The DB2 Universal Database library consists of online help, and books. This section describes the information that is provided, and how to access it.
To help you access product information online, DB2 provides the Information Center on OS/2, Windows 95, and the Windows NT operating systems. You can view task information, DB2 books, troubleshooting information, sample programs, and DB2 information on the Web. "About the Information Center" has more details.
Online help is available with all DB2 components. The following
table describes the various types of help.
| Type of Help | Contents | How to Access... |
|---|---|---|
| Command Help | Explains the syntax of commands in the command line processor. | From the command line processor in interactive mode, enter:
? command where command is a keyword or the entire command. For example, ? catalog displays help for all the CATALOG commands, whereas ? catalog database displays help for the CATALOG DATABASE command. |
| Control Center Help | Explains the tasks you can perform in a window or notebook. The help includes prerequisite information you need to know, and describes how to use the window or notebook controls. | From a window or notebook, click on the Help push button or press the F1 key. |
| Message Help | Describes the cause of a message number, and any action you should take. | From the command line processor in interactive mode, enter:
? message number where message number is a valid message number. For example, ? SQL30081 displays help about the SQL30081 message. To view message help one screen at a time, enter: ? XXXnnnnn | more where XXX is the message prefix, such as SQL, and nnnnn is the message number, such as 30081. To save message help in a file, enter: ? XXXnnnnn > filename.ext where filename.ext is the file where you want to save the message help. |
| SQLSTATE Help | Explains SQL states and class codes. | From the command line processor in interactive mode, enter:
? sqlstate or ? class-code where sqlstate is a valid five digit SQL state and class-code is a valid two digit class code. For example, ? 08003 displays help for the 08003 SQL state, whereas ? 08 displays help for the 08 class code. |
The table in this section lists the DB2 books. They are divided into two groups:
Most books are available in HTML and PostScript format, and in hardcopy that you can order from IBM. The exceptions are noted in the table.
You can obtain DB2 books and access information in a variety of different ways:
sqllib/doc/html/index.htm
The page contains descriptions of and links to the DB2 books. The path is located on the drive where DB2 is installed.
You can also open the page by double-clicking on the DB2 Online Books icon. Depending on the system you are using, the icon is in the main product folder or the Windows Start menu.
For more information, see "Printing the PostScript Books".
| Book Name | Book Description | File Name | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cross-Platform Books | ||||
| Administration Getting Started | Introduces basic DB2 database administration concepts and tasks, and walks you through the primary administrative tasks. | db2k0x50 | ||
| Administration Guide | Contains information required to design, implement, and maintain a database to be accessed either locally or in a client/server environment. | db2d0x50 | ||
| API Reference | Describes the DB2 application programming interfaces (APIs) and data structures you can use to manage your databases. Explains how to call APIs from your applications. | db2b0x50 | ||
| CLI Guide and Reference | Explains how to develop applications that access DB2 databases using the DB2 Call Level Interface, a callable SQL interface that is compatible with the Microsoft ODBC specification. | db2l0x50 | ||
| Command Reference | Explains how to use the command line processor, and describes the DB2 commands you can use to manage your database. | db2n0x50 | ||
| DB2 Connect Enterprise Edition Quick Beginnings | Provides planning, migrating, installing, configuring, and using information for DB2 Connect Enterprise Edition. Also contains installation and setup information for all supported clients. | db2cyx50 | ||
| DB2 Connect Personal Edition Quick Beginnings | Provides planning, installing, configuring, and using information for DB2 Connect Personal Edition. | db2c1x50 | ||
| DB2 Connect User's Guide | Provides concepts, programming and general using information about the DB2 Connect products. | db2c0x50 | ||
| DB2 Connectivity Supplement | Provides setup and reference information for customers who want to use
DB2 for AS/400, DB2 for OS/390, DB2 for MVS, or DB2 for VM as DRDA Application
Requesters with DB2 Universal Database servers, and customers who want to use
DRDA Application Servers with DB2 Connect (formerly DDCS) application
requesters.
| db2h1x50
No form number | ||
| Embedded SQL Programming Guide | Explains how to develop applications that access DB2 databases using embedded SQL, and includes discussions about programming techniques and performance considerations. | db2a0x50 | ||
| Glossary | Provides a comprehensive list of all DB2 terms and definitions.
| db2t0x50
No form number | ||
| Installing and Configuring DB2 Clients | Provides installation and setup information for all DB2 Client
Application Enablers and DB2 Software Developer's Kits.
| db2iyx50
No form number | ||
| Master Index | Contains a cross reference to the major topics covered in the DB2
library.
