What's new in QMF

The QMF family brings you more business intelligence functionality and value in QMF 13.1.2, while providing improvements on traditional features and functions.

QMF for Workstation

Simplified migration of QMF Objects across catalog and repository
You can now export the QMF Catalog object to another QMF catalog and repository. Using this feature, you can migrate QMF Catalog objects across Db2 for z/OS, Db2 for LUW, and Db2 for iSeries or other relational databases.For more information, see Migrating catalog objects.
Support for Apache Kafka as data source
QMF now supports the Apache Kafka as data source. You can visualize Kafka data in QMF, export this data to other supported data sources, and import data into a Kafka data source. Apache Kafka is a data streaming system for real-time data pipelines, data integration, and event-driven systems. For the steps to create a new Apache Kafka data source, see Creating an Apache Kafka data source.
Support for Amazon S3 as data source
QMF now supports the Amazon S3 as data source. You can now connect to your Amazon S3 file data source and perform various activities, such as running visual queries, importing and exporting data, creating visual reports, and so on. You can connect to the Amazon S3 instance by using either SAML or Basic authentication. The .csv, .txt, .xlsx, .xls, .xml, .ixf, .dbf, .tab, .ctab, .sqy, .u2tab, .mvtab, .avro, and .parquet file formats are supported for the Amazon S3 data source. For the steps to create a new Amazon S3 data source, see Creating an Amazon S3 data source.
Support for CA Integrated Database Management System (CA IDMS) database
QMF now supports the IDMS database. You can now connect to your IDMS database by using the JDBC driver, and then perform various activities, such as running visual queries, importing and exporting data, creating visual reports, and so on. For information about how to connect to a TLS enabled IDMS database, see Connecting to a TLS enabled CA IDMS database.
Simplified controls for scheduled tasks
You can now filter the QMF scheduled tasks by using the Task Name, Date Range, State and Last Run filters. The details of a run, such as the last run time and the status of the task are displayed in the tooltip. To know how to filter the scheduled tasks, see Filtering scheduled tasks.

After filtering the tasks, you can now schedule and unschedule multiple scheduled tasks at a time. For more information, see Scheduling and unscheduling the scheduled tasks.

Integration of IBM Cloudant Dashboard in QMF
You can open IBM Cloudant Dashboard in QMF for Workstation and use the dashboard to perform various activities, such as creating, deleting, and replicating an IBM Cloudant database. You can now manage the Cloudant database within QMF applications. For steps to open the Cloudant dashboard in QMF, see Using Cloudant Dashboard.
Export and import data support for IBM Cloudant
You can now export Cloudant data to a relational data source and import relational data into a Cloudant data source. This feature is applicable to LOB data also.
Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.3 support
All QMF components are now supported with TLS 1.3 enabled SSL connections. For more information on how to configure TLS 1.3, see Securing Communication using Transport Layer Security (TLS).
SSL support for simplify rollout
You can now use the simplify rollout feature with SSL in both the single and the distributed environments.
Comprehensive list of Scheduled Tasks
You can now see all the scheduled tasks that are available in a repository in the Scheduled Tasks view.
Note: Though the tasks, which are not local and are created by other instances of QMF for Workstation are also listed, you cannot perform any operations on these tasks.
Support for special registers
QMF now supports special registers for MySQL, Informix, and Oracle databases. Using these special registers you can perform various operations like insert, and update via table editor and expression builder.
Virtual table support for Spark data source
QMF now supports virtual table for the Spark data source. You can now create a virtual table for the Spark data source and use the virtual table to import data from Spark.
Localization of Tip Of The Day
QMF now supports Tip Of The Day in multiple languages. Tip of the day increases user awareness for the QMF features. QMF presents relevant tips on the user interface based on the activity.
Productivity enhancements
The following enhancements are made in QMF for Workstation:
  • You can import the JSON data using the file protocol in the JavaScript data source. You can perform specific operations on the table by using the Load Data script.
  • You can now bind multiple SQL packages to prevent data type mismatch warnings.
  • The following new JDBC advanced properties are added in the Advanced JDBC Settings window:
    • sslClientHostnameValidation - Specifies whether the IBM Data Server Driver for JDBC and SQLJ validate the host name of the client while establishing a connection to the data server that uses transport level security (TLS).
    • sslKeyStoreType - Specifies the type of keystore that needs to be added for SSL connections.
    • SSLTrustStoreType - Specifies the type of the trusted certificate file.

QMF for WebSphere

Deployment on OpenShift
You can now deploy QMF for WebSphere in the OpenShift environment using the docker scripts provided.
Simplified migration of QMF Objects across catalog and repository
You can now export QMF Catalog object to other QMF catalog and repository. Using this feature, you can migrate QMF Catalog objects across Db2 for z/OS, Db2 for LUW, and Db2 for iSeries or other relational databases. For more information, see Migrating catalog objects.
Horizontal scale support in multi-node environment
You can now deploy QMF for WebSphere in a multi-node cluster environment. With this feature, QMF scheduled tasks, preference, virtual data source, and other features are synchronized across the cluster, also enabling node-wise logging and a single admin session.
Support for Apache Kafka as data source
QMF now supports the Apache Kafka as data source. You can visualize Kafka data in QMF, export this data to other supported data sources, and import data into a Kafka data source. Apache Kafka is a data streaming system for real-time data pipelines, data integration, and event-driven systems. For the steps to create a new Apache Kafka data source, see Creating an Apache Kafka data source.
Support for Amazon S3 as data source
QMF now supports the Amazon S3 as data source. You can now connect to your Amazon S3 file data source and perform various activities, such as running visual queries, importing and exporting data, creating visual reports, and so on. You can connect to the Amazon S3 instance by using either SAML or Basic authentication. The .csv, .txt, .xlsx, .xls, .xml, .ixf, .dbf, .tab, .ctab, .sqy, .u2tab, .mvtab, .avro, and .parquet file formats are supported for the Amazon S3 data source. For the steps to create a new Amazon S3 data source, see Creating an Amazon S3 data source.
Support for CA Integrated Database Management System (CA IDMS) database
QMF now supports the IDMS database. You can now connect to your IDMS database by using the JDBC driver, and then perform various activities, such as running visual queries, importing and exporting data, creating visual reports, and so on. For information about how to connect to a TLS enabled IDMS database, see Connecting to a TLS enabled CA IDMS database.
Simplified controls for scheduled tasks
You can now filter the QMF scheduled tasks by using the Task Name, Date Range, State and Last Run filters. The details of a run, such as the last run time and the status of the task are displayed in the tooltip. To know how to filter the scheduled tasks, see Filtering scheduled tasks.

