Programmer Tip: SQL vs. DDS -- The good, the bad and the ugly

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Title: Programmer Tips

November 03, 2004 Published by  Search400.com    Programmer Tips IN THIS ISSUE:   >  SQL vs. DDS -- The good, the bad and the downright ugly   >  Nine skills every RPG programmer should have   >  Make your database easy to read   >  Generating XML from SQL data   >  Revisit your database naming conventions SPONSORED BY:  Search400.com Product and Vendor Guide The Buyers guide is one of the most comprehensive directories of vendor and product information on the Web. It covers a wide range of areas for your research needs, including Application Dev, E-Commerce Solutions, Security and more. Simply search by topic, company name or keyword and you have access to complete vendor and important product information without having to comb through multiple sites. Click Here! SQL vs. DDS -- The good, the bad and the downright ugly [Search400.com] by Paul Tuohy In case you haven't heard, DDS is no longer the development language of choice when it comes to defining and maintaining your database. It has been usurped by SQL's Data Definition Language (DDL). Why the change? DDL is the standard definition language used for most (if not all) other databases. It is reasonable for IBM to adopt the same standard for OS/400 (i5/OS). But what does DDL offer over DDS and vice versa? Let's take a look. Nine skills every RPG programmer should have [Search400.com] Are you becoming confused with all the "new" terminology such as Java, object-oriented, IFS, RPG IV, ILE, SQL, Navigator, Code/400, RSE, WebSphere this and WebSphere that? You know you want to move forward, but you don't know where to begin. Why not begin with what you have on your system? Make your database easy to read [Search400.com] Search400.com expert Jim Mason look at making your database easier for users to read. By creating simple data marts and using SQL views, you can make your production data understandable for user reporting. Generating XML from SQL data [Search400.com] You are an RPG programmer. You could use the XML parser APIs on the iSeries to learn how to do DOM or SAX parsing to generate XML documents. Good idea? No! Learn how to easily generate XML from SQL WITHOUT CODING using WDSC. Revisit your database naming conventions [Search400.com] There is something that has been annoying iSeries guru Paul Tuohy for quite a while. It is one of those niggling little things that we have been doing for so long that we take it for granted. We do it for historical reasons and take it for granted that that is the way we have to do it. Paul's referring to the naming conventions we use on our databases. In fact, your methods could be doing more harm than good. SUBMIT YOUR TIP TODAY:  Tip contest: Win a Skagen slimline watch This month's winner will receive a Skagen Slimline watch. This watch has a sophisticated large black face with chrome arrow markers. It's a chrome-plated, 100% stainless steel case with luxurious black calfskin leather band. It also features scratch-resistant mineral crystal and Japanese quartz movement. So don't waste time, send in your tip today! Don't forget to go in and rate our recent tips: RPG documentation made easy Top Q&A's on the OS/400 Filter SPAM using Realtime Blackhole List Servers More query date manipulation Debug value of pointer SURVEY:  User poll: Vote now Do you have plans to move from tape backup to another format? ITKNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE:  Get answers to your questions fast Now you can ask any one of your fellow TechTarget members -- 1.2 million strong -- specific questions on technology, best practices or other IT issues. Just tell us who you are and the subjects you're interested in (iSeries, RPG, DB2, WebSphere, etc.) and then ask your questions or offer advice to other IT professionals. Our ITKnowledge Exchange brings members from all 22 TechTarget Web sites together to share information and experiences.   Contact Us Sales For sales inquiries, please contact us at: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Editorial For feedback about any of our articles or to send us your article ideas, please contact us at: [EMAIL PROTECTED]     Free E-Newsletters! Select e-newsletters you would like to receive via e-mail!  Search400: Administrator Tips  Search400: Security Tip  Search400: Today's News Not a Member? We'll activate your membership with your subscription.   This e-newsletter is published by Search400.com, a targeted Web site from TechTarget, the most targeted IT media and events company. To unsubscribe from "Programmer Tips": Go to unsubscribe: http://search400.techtarget.com/unsubscribe?cid=496346&lid=430677&track=NL-17&ad=496346 Please note, unsubscribe requests may take up to 24 hours to process; you may receive additional mailings during that time. A confirmation e-mail will be sent when your request has been successfully processed. Contact Us: Search400 Member Services 117 Kendrick Street, Suite 800 Needham, MA 02494