Method of accessing and displaying subsystem parameters including graphical plan table data

• US 6,243,703 B1
• Filed: 10/14/1997
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Drummond, Catherine E., Couch, Tanya
• Primary Examiner(s): Choules, Jack
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROBINSON, GRETA LEE
• Application Number:
  US08/949,636
• Time in Patent Office: 1,330 Days
• Field of Search: 707/102, 707/103, 707/217, 707/2, 707/4, 707/100, 707/1, 707/9, 707/10, 707/12, 709/217, 709/300, 345/335, 345/346, 345/968, 345/965, 345/336, 345/357, 345/146, 345/353
• US Class Current: 707/716
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/217 Database tuning G06F16/2282 takes precedence; database performance monitoring G06F11/3409
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for a computer implemented database interpreter. A main window is displayed that provides selection of subsystem parameter browsing. When subsystem parameter browsing is selected, subsystem parameters are extracted from the database. Next, access to the extracted subsystem parameters is provided within a subsystem parameters window. Additionally, the computer can be a workstation that is connected to a mainframe storing the database. The main window is displayed providing selection of graphical plan representation at the workstation. When graphical plan representation is selected, at the workstation, plan table data is extracted from the database at the mainframe. Next, a graphical representation of the plan table data is displayed at the workstation.

Claims

1. A method of retrieving data from a database stored on a data storage device connected to a computer, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying a main window providing selection of subsystem parameter browsing, wherein the subsystem parameters describe values of user set options;

when subsystem parameter browsing is selected, extracting subsystem parameters from the database;

providing access to the extracted subsystem parameters within a subsystem parameters window, which provides options for listing the subsystem parameters by at least one of a parameter name, an install field name, or values grouped by install panel;

when an option for listing the subsystem parameters is selected, further comprising displaying a list of subsystem parameters by the selected option, thus allowing for browsing; and

when the parameter name or the install field name is selected from the displayed list, further comprising providing information about the selected install field or parameter, the information comprising at least two of a value, a macro, an install panel name, the install field name, and the parameter name of the selected install field or parameter.

2. The method of claim 1 above, wherein the subsystem parameters window further comprises a parameters list option for providing a list of subsystem parameters.

3. The method of claim 1 above, wherein the information further comprises a description of a selected subsystem parameter.

4. The method of claim 3 above, wherein the subsystem parameters window further comprises a search option for providing a capability to search for a subsystem parameter by searching for search descriptors in the description of each subsystem parameter.

5. The method of claim 1 above, wherein the step of extracting subsystem parameters from the database further comprises:

invoking a stored procedure to extract the subsystem parameters from the database, wherein the stored procedure comprises means for making a call to a component of the database, and

receiving the extracted subsystem parameters from the database.

6. The method of claim 1 above, wherein the computer is a workstation that is connected to a mainframe storing the database, further comprising:

when a graphical representation of a plan table is selected, at the workstation, extracting plan table data from the database at the mainframe; and

displaying the graphical representation of the plan table at the workstation.

7. The method of claim 6 above, wherein the step of extracting plan table data further comprises the step of filtering SQL statements based on filtering criteria.

8. The method of claim 6 above, further comprising providing information for explorations of optimization of an access path of a SQL statement.

9. The method of claim 8 above, wherein the step of providing information further comprises providing suggestions for improving the access path of the SQL statement.

10. The method of claim 9 above, further comprising the step of providing a capability to graphically represent an improved access path of the SQL statement dynamically.

11. The method of claim 6 above, wherein the step of displaying the graphical representation further comprises providing additional descriptive data about the graphical representation.

