Rick Flagler
Contributor
Rick Flagler is a consultant, educator and mentor with 30-plus years' experience on IBM i and various ERP systems. He does consulting for IBM i shops, teaches classes and specializes in Db2 Web Query for i, Db2, SQL and RPG.
Sweet Talking the Bot: Adventures in AI-Assisted Coding on IBM i
January 16, 2026
IBM i consultant Rick Flagler shares his experience using generative AI as a coding assistant, including a case study involving EDI
ArticlesUsing a Metric Database to Populate Dashboards for IBM i
November 14, 2025
Rick Flagler explains how to create a database to contain metrics for dashboard reporting—for the sake of performance, simplicity and flexibility
ArticlesCreating Dashboards Using a Replacement Option for Db2 Web Query
October 17, 2025
IBM i consultant Rick Flagler outlines the steps necessary to develop a dashboard using the MRC product, which he champions as filling the void of IBM's withdrawn platform
ArticlesLife After IBM Db2 Web Query for i: Finding an Alternative
June 20, 2025
Following the end of support for the business intelligence platform, IBM i consultant Rick Flagler answers the question, "What do we do now?"
ArticlesGeocoding and Mapping Data With IBM Db2 Web Query for i
December 15, 2021
Have you ever wanted to apply mapping technology to your data? Ever since Google and Apple Maps became popular, other vendors have used this same mapping technology to provide a basis for business intelligence data analysis. Several towns in my rural area have begun investigating how to improve internet access and have asked vendors to […]
ArticlesUse Cases for SQL’s CASE statement
October 11, 2021
Have you ever wanted to conditionally do some processing in an SQL SELECT statement? I‘m sure you have, as this isn’t really an unusual situation. In RPG and other languages, we have the IF or SELECT statements for this. In an SQL procedure, you can also use IF. But in a SELECT statement, the way […]
ArticlesThe Power of Metadata: Part 2
September 15, 2021
In Part 1 of this series, I illustrated how Db2 Web Query for i can utilize metadata to improve the information available for reports. This article will continue that discussion, with examples of how metadata techniques can be used to expand the usefulness of your data. Recall our previous database had some order information (see Figure […]
ArticlesThe Power of Metadata in the IBM i OS: Part 1
August 27, 2021
Developers who work in the IBM i environment may or may not be familiar with the term “metadata.” Metadata can be defined as “data about data.” Metadata has existed within the IBM i OS since the historic days of the System/38, when an integrated Relational Database was introduced. Consider the commands DSPFD and DSPFFD, both […]
ArticlesBasics of Using a Stored Procedure With Db2 Web Query for i Version 2.3
August 2, 2021
The most recent releases of Db2 Web Query introduced interface enhancements to the Home page, metadata management and report design. This article will discuss some of these changes in the context of illustrating using an SQL stored procedure (SP) as a data source for one or more Web Query reports. The procedure presents data for […]
ArticlesUsing SQL Functions in a DEFINE field in Db2 Web Query for i
October 10, 2017
The capabilities provided through the use of SQL and user-defined functions brings more power to the already powerful Web Query reporting system.