SupportConnect - Advantage CA-IDMS/DB Database Newsletter, Version 06.01
  

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CA
E-News
Advantage™ CA-IDMS®/DB Database Newsletter
Version 06.01
February 13, 2006

In This Newsletter
Product News
> Advantage™ CA-IDMS® Database Server Option r16 is Now Generally Available
> Advantage™ CA-IDMS® r16 SP4 New Features Now Available to Development Buddies
> CA Optimization Services

Product Updates
> Current Releases With Service Pack Levels

General Information
> Technical Tips

Special Events
> The IUA Proudly Presents Its 2006 Workshop
> User Group Hot Line
> Advantage™ CA-IDMS®/DB Database Technical Training in North America
> Advantage™ CA-IDMS®/DB Database Technical Training in Europe

Product News
Advantage™ CA-IDMS® Database Server Option r16 is Now Generally Available
We are pleased to announce that Advantage CA-IDMS Database Server Option r16 is now available for ordering. Advantage CA-IDMS Database Server Option r16 provides new features for JDBC and ODBC that support an open architecture and increase productivity and flexibility while improving performance.

Highlights of Advantage CA-IDMS Database Server Option r16 include the following:

JDBC Type 4 Driver
This wire protocol driver improves productivity by providing communications directly from a Java client to Advantage CA-IDMS/DB with no intermediate server or middleware required. Advantage CA-IDMS Database Server Option r16 increases flexibility because the JDBC driver client allows you to tailor the Type 4 JDBC driver options for individual connections. This feature is available for use with z/OS, VSE, and z/VM.

JDBC Distributed Transactions
The JDBC driver supports the Java Transaction API (JTA), a Java mapping of the industry-standard X/Open XA protocol that works with J2EE-compliant transaction managers. This feature supports an open architecture and increased flexibility by allowing a Java application deployed in a J2EE application server to participate in distributed transactions with Advantage CA-IDMS and other databases. This feature is available for use with z/OS, VSE, and z/VM.

JDBC Batch Updates
This feature provides J2EE compatibility and improved performance by permitting an application to submit multiple SQL, DML, or DDL commands for execution in a single request. The JDBC driver uses the Advantage CA-IDMS BULK INSERT feature to INSERT multiple rows in a single operation. It caches other commands and ensures that they are processed in the order they were received. This feature is available for use with z/OS, VSE, z/VM, and BS2000.

ODBC Called Procedures
The ODBC driver supports the simplified procedure feature that was introduced in Advantage CA-IDMS r15. This feature allows ODBC applications to invoke remote procedures that run in Advantage CA-IDMS with commonly used syntax and interfaces. When used with Advantage CA-IDMS r16, the remote procedure may be a mapless Advantage CA-ADS dialog. This feature is available for use with z/OS, VSE, and BS2000.

ODBC DESCRIBE INPUT
The ODBC driver supports DESCRIBE INPUT for prepared statements and delayed parameter binding for improved performance. This feature allows input parameters to be changed when a prepared statement is re-executed without requiring that the statement be prepared again. This feature is available for use with z/OS, VSE, and BS2000.

ODBC Positioned Updates
The ODBC driver now provides an efficient native implementation for the commands, SELECT FOR UPDATE, UPDATE WHERE CURRENT OF cursor, and DELETE WHERE CURRENT OF cursor. The Microsoft ODBC Cursor Library is no longer required to use these commands. This feature is available for use with z/OS, VSE, and BS2000.

Advantage CA-IDMS Database Server Option r16 documentation is available for download from the SupportConnectSM website and in the product download.

In North America, you can obtain your copy of Advantage CA-IDMS Database Server Option r16 by calling 1-800-841-8743 or contacting your local CA representative. If you are outside North America, call your local account representative or the local CA office.

An online order form is also available - Advantage CA-IDMS Database Server Option r16 Order Form.

Additionally, this new release can be downloaded by logging in to SupportConnect and selecting the Products link in the left menu.

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Advantage™ CA-IDMS® r16 SP4 New Features Now Available to Development Buddies
The Advantage CA-IDMS Development team is now soliciting Development Buddies to assist in testing two new features that are planned for availability with Advantage CA-IDMS r16 SP4. These features are designed to improve availability by reducing outage time and to enable compliance reporting by the user.

New features include the following:
  • A new "Express" Reorg utility that reduces the elapsed time to perform an Unload/Reload of an Advantage CA-IDMS database. This utility is designed for improved 24 x 7 support by dramatically reducing the outage time for a database reorganization.
  • The addition of the user-id field in the journal BGIN record. This feature is in response to customer requests for enhanced data for compliance reporting. IDMS JREPORT 008 and Advantage CA-IDMS Journal Analyzer Chronological Event Report have been updated to display the user ID. A new JREPORT 009 is also provided to report on user ID, transaction ID, and program name.
If you are interested in gaining early access to these features as part of the Development Buddy program, complete the CA Development Buddy application at ca.com/cadevelopmentbuddy/. This website also provides an overview of the CA Development Buddy program, its benefits, and requirements.