| db2w0x50 | ||
| Message Reference | Lists messages and codes issued by DB2, and describes the actions you should take. | db2m0x50 | ||
| Replication Guide and Reference | Provides planning, configuring, administering, and using information for the IBM Replication tools supplied with DB2. | db2e0x50 | ||
| Road Map to DB2 Programming | Introduces the different ways your applications can access DB2, describes key DB2 features you can use in your applications, and points to detailed sources of information for DB2 programming. | db2u0x50 | ||
| SQL Getting Started | Introduces SQL concepts, and provides examples for many constructs and tasks. | db2y0x50 | ||
| SQL Reference | Describes SQL syntax, semantics, and the rules of the language. Also includes information about release-to-release incompatibilities, product limits, and catalog views. | db2s0x50 | ||
| System Monitor Guide and Reference | Describes how to collect different kinds of information about your database and the database manager. Explains how you can use the information to understand database activity, improve performance, and determine the cause of problems. | db2f0x50 | ||
| Troubleshooting Guide | Helps you determine the source of errors, recover from problems, and use diagnostic tools in consultation with DB2 Customer Service. | db2p0x50 | ||
| What's New | Describes the new features, functions, and enhancements in DB2 Universal
Database.
| db2q0x50
No form number | ||
| Platform-Specific Books | ||||
| Building Applications for UNIX Environments | Provides environment setup information and step-by-step instructions to compile, link, and run DB2 applications on a UNIX system. | db2axx50 | ||
| Building Applications for Windows and OS/2 Environments | Provides environment setup information and step-by-step instructions to compile, link, and run DB2 applications on a Windows or OS/2 system. | db2a1x50 | ||
| DB2 Personal Edition Quick Beginnings | Provides planning, installing, migrating, configuring, and using information for DB2 Universal Database Personal Edition on OS/2, Windows 95, and the Windows NT operating systems. | db2i1x50 | ||
| DB2 SDK for Macintosh Building Your Applications | Provides environment setup information and step-by-step instructions to
compile, link, and run DB2 applications on a Macintosh system.
| sqla7x02 | ||
| DB2 SDK for SCO OpenServer Building Your Applications | Provides environment setup information and step-by-step instructions to
compile, link, and run DB2 applications on a SCO OpenServer system.
| sqla9x02 | ||
| DB2 SDK for Silicon Graphics IRIX Building Your Applications | Provides environment setup information and step-by-step instructions to
compile, link, and run DB2 applications on a Silicon Graphics system.
| sqlaax02 | ||
| DB2 SDK for SINIX Building Your Applications | Provides environment setup information and step-by-step instructions to
compile, link, and run DB2 applications on a SINIX system.
| sqla8x00 | ||
| Quick Beginnings for OS/2 | Provides planning, installing, migrating, configuring, and using information for DB2 Universal Database on OS/2. Also contains installing and setup information for all supported clients. | db2i2x50 | ||
| Quick Beginnings for UNIX | Provides planning, installing, configuring, migrating, and using information for DB2 Universal Database on UNIX-based platforms. Also contains installing and setup information for all supported clients. | db2ixx50 | ||
| Quick Beginnings for Windows NT | Provides planning, installing, configuring, migrating, and using information for DB2 Universal Database on the Windows NT operating system. Also contains installing and setup information for all supported clients. | db2i6x50 | ||
| Quick Beginnings for Extended Enterprise Edition for UNIX | Provides planning, installing, configuring, and using information for DB2
Universal Database Extended Enterprise Edition for UNIX.
This book supercedes the DB2 Extended Enterprise Edition Quick Beginnings for AIX book, and is suitable for use with all versions of DB2 Extended Enterprise Edition that run on UNIX-based platforms. | db2v3x50 | ||
| Quick Beginnings for Extended Enterprise Edition for Windows NT | Provides planning, installing, configuring, and using information for DB2 Universal Database Extended Enterprise Edition for Windows NT. | db2v6x50 | ||
Notes:
| Language | Identifier | Language | Identifier |
| Brazilian Portuguese | B | Japanese | J |
| Bulgarian | U | Korean | K |
| Czech | X | Norwegian | N |
| Danish | D | Polish | P |
| English | E | Russian | R |
| Finnish | Y | Simp. Chinese | C |
| French | F | Slovenia | L |
| German | G | Spanish | Z |
| Greek | A | Swedish | S |
| Hungarian | H | Trad. Chinese | T |
| Italian | I |
|
|
The Information Center provides quick access to DB2 product information. The Information Center is available on OS/2, Windows 95, and the Windows NT operating systems. You must install the DB2 administration tools to see the Information Center.
Depending on your system, you can access the Information Center from the:
The Information Center provides the following kinds of information. Click on the appropriate tab to look at the information:
When you select an item in one of the lists, the Information Center launches a viewer to display the information. The viewer might be the system help viewer, an editor, or a Web browser, depending on the kind of information you select.
The Information Center provides search capabilities so you can look for specific topics, and filter capabilities to limit the scope of your searches.