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OS/2 Help File
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1994-07-12
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ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1. Welcome ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Dummy ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Dummy ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Welcome to the
Visualizer
SQL Database Tutorial
(C) Copyright IBM Corporation 1994
Double-click on the arrow to continue.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2. Using this Tutorial ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Using this tutorial
The Visualizer tutorial windows have been designed to occupy only 40 percent of
your screen. This is to allow you to run Visualizer at the same time as viewing
a tutorial.
In this way you can perform the tutorial steps using the real product and not a
product simulation as in so many online tutorials.
Before you start to read the lesson steps, it is recommended that you will:
o Open the Visualizer folder
o Size the Visualizer window so that it fits neatly next to the tutorial window
By performing the tutorial steps using the real Visualizer product, you will
familiarize yourself with the feel, functions, and features of the product.
All the tutorials in the Visualizer product are structured in a similar way. If
you have not used a Visualizer tutorial before, double-click on any of the
following topics for further information:
o Highlighted terms
o Lessons and steps
o Why
o Which lessons to follow
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Lessons and Steps ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Lessons and steps
Visualizer tutorials are divided into lessons and each lesson is further
divided into steps.
At the start of each lesson there is a lesson overview, followed by a list of
lesson steps. The lesson steps are hypertext links to the steps themselves. To
start the tutorial at the beginning, double-click on the first step.
At the end of each lesson there is an overview which recaps on the concepts and
steps you should be familiar with.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Highlighted Terms ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Highlighted terms
If you see any words or phrases that are highlighted like this: hypertext you
can double-click on them to get more information.
The information is displayed in a new window like this one. When you have
finished reading it, close the window in one of the following ways:
o Press the Esc key on your keyboard
o Double-click on the System menu
o Select Close from the System menu
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Why ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Why
At the start of each lesson you will see this:
(Why?)
Double-clicking on the word (Why?) will display further information about the
purpose of the lesson and help to explain how the lesson is related to the
lessons which precede and follow it.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Which Lessons to Follow ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Which lessons to follow
If you are unfamiliar with Visualizer, we recommend that you work through each
lesson sequentially.
To do this, when you have read the overview of each lesson, double-click on the
title of the first lesson.
If you are familiar with some aspects of Visualizer, be selective about which
lessons you work through. Read all the lesson overviews before you select which
lessons you want to follow.
To go on to other lessons, follow the navigational help that is given at the
end of each lesson.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3. Visualizer SQL Database Lessons ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Visualizer SQL Database Lessons
Use the Visualizer SQL Database object to access databases that contain the
tables and views you want to work with. You access the database by associating
it with an SQL database object. You can then open a view of the object and work
with the SQL tables and SQL views in the database.
Using the Visualizer SQL Database object, you can retrieve data from local
databases (on your workstation with DB2/2 installed) or remote databases (on
another workstation or host system) provided that a suitable database manager
is installed.
After associating a database with an SQL database object, you can include
specific tables and views in the object, run SQL statements, and access the SQL
database from an application.
Lesson 1: Associating an SQL database object with a database.
Before you can use Visualizer to access SQL tables and SQL views, you must
access the database they are stored in. In this lesson you will learn how to
access a database by associating an SQL database object with it.
This lesson takes 15 minutes to complete.
Lesson 2: Including tables and views in an SQL database object.
When you first open an SQL database object after associating it with a
database, the object contains only the existing tables and views you currently
own under your user ID. In this lesson you will learn how to change what is
included in the SQL database object.
This lesson takes 20 minutes to complete.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4. 1. Associating a Database ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Associating a database
Before you can access the SQL tables and SQL views you want to work with, you
must access the database they are contained within.
To do this you must associate a Visualizer SQL database object to the database.
In this lesson you will learn how to associate a database with a Visualizer SQL
database object.
(Why?...)
Steps
1. Create a copy of the SQL database object.
2. Rename your new SQL database object.
3. Open your new object's Settings notebook.
4. Select the database you want to use.
5. Save the changes then close the object.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.1. 1.1 Copy the Template ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Open the Visualizer folder.
The Visualizer folder contains the Shadows of Templates folder.
Open the Shadows of Templates folder.
The Shadows of Templates folder contains templates for all the Visualizer
objects. You can use these templates to create your own Visualizer objects.
Drag the Visualizer SQL Database template icon and drop it on the folder you
want to store the new object in.
You have now created a new SQL database object in your target folder.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.2. 1.2 Rename the SQL Database object ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
This is an optional step. The SQL database object uses an alias as the title,
but you can rename the object yourself if you wish.
Open the folder where your new SQL database object is stored.
Hold down the Alt key.
Select your new SQL database object.
Release the Alt key.
Overtype the title with one of your own.
Select on an empty part of the folder to save your changes.
You have now renamed your new SQL database object and saved the changes.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.3. 1.3 Open the Settings Notebook. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
To associate a database with your new SQL database object you use the SQL
Database object's Settings notebook. In this step you will learn how to open
the Settings notebook. If you already know how to do this, open the Settings
notebook for your new SQL database object and go on to the next step.
