ALTER for DB2
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| Vendor | Description |
| BMC | ALTER for DB2 Reference Manual |
| ALTER for DB2 User Guide Volume 1 | |
| ALTER for DB2 User Guide Volume 2 |
Overview
Product Features
Options Panel
ALTER for DB2 is an ISPF-based software product which works in combination with your DB2 system to facilitate alteration, duplication and/or migration of DB2 data structures. Through the use of interactive panels, users can specify changes, analyze the effects of these changes and execute the changes when analysis is complete.
ALTER accomplishes these tasks through the use of WORKIDs. WORKIDs are user-defined and, once defined, can be saved as private or public by their creator. WORKIDs have three types: ALTER -used when altering existing objects; MIGRATE - used when migrating or duplicating existing objects on the same or another DB2 subsystem; and RECEIVE - used when receiving migrated objects from a DB2 subsystem.
- Specification of changes to data structures via easy-to-use ISPF screens with online help.
- Supports a full range of changes to objects including all definitional elements.
- Allows you to rename, duplicate and migrate structures among DB2 subsystems.
- Allows you to change data objects as you duplicate or migrate them.
- Groups multiple changes to multiple data structures into a single job.
- Converts data from one type to another.
- Analyzes specified changes for consistency and effects on related objects.
- Ensures that changes are implemented efficiently and in order.
- Generates worklists to control changes, restore dependencies and issue warnings.
- Allows editing of the worklists prior to execution.
- Allows automatic execution of worklists, as well as execution STOP and RESTART capability.
- Records all actions performed during execution of worklists.
- Allows user to view and monitor the execution status of a WORKID.
Upon initial and subsequent use of the ALTER for DB2 software, it is extremely important to review the option settings for your session. ALTER for DB2 contains six options panels:
- Options Panel 1 allows the user to set the DB2 subsystem to work with as well as the jobcard and STEPLIB datasets to use for generated batch JCL. Note that the subsystem id can be changed here, but will only be active for the current session. The subsystem ID which has been set by the user (either at option 0.3 of the main ISPF Information Centre menu or at the NWRDC DB2 Primary Option Menu) will always be carried forward to ALTER upon invocation. Typically the default jobcard information is acceptable, with the exception of the accounting information. Users should insert their appropriate accounting information (Note: don't forget to include ample printline specification).
- Options Panel 2 allows the user to set color and display attributes for alter panels and messages.
- Options Panel 3 allows the user to specify unit name and disk space information for permanent and temporary datasets which are created by the system. In addition, the volume serial for worklist datasets can also be specified at this panel.
- Options Panel 4 allows the user to specify unit name, space information and dataset names for SYSCOnnn and SYSREnnn datasets. The default names (which are dynamically created) are usually sufficient, however users are advised to be wary in the event a WORKID has been either partially or fully executed, then deleted and recreated. In this case, the product will attempt to recreate existing datasets unless the default names are overridden at this panel. Note that the Worklist, SYSCOnnn and SYSREnnn datasets will be cataloged after use, whereas the Work and SORTWK datasets are automatically deleted. In addition, users can specify whether SYSCOnnn (which correspond to DB2 image copy) and SYSREnnn (which correspond to DB2 unload) datasets should be stacked on tape volumes. In the event these parameters are set to 'S', the unitname should correspondappropriately (e.g., TAPEC).
- Options Panels 5 and 6 allow the user to customize the various activities utilized within the product. Default options for analysis and execution can be set based on usage patterns. In addition, certain dataset names and sizing options can be set here. These panels will be useful as users gain experience using the software.