Transfer data from a stream file to a database file

Follow these directions to transfer data from a stream file to a database file on your server.

  1. Establish a connection to the server.
  2. Map a network drive to the appropriate path in the iSeries™ file system.
  3. From the iSeries Access for Windows® window, click Data Transfer to iSeries server.
  4. Select the PC file name that you want to transfer. For the PC file name, you can choose Browse for the network drive you assigned, and choose a stream file. You can also use a stream file located on the PC itself.
  5. Select the server on which you want the externally described database file to be located.
  6. Click Transfer data to iSeries server to run the file transfer.
    Note: If you are moving data to an existing database file definition on the server, the Data Transfer To iSeries server application requires you to use an associated format description file (FDF). An FDF file describes the format of a stream file, and is created by the Data Transfer from iSeries server application when data is transferred from a database file to a stream file. To complete the transfer of data from a stream file to a database file, click Transfer data to iSeries. If an existing .FDF file is not available, you can quickly create an .FDF file.

You can also perform this data movement in a batch job with the data transfer applications. Proceed as above, but select the File menu option to save the transfer request. The Data Transfer To iSeries server application creates a .DTT or a .TFR file. The Data Transfer from iSeries server application creates a .DTF or a .TTO file. In the IBM® eServer™ iSeries Access Family directory, two programs can be run in batch from a command line:

You can set either of these commands to run on a scheduled basis by using a scheduler application. For example, you can use the System Agent Tool (a part of the Microsoft® Plus Pack) to specify the program to run (for instance, RTOPCB MYFILE.TTO) and the time at which you want to run the program.

Related reference
Create a format description file