Chapter 7. Advanced DB2 Application Features and Practices

In this chapter, we will focus on following recipes related to advanced database features that include:

• Working with OLAP functions

• Using optimizer profiles

• Using explain utilities

• Using section explain information

• Interpreting db2exfmt output

• Application development in partitioned databases

Introduction

In this chapter, we will focus on some advanced DB2 features that are useful for analyzing and troubleshooting application performance. We will discuss some OLAP functions, which are very powerful in computing complex use cases in a very simple manner. Then we will discuss how we can influence DB2 optimizer to choose our guidelines. We will also look at different tools available for capturing and analyzing SQL explain information. Then, we will also touch upon different partitioning techniques available in DB2, and what a developer needs to know, to make sure that the application is well suited for such an environment.