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C# Import / Export IBM DB2 Database

Hello all,

I have a C# application that uses a DB2 database. I need a method to Export and Import the entire database so that it can be ported to another computer running the same application.

I should mention that this is something that will need to be done many times by 'basic' users - so the simpler the better.

Is there a way to import / export a DB2 databse to some sort of file format? Doe anyone have any examples.

Thanks in advance.

MAC

Kent Olsen

Hi Mac,

IBM provides several tools for backup and restore (or export and import) of databases.

The C# application probably won't come into play. Unless you can build the command sequence into your application it will be done "offline".

The easiest and most straight-forward is to backup the entire database. You can restore the entire database, or selected parts of it, on the target system. The biggest requirement is that the two servers must be of similar kind. (e.g. You can not restore a mainframe database to a linux server.)

If you want to extract data from the source database and ADD it to existing tables on the target database, you'll probably want to use export and import.

But if you can federate the two servers (logically connect them so that they can communicate directly with each other) you can load the data into the target database with simple SQL, or either of the methods described above.

Good Luck,
Kent

mac-will

ASKER

Hi Kent,

Thanks. I really need to do it from the C# application and the exported database will need to eventually be put on something like DVDs. (This needs to be done by the users of the application)

I am using DB2 - Express C, and it is generally used as a local storage database for this particular application on a windows desktop machine.

Do you have any examples of these tools?

Thanks again.

MAC

Kent Olsen

Hi Mac,

Ok. The federated idea is out. (DB2 Express has some limitations as compared with a licensed version and federating the systems is one of them.) That's not meant to disparage DB2 -- it's still my "weapon of choice".

The DB2 command line interface will have to be installed on the client machine that is going to perform the export. You can test to see if it's there now by opening up a command line windows and typing 'db2'. (quit will get you out.)

In the CLI, use the EXPORT command to write the export file. You should be able to format the EXPORT statement in C# and pass it to the function that executes shell commands.

Kent

mac-will

ASKER

Hi Kent.

Thanks again. I am doing some reading and it looks like maybe db2move is the command I am looking for?

What is better db2 EXPORT or db2move?

Thanks,

MAC

Kent Olsen

DB2move is not the right tool. It physically relocates a database (moves the data containers), when what you want to do is extract data from the database.

EXPORT is definitely the right tool here.

Kent

mac-will

ASKER

Hmm... I just quickly tested it and it did not seem to move the original database.
the command I used is:

db2move myDB EXPORT

and it seemed to make the copy to the folder I wanted? Finally I deleted this folder and my DB is still there.

with the db2 EXPORT I would need to specify all the tables I want to export, correct?

Thanks

MAC

Kent Olsen

How many tables do you want to export?

mac-will

ASKER

This is not known yet. Probably between 4 and 8.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Kent Olsen

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