Export Data Tool

Once you have created SQL tables, you need data to test your applications. You may also need to distribute data to other PCs and Windows or UNIX machines or to send data back to the mainframe. IBM and other vendors provide products to do this. However, if you have not installed one of these products, moving data around can be a problem.

Host Compatibility Option supplies you with an Export Data tool that you can combine with DB2 Connect, IBM's DRDA gateway, giving you a relatively inexpensive way of moving data between mainframe databases and PCs and Windows or UNIX machines.

You can run the Export Data tool from the HCO for DB2 LUW user interface, or (Windows platforms only) using the mfhco export command.

The Export Data tool has the following limitations:

• All columns and rows in a table are exported. There is no ability in this tool to limit the data or rows exported.
• Export formats WSF (Lotus worksheet) and IXF (mainframe) are not supported
• IXF and DEL files are exported using IBM's EXPORT application programming interface. Some options of the API are not supported. See IBM's DB2 LUW Command Reference for list of all available options.
• DSNTIAUL is exported using a SELECT statement, so large tables may take a while to process
• LOB data types are not supported in DSNTIAUL format
• LOB data types are generated as part of file in IXF and DEL formats. See IBM's DB2 LUW Command Reference for other limitations.

If you need to restrict rows and/or columns exported, you can use the IBM command line processor, DB2, or the IBM Control Center to export data. See IBM's DB2 LUW Command Reference for more details on how to use the IBM Control Center.