Accessing data from Java applications

You can write Java™ applications that can access and update data in DB2® and VSAM. Alternatively, you can link to programs in other languages to access DB2, VSAM, and IMS.

You can use any of the following techniques when writing a Java application to access data in CICS®. The CICS recovery manager maintains data integrity.

Accessing relational data

You can write a Java application to access relational data in DB2 using any of the following methods:

  • A JCICS LINK command to link to a program that uses Structured Query Language (SQL) commands to access the data.
  • Where a suitable driver is available, use Java Data Base Connectivity (JDBC) or Structured Query Language for Java (SQLJ) calls to access the data directly. Suitable JDBC drivers are available for DB2. For more information about using JDBC and SQLJ application programming interfaces, see Using JDBC and SQLJ to access DB2 data from Java programs.
  • JavaBeans that use JDBC or SQLJ as the underlying access mechanism. You can use any suitable Java integrated development environment (IDE) to develop such JavaBeans.

Accessing DL/I data

To access DL/I data in IMS, your Java application must use a JCICS LINK command to link to an intermediate program that issues EXEC DLI commands to access the data.

Accessing VSAM data

To access VSAM data, a Java application can use either of the following methods:

  • The JCICS file control classes to access VSAM directly.
  • A JCICS LINK command to link to a program that issues CICS file control commands to access the data.