Chapter 1: Host Compatibility Option

Mainframe Express Host Compatibility Option (HCO) is a set of tools that enable you to offload DB2 for OS/390 development and testing to a PC using some of IBM's family of DB2 Universal Database products. Host Compatibility Option can also be used with some older IBM relational products such as DB2 Common Server V2.1.

Mainframe Express Host Compatibility Option does this by allowing EBCDIC-enabled programs to work with DB2 UDB. This means that you can use Mainframe Express IMS Option and CICS Options with DB2 UDB while the data is still stored in ANSI format.

In addition, Host Compatibility Option can be used to re-host applications where the target run-time environment can change. Host Compatibility Option gives you the flexibility to use mainframe SQL syntax but replace character front ends with graphical interfaces.

1.1 HCO Tools

Included in Host Compatibility Option are tools to:

Create databases with EBCDIC collating sequences
Catalog remote database servers
Catalog remote databases
Process SQL DDL statements so that DB2 table definitions stored on the mainframe can be downloaded to the PC and used to create tables without having to be modified
Generate copybooks for tables (DCLGEN)
Export data in a variety of formats
Import data in a variety of formats
Test and run queries
Explain queries
Translate SQLCODE from DB2 Universal Database value to some designated value
Easily re-bind SQL packages to a different database

1.2 Technical Support

The About window displays the current version of the software. When requesting technical support, always refer to the version number displayed on the About window or the fixpack that has been installed which is displayed in the Version Information window displayed from the Mainframe Express IDE (see Figure 1-2).

Figure 1-1: About Window

Problems should be reported to the company that sold you Host Compatibility Option. They act as the first line of support. If they are unable to resolve your problem, they will work with someone who can, or they will refer you to somebody else.

Figure 1-2: Version Information