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CA Optimization Services
Whether you have an established technology investment or have recently implemented Advantage™ CA-IDMS®, you know the value that CA solutions can deliver to your business. To continuously realize value from your CA investment, the solution you have implemented must be maintained according to changing business demands and configured for optimized performance. Optimization Services is a flexible portfolio of offerings from CA Technology Services™ designed to help minimize operational risk and increase the value of your existing technology investment. By leveraging these offerings within your IT environment, you can ensure that your CA technology continues to be aligned with your business requirements while improving your return on investment (ROI).

Optimization Services specific to Advantage CA-IDMS include the following:

Advantage™ CA-IDMS® Healthcheck
Advantage™ CA-IDMS® SQL Option and Server Option Integration
Advantage™ CA-IDMS® upgrades from releases 10.21, 14.0, 14.1, and 15.0 to r16
Advantage™ CA-IDMS® Lifeline Support

For additional information, visit ca.com/services/practice.aspx?ID=5665.

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Product Updates
Current Releases With Service Pack Levels
The following tapes are generally available (GA) for the Advantage™ CA-IDMS®/DB database products:

r16 (The base product, tools, and AllFusion® Endevor®/DB Change Manager for CA-IDMS® are on the same tape.)

z/OS, VSE, z/VM, OSD, or BS2000 SP3 - 0509
Advantage™ CA-IDMS® Database Option for CMS SP3 - 0509

r15 (The base product, tools, and AllFusion Endevor/DB Change Manager for CA-IDMS are on the same tape.)

z/OS, VSE, z/VM, OSD, or BS2000 SP7 - 0506
MSP SP3 - 0208
Advantage CA-IDMS Database Option for CMS SP7 - 0506

The following CD is GA for the Advantage™ CA-IDMS® Database Server Option. This release is compatible with Advantage CA-IDMS r14.1, r15, and r16.

Advantage CA-IDMS Database Server Option r16 - 0510
Advantage CA-IDMS Database Server Option r5 - 0306

To place an order for any of these service packs, please visit ca.com/supportconnect or call Computer Associates at 1-800-637-5858.

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General Information
Technical Tips
Question:
How do I configure IBM's WebSphere Application Server to work with Advantage™ CA-IDMS® Server?

Please click here for the answer.

Question:
I am upgrading AllFusion® Endevor®/DB to r16. I have Endevor data files that I would like to continue to use after the installation of r16. What value (YES/NO) should I specify for VARBLIST parameter ABOLDMSG? Also, is a new CSI needed?

Please click here for the answer.

Question:
Where can I find the status of the releases of Advantage™ CA-IDMS® - information such as which Advantage CA-IDMS releases are supported, when was support dropped for releases, and which releases of the operating systems and CICS are supported?

Please click here for the answer.

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Special Events
The IUA Proudly Presents Its 2006 Workshop
NEXUS TEXAS

Dates: April 10-12, 2006
Location: CA Office in Dallas, Texas
(Conveniently located 25 minutes from DFW Airport)
Address: 5465 Legacy Drive
Plano, Texas 75024-3106

The IUA (Information User Association) is extremely excited about this year's event, which is sponsored by CA and Neon Systems, Inc. Four tracks of valuable education are planned for DBAs and programmers alike. Included in this year's curriculum are technical classes on Advantage™ CA-IDMS® and classes that will expand your horizons on topics such as web access and web applications.

The workshop is priced at only $199 per attendee. This covers all sessions and continental breakfasts Monday through Wednesday. Also included is lunch on Monday and Tuesday.

Registration information and a list of recommended hotels are posted on the IUA web page at www.iuassn.org.

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User Group Hot Line
CA supports more than 250 user groups. For information about recognized CA user groups, attending a user group meeting, or establishing a user group in your area, please visit CA User Groups.

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Advantage™ CA-IDMS®/DB Database Technical Training in North America
CA Education provides Advantage CA-IDMS/DB Database Recommended Learning Paths to take the guesswork out of training people in key job functions throughout your organization. Each path is personalized by job role and product, allowing the user to move from core product knowledge to advanced skills, and, if desired, to CA certification.

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Advantage™ CA-IDMS®/DB Database Technical Training in Europe
CA Education currently offers several Advantage CA-IDMS/DB database training courses throughout our European Learning Centers. Please select the applicable country link to view the courses offered and their schedules:

Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom

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