DB2 Version 9.7 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows

IBM Data Server Provider for .NET is enhanced

Version 9.7 includes enhancements that improve IBM® Data Server Provider for .NET support and connectivity to other data servers.

ARRAY data type support

ARRAY data type support is added to IBM Data Server Provider for .NET. You can use the ARRAY data type with your stored procedure parameters. You can bind an array to a parameter in your procedure as a single argument. This support simplifies the code around your SQL statements.

Compound statement support

Compound statements are supported by IBM Data Server Provider for .NET. Using compound statements in your SQL statements can improve performance by having the statements use the same access plan for a group of statements.

Host variable support

Host variable support is added to IBM Data Server Provider for .NET to improve compatibility with applications that you use with other data servers. You can use host variables (:param) in place of positioned or named parameter markers (@param). However, you can specify only one type of parameter in a particular statement at a time.

Variable length TIMESTAMP support

IBM Data Server Provider for .NET now supports variable-length time stamps. This support makes it easier to work with other data servers. Previously, the TIMESTAMP data type had a fixed six-digit precision. The TIMESTAMP data type now supports 0 - 12 digits of precision.

FP1: Statement concentrator disabling support

Starting in Version 9.7 Fix Pack 1, you can use added bypass literal properties to disable statement concentration for dynamic statements. There are StatementConcentrator properties for the DB2Command and DB2ConnectionStringBuilder classes, a connection string parameter, and a db2dsdriver.cfg file keyword.

FP1: DATE and TIMESTAMP literals support

Starting in Version 9.7 Fix Pack 1, you can bind in string objects with TIMESTAMP values into DATE and TIME columns and bind in string objects with DATE values into TIMESTAMP columns.

FP2: 32-bit drivers included in 64-bit package

Starting in Version 9.7 Fix Pack 2, the 32-bit versions of IBM Data Server Provider for .NET are included in the 64-bit package. When you install the 64-bit drivers, the 32-bit drivers are also installed, in a separate directory named, sqllib\bin\netf20_32.

FP2: Database connection synonym processing bypass support

Starting in Version 9.7 Fix Pack 2, you can use a new db2dsdriver.cfg file keyword or connection string property, SkipSynonymProcessing, to bypass synonym processing when opening a connection. Using the keyword or connection string property when you do not require synonym processing can reduce connection time overhead when you useDB2Connection or DB2ConnectionStringBuilder.

FP2: Query timeout support in the db2dsdriver.cfg file

Starting in Version 9.7 Fix Pack 2, you can use a new db2dsdriver.cfg file keyword, QueryTimeout, as a centralized control to indicate how long a client should wait for a query to run before timing out.

FP2: Extended indicator support for default and unassigned parameters

Starting in Version 9.7 Fix Pack 2, you can set named and positioned parameters to use the default or unassigned values as defined by the data server.

FP2: Enhanced CALL statement support

Starting in Version 9.7 Fix Pack 2, you can use named arguments in any order within CALL statements. Named arguments can work with host variables and positioned parameters, however, named parameters are not supported.

FP2: Module support

Starting in Version 9.7 Fix Pack 2, IBM Data Server Provider for .NET includes support for modules. A module is a collection of database objects such as functions, procedures, and variables.

FP3: Supports DB2 for z/OS Version 10

Starting in Version 9.7 Fix Pack 3, IBM Data Server Provider for .NET supports DB2® for z/OS® Version 10, which includes support for client disabled dynamic statement cache, extended indicators, Timestamp with timezone, and new Explain features.

FP3: DB2Type.Cursor support

Starting in Version 9.7 Fix Pack 3, IBM Data Server Provider for .NET introduces a new member for the DB2Type enumeration called Cursor. This member should be used when binding an output parameter of the type cursor

FP3: Trusted Context support

Starting in Version 9.7 Fix Pack 3, IBM Data Server Provider for .NET adds support for IBM Informix® database server Version 11.70.

FP4: Updated Canonical functions

Starting in Version 9.7 Fix Pack 4, IBM Data Server Provider for .NET supports new canonical functions.

FP4: New testconn utility

Starting in Version 9.7 Fix Pack 4, IBM Data Server Provider for .NET supports new testconn utility. New Testconn40.exe can be used to validate the .NET provider with a .NET Framework 4.0.

