Using SQL against Non DDS files?

[jeffzickgraf]

Can you use sql to pull back data from non dds files in an AS400 in an
understandable way?

I'm using iSeries Navigator and the SQL scripting window to query
tables in an as400 db2 database. Most of the tables have a DDS and I
can get data back just fine. However there are tables without DDS's
and when I query the table (i.e. select * from LIB.XYZ) I get back one
or a couple of columns with Hex data. Is there a way to get the data
in an understandable format?

The customer does not want to create a DDS on these table because they
say it would add too much of a burden when changes are made and they
would have to update all their programs that access the file.
Any ideas??? I've searched and came up with buttkiss.

[Mark Yudkin]

You shouldn't expect many replies here, as you're on the wrong forum. This
is for IBM's DB2 database.
<je**********@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:11********************@z14g2000cwz.googlegrou ps.com...

Can you use sql to pull back data from non dds files in an AS400 in an
understandable way?

I'm using iSeries Navigator and the SQL scripting window to query
tables in an as400 db2 database. Most of the tables have a DDS and I
can get data back just fine. However there are tables without DDS's
and when I query the table (i.e. select * from LIB.XYZ) I get back one
or a couple of columns with Hex data. Is there a way to get the data
in an understandable format?

The customer does not want to create a DDS on these table because they
say it would add too much of a burden when changes are made and they
would have to update all their programs that access the file.
Any ideas??? I've searched and came up with buttkiss.

[Steve Johnson-Evers]

I think the customer's position of "it would add too much of a burden
when changes are made" is a cop-out. Nevertheless, I think you can get
at this DB2 (yes, it is a DB2 database) data using SUBSTR and HEX to
split the one large field into the actual fields. Perhaps you can do
this in a view.

-Stevers

je**********@hotmail.com wrote:

Can you use sql to pull back data from non dds files in an AS400 in an
understandable way?

I'm using iSeries Navigator and the SQL scripting window to query
tables in an as400 db2 database. Most of the tables have a DDS and I
can get data back just fine. However there are tables without DDS's
and when I query the table (i.e. select * from LIB.XYZ) I get back one
or a couple of columns with Hex data. Is there a way to get the data
in an understandable format?

The customer does not want to create a DDS on these table because they
say it would add too much of a burden when changes are made and they
would have to update all their programs that access the file.
Any ideas??? I've searched and came up with buttkiss.