Stored procedures and built-in functions can greatly expand the power and usefulness of SQL, but surprisingly these highly useful tools remain untapped by many programmers. For programmers who are new to the subject or those who want to expand on what they already know, this book provides a terrific introduction to the creation and use of built-in functions and stored procedures under OS/400 and i5/OS. But what are they?

Built-in functions are a part of practically every programming language and can be a big boost to productivity by identifying and isolating functions that need to be executed repeatedly. SQL makes particularly good use of its built-in functions. Stored procedures are programs that can be called from within SQL—and other programming languages, such as RPG—to process entire datasets. This book will put you on the fast track to using and writing both effectively.

After you learn the basics of these powerful tools, you?ll go on to explore some of the stored procedures and functions included with SQL on the iSeries as part of OS/400 and i5/OS. Author Mike Faust even explains the process of developing custom built-in functions for your own use and has included a stored procedure that can be used to create a crosstab or pivot table representation of supplied data.

This book is the tool you need to boost the power of your i5/OS SQL programming skills.

With SQL Built-In Functions and Stored Procedures, you will:

– Discover how to perform routine maintenance functions, such as copying a file or rebuilding an existing table without losing the data in the existing table.

– Learn how to build data files, modify a library list, and compile programs.

– Practice using example programs that not only teach, but also make excellent additions
to any programmer's library.

– Learn how to use 11 different functions, including functions to edit numeric values for print with commas, decimal points, and currency symbols; a function that returns the distance in miles between two ZIP codes; functions to convert date and currency to a text string and more.

– Gain access to complete code on the Web for each function, which you can use directly in your own programs.

Mike Faust is a former network administrator, software developer, and MIS Manager. He lives in Sanford, Florida.

In this, the third edition of the perennial best-seller, iSeries gurus Chris Peters and Brian Singleton have completely updated this essential resource to reflect all of the latest changes and enhancements of iSeries Access and Express Client and microsoft Office. Now, you can use iSeries Access or Express Client to combine the presentation capabilities of all versions of microsoft Office with the database capabilities of the i5/iSeries to provide your company with the best of both worlds.

Tasks that used to be almost impossible are now an easy realityif you know the integration secrets revealed in this book. Discover how to use your iSeries output with PC data-formatting tools, make visually appealing reports using iSeries data, use visual query tools to point and click to create sophisticated information output, analyze and summarize the detailed and often cumbersome iSeries reports, tap into the power of Microsoft's powerful Universal Data Access using ADO.NET, ODBC, and OLE DB, and much more.

Singleton and Peters provide you with the essential knowledge you need to use iSeries Access or Express Access as a means to integrate iSeries or AS/400 data with microsoft Office applications. i5/OS and microsoft Office Integration Handbook, Third Edition covers installing and configuring iSeries Access or Express Client, using ODBC to seamlessly integrate iSeries with microsoft Office, and leveraging the iSeries Access data transfer function. The book also explains how to bring data from the iSeries to your PC by using NetServer, TCP/IP's FTP file transfer function, and/or Universal Data Access with OLE DB and ADO.NET.

Other chapters of the book explore the multitude of microsoft Office functions by devoting a specific chapter to each Office application to show you how to use each function with the i5/iSeries. You'll learn how to use Excel, Word, Query, Access, and Outlook to generate spreadsheets, mailing labels, form letters, and envelopes; to produce queries and perform data retrieval; to create beautiful, sophisticated reports; and much more.

If you have PCs attached to your i5/iSeries this book has the essential information that will allow you to harness the power of microsoft Office and exploit the iSeries database.

This book will show you how to:
• Create spreadsheets, reports, and graphs using microsoft Excel and iSeries data
• Merge iSeries data to create letters, labels, and envelopes in MS Word
• Install and configure iSeries Access or Express Client for microsoft Office integrationSort, filter, join, summarize, and total iSeries data with MS Query and MS Access
• Transfer data between PCs and the iSeries and automate the process
• Set up Outlook as an email client on an iSeries or AS/400 server
• Configure Network Neighborhood to access your i5/iSeries and make sure your files are secure
• Create VBA macros for iSeries data integration with MS Office applications
• Integrate iSeries data into .NET applications with ADO.NET

Contents:
INTRODUCTION
Chapter 1: Connectivity Overview
Chapter 2: ODBC
Chapter 3: Retrieving iSeries Data with microsoft Query
Chapter 4: Using iSeries Data with MS Word
Chapter 5: Analyzing DB2/400 Data with Excel
Chapter 6: Expanding your Options with microsoft Access
Chapter 7: The iSeries, eMail, and Outlook
Chapter 8: The iSeries in the Network Neighborhood
Chapter 9: The iSeries Access Data-Transfer Function
Chapter 10: Transferring Data with FTP
Chapter 11: microsoft OLE DB/ADO Technology
Appendix
Index

Chris Peters is the author of The AS/400 TCP/IP Handbook and is a frequent contributor to MC Mag Online as a columnist for microsoft Office integration. He lives in Nine Mile Falls, Washington. Brian Singleton is the author of The AS/400 & microsoft Office Integration Handbook. He lives in La Jolla, California.