What's New

What's New in Version 5.2

Version 5.2

With Version 5.2, DB2 Universal Database continues the evolution of advanced database technology begun in Version 5. It delivers more client/server functions, more support for open industry standards, and improved performance and availability.

Expanded data type support

DB2 has several new features in the area of data types. To provide referential integrity and coordinated backup/recovery for data stored in files outside the database, DB2 provides the new data type DATALINK. To support larger integer values, DB2 now supports the data type BIGINT. DB2's object-relational functionality has been extended with new support for user-defined structured types, with subtyping and references, that can be used as the basis for defining tables of objects and object views. In addition, DB2 extender support is now available on all DB2 platforms.

Extensions to SQL

DB2 now supports data storage on 4 KB and 8 KB pages. You can now leave free space on pages, alter the length of a VARCHAR column, specify the qualifier for unqualified object references, and control the number of lines returned by a fetch.

Support for Java

You can use JDBC, Java, and SQLJ to access data from your DB2 databases. DB2's JDBC support lets you build Java applications and applets in a manner that is very similar to writing a C application to access the database using DB2 CLI or ODBC. SQLJ provides embedded static SQL for Java programmers and complements the dynamic SQL support provided with JDBC.

Administering databases over the Web

The DB2 Control Center now lets you perform your administration tasks over the Web. DB2's comprehensive documentation can also be accessed from the Web.

Improved system monitoring support for DB2 Connect

The LIST DCS APPLICATIONS and GET SNAPSHOT commands have new parameters for collecting information on DB2 Connect applications. These new options return additional information about each user of DB Connect Enterprise Edition, including such important items as the current state of the user connection and the time that state was entered. In addition new data elements have been added that monitor DB2 Connect application activity. Now administrators can get an instant view of what each application user is doing.

International Support

DB2 provides support for bidirectional languages and the euro.

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