DB2 Version 9.7 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows

db2 - Command line processor invocation command

The db2 command starts the command line processor (CLP). The CLP is used to execute database utilities, SQL statements and online help. It offers a variety of command options, and can be started in:

Interactive input mode, characterized by the db2 => input prompt
Command mode, where each command must be prefixed by db2
Batch mode, which uses the -f file input option.

On Windows operating systems, db2cmd opens the CLP-enabled DB2® window, and initializes the DB2 command line environment. Issuing this command is equivalent to clicking on the DB2 Command Window icon.

QUIT stops the command line processor. TERMINATE also stops the command line processor, but removes the associated back-end process and frees any memory that is being used. It is recommended that a TERMINATE be issued prior to every STOP DATABASE MANAGER (db2stop) command. It might also be necessary for a TERMINATE to be issued after database configuration parameters have been changed, in order for these changes to take effect. Existing connections should be reset before terminating the CLP.

The shell command (!), allows operating system commands to be executed from the interactive or the batch mode on UNIX based systems, and on Windows operating systems (!ls on UNIX, and !dir on Windows operating systems, for example).

Command Syntax


>>-db2--+--------------------------------------------+---------><
        | .-----------------.                        |   
        | V                 |                        |   
        +---+-------------+-+--+-------------------+-+   
        |   '-option-flag-'    +-db2-command-------+ |   
        |                      +-sql-statement-----+ |   
        |                      '-?--+------------+-' |   
        |                           +-phrase-----+   |   
        |                           +-message----+   |   
        |                           +-sqlstate---+   |   
        |                           '-class-code-'   |   
        '- ----comment-------------------------------'

option-flag: Specifies a CLP option flag.
db2-command: Specifies a DB2 command.
sql-statement: Specifies an SQL statement.
?: Requests CLP general help.
? phrase: Requests the help text associated with a specified command or topic. If the database manager cannot find the requested information, it displays the general help screen.
? options requests a description and the current settings of the CLP options. ? help requests information about reading the online help syntax diagrams.
? message: Requests help for a message specified by a valid SQLCODE (? sql10007n, for example).
? sqlstate: Requests help for a message specified by a valid SQLSTATE.
? class-code: Requests help for a message specified by a valid class-code.
-- comment: Input that begins with the comment characters -- is treated as a comment by the command line processor.

In each case, a blank space must separate the question mark (?) from the variable name.