Question

Unix Shell Script with Informix SQL (unload)

Asked by: Paulconsulting

I an trying to write a Unix Shell Script that will unload a select statement to a text file.  I have tried a couple of methods, both of which did not work.

With method 1, I was getting an invalid database error, however, when I copied the entire contents into an isql prompt, It did what is was supposed to do, unload the contents of that select statement to a pipe delimited text file.

With method 2, the commands are getting to the correct screen, i.e. the new isql query screen with the query inputted to the screen, but the <<EOF is causing my system to lock up, and with out the <<EOF, the commands are not executed.

I have attached both methods in a zip folder.  Basically, all the the script needs to do is run a unload to Estab.unl select * from <table>; select statement.  And the script needs to be able to be scheduled via a unix cron job

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Asked On
2009-10-21 at 06:28:06ID24830480
Tags

Unix Shell Script with Informix SQL (unload)

Topics

Unix Systems Programming

,

Unix Operating Systems

,

Informix Database

Participating Experts
2
Points
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Comments
8

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Answers

 

by: flutophilusPosted on 2009-10-21 at 12:04:53ID: 25627182

You need to set up the Informix environment variables in the shell script.

It's the environment variables that are set by the script that runs when you log in that are used when you run isql from the command line directly. These are not copied over automatically to a shell script.

How and where the login script is run from will depend on your flavour of UNIX and the shell you are running. For example for Korn Shell on hp-ux the script will be /home/yourlogin/.profile (opbviously replace yourlogin by your actual login). Note that files beginning with a . are not normally shown when you list the directory. If you can find this script you can see what environment variables are set for Informix in your environment.

Another way to see what environment variables are set is to run the

set

command from the command prompt.
This shows all environmnt variables.

You'll need set these environment variabls in your shell script, which will look something like the following


INFORMIXSERVER = yourinstancename; export INFORMIXSERVER

you may also need
DBDATE = DMY4- ; export DBDATE
DCENTURY = C; export DBCENTURY
INFORMIXDIR = /pathtoyourinformixinstallation; export INFORMIXDIR
PATH = $PATH:/pathtoyourinformixinstallation; export PATH

Also a good idea to make the first line of any script something like

#!/usr/bin/ksh

(This will execute all the commands in the script under the korn shell - you'll probably need to change this to point to the shell you are actually using -have a look at the SHELL environment to see what that is.

You can also look at what environment variables are set by your login script by running
echo $environmentvariable from the command prompt

e.g
echo $INFORMIXSERVER
echo $SHELL

Note this is UNIX and CASE MATTERS

HTH

 

by: PaulconsultingPosted on 2009-10-22 at 13:43:38ID: 25638790

All I needed to do was run isql <database name>  MyQuery.sql from the unix command, ensuring that I am in the same path as the sql file.  In the sql file is unload to /my/path/myFile.txt select * from MyTable;

Plus this does not need a shell script, I can simple call the .sql file from the cron tab using:

* * * * * * /usr/informix/bin/isql <myDatabaseName> /Path/to/myQuery.sql 2>&1

 

by: flutophilusPosted on 2009-10-23 at 01:59:56ID: 25642439

I gave a thorough and complete answer to the question - which was "How to run an Informix Query from a Shell Script".

If the user decides that they don't now need to do this it in no way invalidates my answer which is generally applicable to a wide range of situations. (For example in the situation where a user with logn access to Informix does not have the ability to run jobs on cron.)


 

by: gheistPosted on 2009-10-24 at 11:40:14ID: 25653609

> Plus this does not need a shell script, I can simple call the .sql file from the cron tab using....

This needs Informix connection variables indeed:


* * * * * * INFORMIXDIR=/usr/informix LIBPATH=/usr/informix/lib:/usrl/lib  /usr/informix/bin/isql <myDatabaseName> /Path/to/myQuery.sql 2>&1

 

by: gheistPosted on 2009-10-24 at 11:44:02ID: 25653631

And:

2>&1 should be replaced by:
>> /dev/null 2>&1 </dev/null

 

by: gheistPosted on 2009-11-01 at 03:08:28ID: 25713297

http:#25627182 is the correct answer.
mine later just tries to avoid scripting, does not cover informix or specific request.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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