IBM DB400 Interview Preparation Guide
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IBM DB400 frequently Asked Questions by expert members with experience in IBM DB400. So get preparation for the IBM DB400 job interview

26 IBM DB400 Questions and Answers:

1 :: How to know total no of records in pf with out using sql?

By using dspfd command you can find out total on record.

dspfd (libname/filename)


here u can find out total no of records.

1. Through the RPG program, Open Feedback Information of
File Information data structure (INFSR) will give the count
of records in the physical file.

2. Through CL command, Retrieve Member Description (RTVMBRD)
will give the no.of non-deleted records through NBRCURRCD
variable.

2 :: Can we concatenate fields in physical file? If yes how can we do?

No, we cannot concat fields in Physical File. However, in
logical file, we can concat 2 or more fields together into 1
field. format is..

name concat(fname mname lname)

3 :: I had created one physical file tell me command to enter data in to?

by the use of the cmd UPDDTA Pfname use can enter the data
into the physical file. Note: dn't compile the pf after
entering the data into the pf.

4 :: A pf containing 100 records... my query is how to display from 11th record in the pf?

We can positioned to nth record in file in CL with the help of OVRDBF command.
Synatax:

OVRDBF FILE(file-name) POSITION(*RRN 11)

This will positioned file on 11th record so RCVF command will read 11th record in file.

If you want to read with key conditioned then we can specify *KEY,*KEYA,KEYAE etc to positioned with key specified in command.

5 :: What is the purpose of the chain and setll and setgt?

CHAIN is used for random retrieval from a File. In other
words, whatever value used by programmer in Factor 1/Key
against CHAIN opcode will be used as search/find criteria in
database file. NO VALUE RETRIEVED IN NO CRITERIA MATCH. It
can be well understand, in case of using composite keys.

But in case of SETLL and SETGT, program will return some
value, if any value present in the database/physical file.

CHAIN = Sets pointer on exact value

SETLL = Sets pointer on Lower Limit of the value

SETGT = Sets pointer on Greater Limit of the value

==========================================================

It is recommended, use CHAIN only, if record exist in
database file, instead of SETLL and SETGT, which can be used
otherwise.

6 :: what is the interactive job? what is the batch job? How to change the batch job to interactive job?

When you sign-on an AS/400 system, you are interacting with
interactive jobs(e.g.QINTER). The System-jobs which are
presubmitted are called batch jobs(e.g.QBATCH, QSPL, QCMN etc.,)

If u want to know whether a job is in Interactive or Batch,
u can use RTVJOBA command with attribute JOB-TYPE on that job.
if it has a value '1' = Interative; '0' = Batch.

you can change a Batch-job to Interactive-job as long as it
is in JOBQ(by changing the environment on CHGJOB(opt-2)
command to QINTER or QPGMR); once it's active we cannot
change the type.

7 :: One physical file can have how many max of logical files? what is the primary file?

one physical file can have more than one logical files.
priamary file is used in rpg program cycle to automatically
read records in a cycle

8 :: How to update physical files using normal logical file?

To Update physical file in RPG use opcode UPDATE.
example
FLF1 IF E k DISK
key1 Setll LF1
READ LF1
UPDATE LF1

Note: Logical file should be simeple logical file. We can't
update physical file with help of Join logical file.

9 :: How to update physical file using logical file with example?

Declare the logical file in update mode in the RPG program.

Chain at the record needed to be updated and afer changing
the field value use UPDATE opcode with the record format
name of the LF.The record gets updated

10 :: What is open data path? and what is the diff b/w access path and open data path?

An access path describes the order in which the rows are
retrieved from a database file. If the rows in the file are
accessed in a physical sequence, that is known as an
arrival sequence access path. If the rows need to be
processed in an ordered manner, then a keyed access path is
needed to sort the data in the specified order. With DB2
for iSeries, keyed access paths are supplied to DB2 by
creating a keyed logical file, keyed physical file, or SQL
index.

An access path and an open data path are used together to
process the rows in a database file.

The open data path (ODP) is the path through which all
input and output operations are performed on a database
file. The ODP is used to connect the requesting program
with the data in the file. As data is retrieved from or
inserted into the file, the ODP will use an access path to
navigate to a row within in the file. If the rows need to
be processed in a sorted owner, then someone will need to
supply a keyed access path by creating a keyed physical
file, keyed logical file or SQL index.

An ODP is created and used each time that a file is opened
or when an SQL statement is executed. There are ways to
have an ODP shared or reused instead of creating the ODP
each time.