQL Processor Using File Input
Running Queries
SPUFI Defaults
SPUFI - Setting Autocommit to NO
DB2 Commands
DB2 Utilities
The DB2I Defaults Panel

APPLICATION PROGRAMMING
DB2 Environments
Important Note
Development Cycle With DB2
SQL Statement Format - Cobol
SQL Statement Format - Pl/I
Table Declaration
SQL Statements Used In Application Programs
SQL Include
SQL Communication Area
Retrieving Data Into Host Variables
Ambiguous Host Variables
SQL Error Codes
The SQLca - SQL Communications Area
Decoding The SQLca In A Program
Singleton Selects
Using A Cursor To Retrieve A Result Set
Declare Cursor
Open Cursor
Fetch A Row
Row Update
Row Deletion
Close Cursor
With Hold Option
The Optimize Statement
Fetch First 'n' Rows Only Clause
Fetch First vs Optimize For
Handling Nulls
Retrieving System Registers
Rowid - Direct Row Access
Direct Row Access - Example
Table Names In Application Programs
Batch Execution

SCROLLABLE CURSORS
Scrollable Cursors
Declaring a Scrollable Cursor
Insensitive Cursor
Sensitive Static Cursor with Insensitive Fetch
Sensitive Static Cursor with Sensitive Fetch
Sensitive Dynamic Cursor
Asensitive Cursor
Scrollable vs Non-scrollable Cursors
Updatable Cursors
Declaring a Scrollable Cursor
Fetching from a Scrollable Cursor
Absolute Fetching Examples
Relative Fetching Examples
Sensitive Dynamic Cursors - Fetching Rows
Sensitive Fetches - Update and Delete Holes
Positioned Updates Using A Sensitive Cursor
Scrollable Cursor Considerations

MULTI-ROW PROCESSING
Multi-row Fetch and Insert
New Syntax for Declare Cursor
Fetching Rowsets
Fetch Examples
Host Variable Arrays
Catering for Update and Delete Holes
Partial Rowsets
Rowsets - SQLCA
Locking Rowsets
Positioned Update
Positioned Delete
Multi-row Insert
Multi-row Insert Syntax
Static & Dynamic Insert
Get Diagnostics
Get Diagnostics - Statement Information
Get Diagnostics - Condition Information
Get Diagnostics - Connection Information
Get Diagnostics - Examples
Diagnostic Information for Multi-Row Fetch
Get Diagnostics Fetch Example
Diagnostic Information for Multi-Row Insert
Get Diagnostics Insert Example
The Merge Statement
Merge Statement Restrictions
Merge Statement Example
Get Diagnostics Recap
Get Diagnostics - Statement Information
Get Diagnostics - Condition Information
Get Diagnostics - Merge Example

PLANS AND PACKAGES
DB2 Bind
Rebind
Packages Overview
Explanation Of Packages
Advantages Of Using Packages
Binding Packages
Binding Plans
Defaults For Binding
Binding In Batch
Identifying A Collection Within A Program
Program Execution In Batch
Plan Names In Application Programs

IDENTITY COLUMNS AND SEQUENCES
Identity Columns
Identity Columns - Examples
Identity Column Enhancements
Altering Identity Columns
Identity Columns - New Version 8 Parameters
Identity Columns - Retrieving the Generated Number
Identity Columns - Data Sharing Implications
Using Identity Columns with the Load Utility
Sequences
Create Sequence Syntax
Sequence Ordering
Altering Sequences
Dropping Sequences
Using Sequences in Applications
Sequences - Considerations and Restrictions
Sequence Application Examples
Sequences and Identity Columns Comparison

LOCKING
Implications Of Concurrent Processing
Ims Resource Lock Manager (Irlm)
DB2 Locking Methods
The Lock Table Statement
Lock Modes
When Locks Are Acquired
When Locks Are Released
Isolation Levels
Controlling The Isolation Level At SQL Level
Keep Update Locks
Skip Locked Data
Unit Of Work In TSO
Commit And Rollback
Declaring Cursors With Hold
CICS Issues
IMS Issues
Savepoints
Savepoint Definition
Savepoints - Considerations and Restrictions
Transaction Deadlocks
Design Considerations

REFERENTIAL INTEGRITY
What Is Referential Integrity?
Parent And Dependent Tables
The Primary Key
The Foreign Key
Referential Constraint Rules
Constraint Names
More Complex Referential Structures
Check Pending Status
Resetting Check Pending Status
Referential Integrity Access
Design Considerations

UTILITIES
Utility Overview
Running Utilities
The LOAD / UNLOAD Utilities
Online Load Resume
Online Load Considerations
UTILITIES
Introduction
Utility Overview
Running Utilities
The LOAD Utility
The Load Utility Syntax
Online Load Resume
Online Load Considerations

Course Format

The course contains many practical exercises to ensure familiarity with the product. Initially students create Tables and Indexes, and then proceed to develop COBOL or PL/I programs accessing the data held on the DB2 Tables. On completion of this course students will be ready to start the development of application programs accessing DB2 data.

The comprehensive Student Guide supplied is fully indexed serving as a useful reference tool long after the course has finished. Delegates will also be able to access a free help-line with technical questions relating to topics covered on the course.

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