Seminar Abstract

SQL and Relational Databases for ISAM/VSAM Programmers

This seminar is designed to teach SQL (Structured Query Language) and Relational Database Techniques to those already familar with Although the speaker's specific topic involves Oracle and DB2 Relational Databases, the techniques are applicable to other relational databases.

When programming for ISAM/VSAM, the programmer must pay attention to data integrity (ensuring that the customer number stored in the invoice file is valid and exists in the customer file), must programatically join data from different tables, and needs indexes on files in order to access records based on a particular field. Using SQL and relational databases, these areas are much easier or are even eliminated.

Learning a new technology is difficult enough without having to learn it independently of prior experience and existing knowledge base. By building on the current ISAM/VSAM knowledge, this seminar differentiates itself from other SQL and Relational database seminars.

Topics to be covered include:

• Accessing Data in Programs
  • ISAM/VSAM verbs and the SQL counterparts
  • Additional features that SQL provides
  • New data structures
• Creating Collections of Data
  • Creating ISAM/VSAM files (datasets)
  • Creating Relational tables
• Database Design
  • Limitations
  • Performance Issues
  • How to map data between ISAM/VSAM and SQL
  • Conversion from ISAM/VSAM to Relational
• Advanced Relational Techniques
  • Stored Procedures
  • Triggers
  • Data Integrity Checks (Primary and Foreign Keys)
  • Monitoring Data Access Performance
  • Writing Efficient SQL
  • Using Indexes
  • Mimicking ISAM/VSAM behavior with SQL

The goal of this seminar is to allow the attendee to understand how to program using relational databases and SQL.

Prerequisites of Attendees:

Attendees should be familiar with ISAM/VSAM and a programming language such as COBOL or C.

Focus:

Intermediate level, technical.