12. An apparatus for retrieving data, comprising:

a first computer having a data storage device connected thereto, wherein the data storage device stores a database;

one or more computer programs at a second computer, performed by the second computer, for displaying a main window providing selection of subsystem parameter browsing, wherein the subsystem parameters describe values of user set options;

when the subsystem parameter browsing is selected, extracting subsystem parameters from the database;

providing access to the extracted subsystem parameters within a subsystem parameters window, which provides options for listing the subsystem parameters by at least one of parameter name, an install field name, or values grouped by install panel;

when an option for listing the subsystem parameters is selected, further comprising displaying a list of subsystem parameters by the selected option, thus allowing for browsing; and

when the parameter name or the install field name is selected from the displayed list, further comprising providing information about the selected install field or parameter, the information comprising at least two of a value, a macro, an install panel name, the install field name, and the parameter name of the selected install field or parameter.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 above, wherein the subsystem parameters window further comprises a search option for providing a capability to search for a subsystem parameter.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 above, wherein the information further comprises a description of a selected subsystem parameter.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 above, wherein the subsystem parameters window further comprises a search option for providing a capability to search for a subsystem parameter by searching for search descriptors in the description of each subsystem parameter.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 above, wherein the means for extracting subsystem parameters from the database further comprises:

means for invoking a stored procedure to extract the subsystem parameters from the database, wherein the stored procedure comprises means for making a call to a component of the database; and

means for receiving the extracted subsystem parameters from the database.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 above, wherein the computer is a workstation that is connected to a mainframe storing the database, further comprising:

means for, when graphical representation of a plan table is selected, at the workstation, extracting plan table data from the database at the mainframe; and

means for displaying the graphical representation of the plan table data at the workstation.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 above, wherein the means for extracting plan table data further comprises the means for filtering SQL statements based on filtering criteria.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 above, further comprising means for providing information for explorations of optimization of an access path of a SQL statement.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 above, wherein the means for providing information further comprises the means for providing suggestions for improving the access path of the SQL statement.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 above, further comprising the means for providing a capability to graphically represent an improved access path of the SQL statement dynamically.

22. The apparatus of claim 17 above, wherein the means for displaying the graphical representation further comprises providing additional descriptive data about the graphical representation.

23. An article of manufacture comprising a computer program carrier readable by a computer and embodying one or more instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for retrieving data from a database stored in a data storage device connected to the computer, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying a main window providing selection of subsystem parameter browsing, wherein the subsystem parameters describe values of user set options;

when subsystem parameter browsing is selected, extracting subsystem parameters from the database;

providing access to the extracted subsystem parameters within a subsystem parameters window, which provides options for listing the subsystem parameters by at least one of parameter name, an install field name, or values grouped by install panel;

when an option for listing the subsystem parameters is selected, further comprising displaying a list of subsystem parameters by the selected option, thus allowing for browsing; and

when the parameter name or the install field name is selected from the displayed list, further comprising providing information about the selected install field or parameter, the information comprising at least two of a value, a macro, an install panel name, the install field name, and the parameter name of the selected install field or parameter.

24. The article of manufacture of claim 23 above, wherein the subsystem parameters window further comprises a search option for providing a capability to search for a subsystem parameter.

25. The article of manufacture of claim 23 above, wherein the information window further comprises a description of a selected subsystem parameter.

26. The article of manufacture of claim 25 above, wherein the subsystem parameters window further comprises a search option for providing a capability to search for a subsystem parameter by searching for search descriptors in the description of each subsystem parameter.

27. The article of manufacture of claim 23 above, wherein the step of extracting subsystem parameters from the database further comprises:

invoking a stored procedure to extract the subsystem parameters from the database, wherein the stored procedure comprises means for making a call to a component of the database; and

receiving the extracted subsystem parameters from the database.

28. The article of manufacture of claim 23 above, wherein the computer is a workstation that is connected to a mainframe storing the database, further comprising:

when a graphical representation of a plan table is selected, at the workstation, extracting plan table data from the database at the mainframe; and

displaying the graphical representation of the plan table data at the workstation.

29. The article of manufacture of claim 28 above, wherein the step of extracting plan table data further comprises the step of filtering SQL statements based on filtering criteria.

30. The article of manufacture of claim 28 above, further comprising providing information for explorations of optimization of an access path of a SQL statement.

31. The article of manufacture of claim 30 above, wherein the step of providing information further comprises providing suggestions for improving the access path of the SQL statement.

32. The article of manufacture of claim 31 above, further comprising the step of providing a capability to graphically represent an improved access path of the SQL statement dynamically.

33. The article of manufacture of claim 28 above, wherein the step of displaying the graphical representation further comprises providing additional descriptive data about the graphical representation.