Select your new SQL database object.
The SQL database object's pop-up menu is displayed.
Select on the arrow to the right of Open.
Another menu is displayed for the Open choice.
Select Settings.
The Settings notebook for your new SQL database object is opened.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.4. 1.4 Select the Database ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Select the Database tab from the Settings notebook.
The notebook is opened on the Database page.
The Database list contains a list of all the databases that you have access to.
From the Database list select the name of the database you want to associate
with your SQL database object.
Select the Apply push button.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.5. 1.5 Save and Close ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Close your SQL database object's Settings notebook.
The changes you have made to the settings of your SQL database object are saved
and the Settings notebook closes.
The database you have chosen will remain associated with your SQL database
object until you delete the SQL database object.
You will see that your new SQL database object now contains the SQL tables and
SQL views that are stored in the associated database.
Double-click on one of the SQL tables or SQL views to see what it contains.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Why Change a Table? ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Visualizer offers you a wealth of function and capability to help you quickly
and easily access your data. It has an easy-to-use graphical interface which
means that you can improve the way you do business without needing an in depth
knowledge of databases or SQL.
However, before you can use Visualizer to access SQL tables and SQL views, you
must access the database they are stored in. To access the database you must
associate the database with a Visualizer SQL database object.
This lesson shows you how to associate a database with a Visualizer SQL
database object, after which your data and all the capabilities of Visualizer,
will be at your fingertips
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5. 2. Including Tables and Views ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Including tables and views
In this lesson you will learn how to include Visualizer SQL tables and SQL
views in your Visualizer SQL database.
(Why?...)
Steps
1. Open the object's Settings notebook.
2. Change the Include page.
3. Save and apply the changes.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.1. 2.1 Open the Settings notebook ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Open the Settings notebook for your SQL database object.
The steps involved in opening the Settings notebook are described in detail in
lesson 1. If you are not sure how to open the Settings notebook for an object,
go back to lesson 1 and follow the steps that are detailed there.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.2. 2.2 Change the Include Page ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Select the Include tab on the Settings notebook.
The Settings notebook opens at the Include page.
In the Collection field type the collection name of what you want to include.
The collection name could be the user ID of the owner of the tables and views,
or some other qualifier depending on the database you are accessing. For
example, you may have a collection of tables and views called Salaries which
includes all the tables and views for the salaries department, or another
called Market research which includes all the tables and views for the market
research department.
You can use the * wildcard to include all collection names.
If you leave the Collection field blank, the current user ID will be used.
In the Name field type the names of the tables and views you want to include.
Again, you can use the * wildcard to include all tables and views.
From the Type list select SQL Table, or SQL View, or both of these.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.3. 2.3 Save and Close ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The tables and views you have named will be included automatically in your SQL
database object. The Automatic refresh check box is checked as the default.
When you close the Settings notebook, the tables and views you have selected to
include will appear as icons in your SQL Database object folder.
If you do not want the tables and views you have selected to be included
automatically in your SQL database object, deselect the check in the Automatic
refresh check box.
When you close the Settings notebook the changes you have made to the Include
page will be saved, but will not be applied to your SQL database object.
To apply the changes and see the tables and views you have selected, you must
select Refresh now from the SQL database object's pop-up menu.
Close the notebook to save the changes you have made.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Why include Tables and Views? ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Including tables and views in your SQL database object means that you can
define different collections or groups of tables and views for different
purposes. For example, you may want to include a collection of tables and views
for monthly sales and another collection for yearly sales.
When you first open an SQL database object after associating it with a
database, the object contains only the existing tables and views you currently
own under your user ID. However, you may want to use other tables and views
with the database, for example, tables and views that someone else has created,
or tables and views that you have created using a different user ID.
Knowing how to include tables and views in an SQL database object helps you to
get the most from your data by giving you the flexibility to personalize your
database access and use.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6. Tutorial Review ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Reviewing the Visualizer SQL Database Tutorial
You should now feel confident about associating an SQL database object with a
database, and including tables and views in an SQL database object.
Understand what you did?
If you feel you did not understand all you did, consider going through the
lessons again. Next time, double-click on all of the (Why?...) fields for
lesson explanations and on all of the highlighted text fields for conceptual
information.
For more information
You can find conceptual, control and task information in the Visualizer online
help and in Visualizer Query for OS/2: Using, SH45-5089-00. An online version
of this book is also provided in your Manuals folder.
What to do now
You have now completed the SQL Database tutorial.
If you would like to repeat the tutorial, select here on the back-page button:
Alternatively close the tutorial window by double-clicking on the title-bar
mini icon.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
This is a footnote window. The highlighted terms in this tutorial are usually
displayed in larger windows. Press the escape key on your keyboard to close the
footnote.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
This is a footnote window. Why information is usually displayed in larger
windows.