New in ACS: Really Fast IFS and SQL Content Assist
In this You and i blog post, Steve Will explains new Access Client Solutions enhancements
For today’s blog, I wanted to focus on our latest Access Client Solutions delivery, and after that, I’ll point you to a new series of helpful videos being done by a couple of the Business Architects on my team. Let’s start with the new function.
Access Client Solutions 1.1.8.5
The latest updates for ACS are now available. The development team has been busy delivering some pretty exciting new things. The first thing to point out is an update to the Integrated File System support. Based on input from many, we took a look at the performance of this support.The good news, we found some pretty interesting things, and have re-designed the connection support. The great news, with these changes the IFS interface is now blazing fast! If you have used the IFS interface in the past, it would be good to give it another go. You may just find that WRKLNK is no longer something you need.
The other interface we have been working on is the Run SQL Scripts support. In the past release, we included the content assist support When you click on the Control and Space bar, you are presented with the list of columns defined for a database or the IBM i Service that is being referenced. You can see in the example below the columns for the simple select statement for the IBM i service replacement for the NETSTAT command.
The new addition to 1.1.8.5 is a huge step forward. Now you can get content assist for building SQL. The content assist is aware of the context of where the cursor is located. The content assist will show either the list of columns, OR the next potential SQL that could be used.
Here is a quick example: we have a simple select statement; if we put the cursor at the end, you can see the SQL options that could be used.
Isn’t that cool? The Run SQL Scripts support now provides support for both the highly experienced SQL user or the SQL basic user.
This new support fits with our strategic direction of using SQL for more and more activities. Sure, SQL is the language of the database. Buts it’s for more than just Db2. With the many IBM i Services that are now available, SQL is becoming the language for everyone. Since we have been pushing more and more usage for SQL, we want to make sure that SQL can be used for ‘everyone.’ By providing usable examples as part of the ‘Insert for Examples’ support as well as now prompting, to help user build new ways to leverage SQL for both applications as well as now for system management support.
iSee Videos – How To
Many of you probably know the names, and perhaps voices and faces of Tim Rowe and Scott Forstie. They are two of the Business Architects in IBM i development who normally spend quite a bit of their time doing detailed presentations about IBM i technology. Tim is responsible for Systems Management and general Application Development. Scott is responsible for Db2.
Recently, they started a series of “how to” video tutorials they call their ‘iSee’ video blog. It’s being hosted by COMMON, and the videos cover a variety of topics. You don’t have to be a member of COMMON, though I believe you do have to register as a user of the website to see them.
The most recent topic is “Spreadsheet Automation on IBM i with SQL & ACS”. A few videos before that, they did “ACS, Getting started with Run SQL Scripts and IBM i Services” which might be particularly valuable if you want to take advantage of the enhancement I described above. But the videos are not only about ACS. They have videos about Spool, System Limits, User Profiles and more. And they’re planning to do even more topics. They are very client-driven, so if there’s a topic you think ought to have a simple “here’s how it’s done” video, let them know!
That’s enough for today. I’m busy working on the plans for IBM i for the next several years. It’s that time in the cycle again. Plenty to do, so no more writing for today. I hope you are all staying safe and productive—and finding a way to enjoy yourselves along the way!