FP4: Framework 4.0 support

Starting in Version 9.7 Fix Pack 4, IBM Data Server Provider for .NET supports .NET Framework 4.0.

FP4: Visual Studio 2010 support

Starting in Version 9.7 Fix Pack 4, IBM Visual Studio Add-ins support Visual Studio 2010.

FP4: FitHighPrecisionType support

Starting in Version 9.7 Fix Pack 4, IBM Data Server Provider for .NET supports a new keyword FitHighPrecisionType.

FP4: Removal of U2 support

Starting in Version 9.7 Fix Pack 4, IBM Data Server Provider for .NET and IBM Visual Studio Add-ins no longer support U2 servers.

FP5: Application development enhancements

Starting in Version 9.7 Fix Pack 5, the following features are added to facilitate application development:

Support for implicit COMMIT after reading a complete result set from a cursor.
Support of the new password keyword in the db2dsdriver.cfg file.
You can use a password phrase as the password when accessing DB2 for z/OS servers. A password phrase is a character string that consists of mixed-case letters, numbers, and special characters including blanks.
Support for adding data sources from the local database directory by using the db2cli command with the registerdsn -add parameter.
Support for adding and modifying data sources or database entries, as well as adding parameters to the common section of the db2dsdriver.cfg file by using the db2cli command with the writecfg parameter.
Support of alternative groups for DB2 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows servers and DB2 for z/OS servers. See Alternate groups for connections to DB2 Database for Linux, UNIX, and Windows from non-Java clients.

FP6: DB2Connection enhancements

In Version 9.7 Fix Pack 6 and later fix packs, the following features are added to the DB2Connection class:

Support for the caching of *USRLIBL for connections to DB2 for i V6R1 and later with CacheUSRLIBLValue property. See DB2Connection.CacheUSRLIBLValue Property.
Support for clearing of the *USRLIBL cache for connections to DB2 for i V6R1 and later with ClearUSRLIBLCache method. See DB2Connection.ClearUSRLIBLCache Method.
The default value is provided for the DB2Connection.ClientWorkStation property using the host name. See DB2Connection.ClientWorkStation Property.
Support for DelimIdent keyword to control whether the connected Informix database server supports delimited SQL identifiers. See DB2Connection.ConnectionString Property.

FP6: DB2ConnectionStringBuilder enhancements

In Version 9.7 Fix Pack 6 and later fix packs, the following properties are added to the DB2ConnectionStringBuilder class:

Support for changing a user's password with the DB2ConnectionStringBuilder.NewPWD property. See DB2ConnectionStringBuilder.NewPWD Property.
Support for setting the CURRENT SQLID special register on DB2 for z/OS by using the new CurrentSQLID Data Server Configuration keyword or DB2ConnectionStringBuilder.CurrentSQLID property. See DB2ConnectionStringBuilder.CurrentSQLID Property.
The ZOSDBNameFilter Data Server Configuration keyword or you can use the DB2ConnectionStringBuilder.DBName property to filter the query result of DB2 for z/OS base tables. See DB2ConnectionStringBuilder.DBName Property.
Support for CERTIFICATE authentication with DB2 for z/OS Version 10 and later. See DB2ConnectionStringBuilder.Authentication Property.

FP6: Data type support enhancements

In Version 9.7 Fix Pack 7 and later fix packs, the following data type enhancements are added:

SQL data types SQL_BINARY and SQL_VARBINARY are now supported with DB2 for i V6R1 and later. See SQL data type representation in ADO.NET database applications.
You can now specify XML data type when creating global variables, specifying parameters to create compiled SQL functions, or defining local XML variables in compiled SQL functions. See FP6: XML data type support added in global variables and compiled SQL functions.
The DB2Decimal structure supports the following new fields:
- E
- MinusOne
- One
- Pi
- Zero
See DB2Decimal Members
DB2Blob and DB2Clob supports the following new properties:
- EstimatedSize
- IsOpen
- Size
DB2Blob and DB2Clob supports the following new methods:
- Read(byte[] buff)
- Read(byte[] buff, Int64 byteOffset, Int64 numBytesToRead, Int64 smartLobOffset, DB2SmartLOBWhence whence)
DB2Blob supports DB2Bob(DB2Connection conn) constructor.
DB2Clob supports DB2Cob(DB2Connection conn) constructor.

