Ultraquest Teradata Interface

	Provides end-user reporting access to Teradata databases with UltraQuest Reporter. Offers full functionality for Web-based, application development for Teradata databases with UltraQuest Applications. Designed for optimum efficiency with the Teradata engine. Provides additional relational features not found in the DBC/1012. Simplifies data loading and editing with automated commands.

The UltraQuest Interface for Teradata is a solution to the problems associated with managing very large shared databases, coupled with the benefits of a fourth-generation language for end-user access and application development. The Teradata DBC/1012 machine provides the power to manage trillion-byte databases by harnessing the cost-effective power of microprocessors. This approach achieves the performance levels required to support concurrent end users and production systems activity.

Users quickly benefit from UltraQuest's complete non-procedural language for fast prototyping, its built-in decision-support functions and its fully integrated programming language with functionality comparable to PL/I and COBOL. In addition, the product offers an array of tools and templates for quickly generating report requests, forms, menus and maintenance procedures.

	Features of the UltraQuest Interface for Teradata Read/write access to data stored in the DBC/1012 or NCR 5100 system. Database-sharing across hosts and operating systems. Users running on the VM/CMS and OS/390 environments can access the same UltraQuest database residing on the Teradata machine. Since all of the UltraQuest facilities for reporting and maintenance are available, the end user does not need to know where the data actually resides. Efficient handling of very large shared database applications. All concurrency and data sharing is done by the Teradata Machine. There is no need to use UltraQuest's shared database facility for data stored on the Teradata Machine. Fault tolerance. All hardware, software, power supply and data files (optionally) are intentionally duplicated to provide a reliable, fail-safe environment. To provide data duplication the user only need specify FALLBACK on the MASTER statement.

Integration with the Teradata Engine

The UltraQuest Interface for Teradata translates UltraQuest commands into DBC/SQL statements sending as much of the work as possible to the Teradata Machine. Sorting and aggregation triggered by UltraQuest's LIST command for reporting are performed on the Teradata Machine, with only the requested information shipped back to UltraQuest.

The UltraQuest Interface for Teradata supports the use of the DBC/SQL LONG VARCHAR data type, enabling you to maintain, manipulate and report long strings of textual data.

UltraQuests Interface handles requests to the Teradata Machine using the following techniques:

	Projection Only needed columns (data fields) are requested for processing. Aggregation All of UltraQuest's reporting functions (except MEDIAN) are passed, in addition to the five basic SQL functions of MIN, MAX, SUM, AVG and COUNT. Sorting Data is requested in the proper sorted sequence; ascending or descending. Selective Data Listing UltraQuest's LOCATE and LIST WHERE commands are passed. SELECT expressions containing boolean expressions, as well as AMONG and CONTAINS are also passed. DATE data items are also passed to the DBC/1012, a very useful feature for users accessing time-series data. Data Maintenance Global data maintenance is performed by sending set calls for CHANGE and DELETE as a single transaction, rather than processing a single record at a time. UltraQuest performs global data maintenance through single commands such as CHANGE WITHIN DATABASE, DELETE WITHIN DATABASE and CHANGE WHERE, while other fourth-generation languages typically require dozens of lines of code to perform the same processing.

Relational Enhancements

The UltraQuest Interface for Teradata extends DBC/SQL's handling of the relational model by providing:

	Complete Outer Join Support NOMAD's MERGE MATCHING for outer joins and EXTRACT ALL MATCHING for left-hand outer joins provide this support with no limit on the number of tables that can be joined. Further, any two tables can be joined on any two columns - predefined indexes are not necessary.  Complete Referential Integrity Support User-defined compensating actions such as cascading deletes and updates are defined through RULEs in the central Schema, UltraQuest's data-definition facility. The RULEs also determine whether or not user approval is requested before the action takes place. The MEMBER designation on an item limits the assignment of a value to only those found in the specified master.  Null Support UltraQuest supports null values by handling missing values in a column differently from values of zeros or blanks. Nulls are disallowed for any item by specifying NOTNAV in the Schema. Additionally, UltraQuest always disallows nulls for primary keys. Extended Data Type Support UltraQuest has additional data types for time, datetime, fixed and varying arrays, and time-series data.

Using the NOMAD Interface for Teradata

Accessing the Data

With the UltraQuest Interface for Teradata a database can include not only data stored in Teradata but data stored in DB2 and SQL tables, UltraQuest's native relational database and in external files such as ISAM, VSAM and QSAM (with additional UltraQuest interfaces, it can also include data in other DBMSs).

The TYPE parameter on the MASTER statement indicates how data is stored. Teradata tables can be maintained using all of UltraQuest's navigation and maintenance commands. Data stored in multiple files can be drawn together using UltraQuest's relational facilities such as DEFINE EXTRACT and MERGE MATCHING.

UltraQuest reporting and file creation work exactly as if the data were stored in UltraQuest. UltraQuest retains its concept of position, despite the fact that Teradata does not support such a concept. Thus, you have the ability to move backward and forward through the data.

Moving the Data

Moving data from a UltraQuest database to Teradata is accomplished simply by adding the TYPE TERADATA parameter to the Schema (UltraQuest's data-definition facility), and issuing the SCHEMA REORG command. There is no need to worry about dumping and reloading data. The UltraQuest Interface for Teradata does the work of creating a new table on the Teradata Machine for you.

Using the Data

To use UltraQuest with existing Teradata tables, you use SCHEMGEN, a menu-assisted Schema generator, which produces a basic UltraQuest Schema from selected tables. This Schema can be edited to take advantage of UltraQuest's extensive data-definition language to add headings, masks, limits, member checks, defined items, passwords and multiple data types. In addition to fixed and varying arrays and time series, UltraQuest data types include DATE, TIME, DATETIME and TEXT. Additional display formats include NAME, FORMAT and PICTURE. After the Schema is compiled, all of UltraQuest's command language is available for application development, reporting and analysis.

Application Development and Reporting

View features in UltraQuest Applications for Web-based application development.
View features in UltraQuest Reporter for Web-based reporting.

Additional features for Teradata: 

	Database Loading The Teradata FASTLOAD utility is a powerful tool for inserting large volumes of clean data into DBC/SQL tables. However, if your data needs to be verified first, or if you are also changing or deleting rows, UltraQuest's LOAD command easily loads the data into the DBC/1012 system. DBC/SQL Commands All commands are issued within UltraQuest's single environment. DBC/SQL commands can be issued interactively by prefacing them with "TQL." Supported Environments UltraQuest facilities look and function consistently in all its environments, which include - VM/CMS  - OS/390  - TSO  - MVS Batch Facility (Native or TSO Batch)  - NOMAD Session Manager (for access via TSO, CICS or VTAM)

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