XLOB

The XLOB n command retrieves the entire data record of the target LOB column (BLOB, CLOB, or DBCLOB) into a temporary work file (hlq.userid.FADB2.X.Dyymmdd.Thhmmss, see also Specify Work File Dataset Info Area) and starts a File-AID/MVS browse or edit session so you can browse or edit the work file data. Use the XLOB n command when the column data length exceeds the MAXLOB parameter value (see Maximum size LOB data retrieved).

The XLOB SET command displays the XLOB Work File Allocation Parameters window where you can change the work file allocation attributes.

The XLOB command is valid in browse or edit row mode only.

n

Specify the column number of the LOB data column. Use the column number as displayed on the left of column name, or locate cursor on the target column line.

The entire target LOB column data will be retrieved into an XLOB work file using Db2 LOB file reference. Then, the File-AID/MVS interface will be called to start a BROWSE or EDIT session in UNFMT (unformatted) mode for the data in the work file. Use the available File-AID/MVS browse or edit commands to browse or edit the data. Enter the HELP (PF1) command to view the File-AID/MVS tutorials for the BROWSE/EDIT session or refer to the File-AID/MVS user manuals. You may switch from UNFMT mode to CHAR (character) mode. Switching to FMT (formatted) or VFMT (vertically formatted) modes requires specifying a record layout.

After you finish browsing or editing the LOB data, use the END (PF3) command to exit the File-AID/MVS BROWSE/EDIT session. Using Db2 LOB file reference, the target LOB column is updated (edit only) with the work file contents and the work file is deleted, unless your File-AID for Db2 edit session has the Audit Trail feature (Create Audit Trail) turned on. When “Create Audit Trail” is enabled in edit, File-AID saves two copies of the work file, the before (old) and the after (new) XLOB audit trail files (refer to Audit Trail Dataset Usage and Maintenance for more information).

SET

Displays the XLOB Work File Allocation Parameters window where you can change the XLOB work file allocation parameters.

Default attributes for XLOB work file allocation:

If the XLOB n command execution ends with SQL error -452 (target LOB data is too large for the work file), use the XLOB SET command and increase the attribute values. Then re-issue the XLOB n command.

Warning for XLOB Character Conversion

The XLOB: Warning - Character Conversion Window appears when you issue the XLOB command for an LOB column in BROWSE or EDIT ROW mode. For CLOB or DBCLOB data, the XLOB process passes terminal CCSID to Db2 to convert the LOB column data. Any retrieved data for the XLOB edit function may contain substituted or unexpected characters as a result of the data conversion. When using the retrieved data for XLOB edit, those characters will be treated as regular data. The XLOB process further warns you, if the Db2 conversion result contains substitution character(s), by displaying the Warning for XLOB Character Conversion Error window.

This warning window allows you to either continue with the XLOB browse or edit process or to return to the Row Browse or Edit screen. The user parameter Display XLOB Character Conversion Warning (in Browse and Edit) controls whether it is actually displayed for your session.

XLOB: Warning - Character Conversion Window

Show this warning in the future

Y

Specify Y (Yes) to continue to display the XLOB: Warning - Character Conversion Window.

N

Specify N (No) to suppress the XLOB: Warning - Character Conversion Window.

Continue Process

Y

Specify Y (Yes) to continue the XLOB browse or edit process. File-AID for Db2 starts a File-AID/MVS browse or edit session with the LOB work file data. Any substituted character will be replaced by the Db2 default substitution character.

N

Specify N (No) to cancel the XLOB browse or edit of the selected column.

Warning for XLOB Character Conversion Error

When the conversion utility detects an error, File-AID for Db2 displays in the following figure when preparing the LOB column data for the File-AID/MVS workfile or XLOB: Warning - Update Character Conversion Error when updating the LOB column after the File-AID/MVS XLOB browse or edit session.

These warning windows allow you to either continue with the XLOB browse or edit process or to return to the Row Browse or Edit screen.

XLOB: Warning - Fetch Character Conversion Error

Continue Process

Y

Specify Y (Yes) to continue the XLOB edit process. File-AID for Db2 starts a File-AID/MVS browse or edit session with the LOB work file data. Any substituted character will be replaced by the Db2 default substitution character.

N

Specify N (No) to cancel the XLOB browse or edit of the selected column.

The following figure displays when saving and exiting the File-AID/MVS edit session and the conversion utility produced a conversion error.

XLOB: Warning - Update Character Conversion Error

Continue Process

Y

Specify Y (Yes) to update the LOB column with the converted LOB work file data from the File-AID/MVS edit session. Any substituted character will be replaced by the Db2 default substitution character.

N

Specify N (No) to cancel the XLOB edit of the selected column and restore the original LOB column data.