FP6: FetchBufferSize keyword support

In Version 9.7 Fix Pack 6 and later fix packs, IBM Data Server Provider for .NET supports setting the FetchBufferSize keyword to configure the buffer size used by fetch requests. For more information, see FetchBufferSize IBM Data Server Driver configuration keyword.

FP6: Enhancements to IBM entity provider

In Version 9.7 Fix Pack 6 and later fix packs, IBM entity provider supports the following DB2 and Informix functions for LINQ to Entities queries:

Acos
Asin
Atan
Atan2
Cos
Exp
Log
Log10
Sin
SquareRoot
Tan

See Provider support for Microsoft Entity Framework.

FP6: Anonymous block support enhancements

In Version 9.7 Fix Pack 6 and later fix packs, .NET data provider supports the retrieval of the result sets from execution of anonymous blocks by using DB2DataReaderor DB2ResultSet classes.

FP6: Support for Informix data types

In Version 9.7 Fix Pack 6 and later fix packs, .NET data provider supports the following Informix specific features:

The use of the DB2DateTime structure with Informix database server. See DB2DateTime Structure.
New methods GetDB2DateTime() and SetDB2DateTime() for use with the DB2DateTime structure.
The DB2Type enumeration supports Informix data types for use with Informix database server. See DB2Type Enumeration.

FP6: DIAGLEVEL setting support in the db2dsdriver.cfg file

In Version 9.7 Fix Pack 6 and later fix packs, you can use the Diaglevel keyword in the db2dsdriver.cfg file to configure the diagnostic error capture level configuration parameter. See Diaglevel IBM Data Server Driver configuration keyword

Other data server support enhancements

IBM Data Server Provider for .NET works with multiple types of IBM data servers. Version 9.7 includes enhancements that improve the performance of .NET applications that connect to DB2 for z/OS and, IBM Informix,

DB2 for z/OS enhancements specific to:

Seamless failover in XA support: Seamless failover improves XA connection reliability for data server applications. The IBM Data Server Provider for .NET supports seamless failover if you have it set up on your data servers.
BinaryXML support: In Version 9.7 Fix Pack 3 and later fix packs, when working with XML columns in DB2 for z/OS Version 10, you can optionally insert and retrieve the XML columns in a binary format that allows it to be processed as a binary object.
Currently committed cursor stability support: In Version 9.7 Fix Pack 3 and later fix packs, you can use a new connection string parameter and db2dsdriver configuration parameter, ConcurrentAccessResolution, to use currently committed cursor stability.
Variable length Timestamp support added for DB2 for z/OS data servers: In Version 9.7 Fix Pack 3 and later fix packs, variable length timestamp support in the data provider is extended to DB2 for z/OS data servers.
Connection String Property support: The IBM Data Server Provider for .NET supports a set of connection string properties that provides client information.

IBM Informix enhancements specific to:

ReturnValue parameter support for stored procedures: Informix data server stored procedures can return single or multiple result sets. Previously, IBM Data Server Provider for .NET did not support multiple values from user-defined routines (UDRs). The added support for ReturnValue parameters means that IBM Data Server Provider for .NET can retrieve the result set as a single return value.
BIGINT and BIGSERIAL data types support: IBM Data Server Provider for .NET previously supported only INT8 and SERIAL8 data types for 64-bit integers. Support is added for BIGINT and BIGSERIAL data types, which have better performance than INT8 and SERIAL8 data types.
High availability disaster recovery (HADR) support: HADR protects against data loss by replicating data to a secondary database. IBM Data Server Provider for .NET works with this feature if you set it up on your data servers.
Workload Manager (WLM) support: You can use the WLM feature to maximize the use of your resources. IBM Data Server Provider for .NET works with this feature if you set it on your data servers.
FP1: IfxType.Money: Starting in Version 9.7 Fix Pack 1, support for the Informix MONEY data type is provided as an IfxType enumeration. The MONEY data type is treated as a DECIMAL data type with 2 digits of precision.
FP1: Informix optimizer directives: The IBM Data Server Provider for .NET does not process Informix optimizer directives. Starting in Version 9.7 Fix Pack 1, IBM Data Server Provider for .NET passes the directives through the client-side parsing to the data server where all directive-driven optimizations occur.