After filtering the tasks, you can now schedule and unschedule multiple scheduled tasks at a time. For more information, see Pausing and resuming scheduled tasks.

Integration of IBM Cloudant Dashboard in QMF
You can open IBM Cloudant Dashboard in QMF for WebSphere and use the dashboard to perform various activities, such as creating, deleting, and replicating an IBM Cloudant database. For steps to open the Cloudant dashboard in QMF, see Using Cloudant Dashboard.
Export and import data support for IBM Cloudant
You can now export Cloudant data to a relational data source and import relational data into a Cloudant data source. This feature is applicable to LOB data also.
Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.3 support
All QMF components are now supported with TLS 1.3 enabled SSL connections. For more information on how to configure TLS 1.3, see Securing Communication using Transport Layer Security (TLS).
SSL support for simplify rollout
You can now use the simplify rollout feature with SSL in both the single and the distributed environments.
Multiple Web APIs user sessions
The Web APIs can now handle multiple user sessions to seamlessly interface with QMF.
Comprehensive list of Scheduled Tasks
You can now see all the scheduled tasks that are available in a repository in the Scheduled Tasks view.
Note: Though the tasks, which are not local and are created by other instances of QMF for WebSphere are also listed, you cannot perform any operations on these tasks.
Support for special registers
QMF now supports special registers for MySQL, Informix, and Oracle databases. Using these special registers you can perform various operations like insert, and update via table editor and expression builder.
Virtual table support for Spark data source
QMF now supports virtual table for the Spark data source. You can now create a virtual table for the Spark data source and use the virtual table to import data from Spark.
Localization of Tip Of The Day
QMF now supports Tip Of The Day in multiple languages. Tip of the day increases user awareness for the QMF features. QMF presents relevant tips on the user interface based on the activity.
Productivity enhancements
The following enhancements are made in QMF for WebSphere:
  • You can import the JSON data using the file protocol in the JavaScript data source. You can perform specific operations on the table by using the Load Data script.
  • You can now bind multiple SQL packages to prevent data type mismatch warnings.
  • You can now seamlessly expand the repository connections in QMF for WebSphere to view various UI elements.
  • The internal framework jobs in QMF are now managed seamlessly when the user session terminates.
  • The following new JDBC advanced properties are added in the Advanced JDBC Settings window:
    • sslClientHostnameValidation - Specifies whether the IBM Data Server Driver for JDBC and SQLJ validate the host name of the client while establishing a connection to the data server that uses transport level security (TLS).
    • sslKeyStoreType - Specifies the type of keystore that needs to be added for SSL connections.
    • SSLTrustStoreType - Specifies the type of the trusted certificate file.

QMF Server

Deployment on OpenShift
You can now deploy QMF Server in the OpenShift environment using the docker scripts provided.
Simplified migration of QMF Objects across catalog and repository
You can now export QMF Catalog object to other QMF catalog and repository. Using this feature, you can migrate QMF Catalog objects across Db2 for z/OS, Db2 for LUW, and Db2 for iSeries or other relational databases. For more information, see Migrating catalog objects.
Horizontal scale support in multi-node environment
You can now deploy QMF in a multi-node cluster environment. With this feature, QMF scheduled tasks, preference, virtual data source, and other features are synchronized across the cluster, also enabling node-wise logging and a single admin session.
Support for Apache Kafka as data source
QMF now supports the Apache Kafka as data source. You can visualize Kafka data in QMF, export this data to other supported data sources, and import data into a Kafka data source. Apache Kafka is a data streaming system for real-time data pipelines, data integration, and event-driven systems. For the steps to create a new Apache Kafka data source, see Creating an Apache Kafka data source.
Support for Amazon S3 as data source
QMF now supports the Amazon S3 as data source. You can now connect to your Amazon S3 file data source and perform various activities, such as running visual queries, importing and exporting data, creating visual reports, and so on. You can connect to the Amazon S3 instance by using either SAML or Basic authentication. The .csv, .txt, .xlsx, .xls, .xml, .ixf, .dbf, .tab, .ctab, .sqy, .u2tab, .mvtab, .avro, and .parquet file formats are supported for the Amazon S3 data source. For the steps to create a new Amazon S3 data source, see Creating an Amazon S3 data source.
Support for CA Integrated Database Management System (CA IDMS) database
QMF now supports the IDMS database. You can now connect to your IDMS database by using the JDBC driver, and then perform various activities, such as running visual queries, importing and exporting data, creating visual reports, and so on. For information about how to connect to a TLS enabled IDMS database, see Connecting to a TLS enabled CA IDMS database.
Simplified controls for scheduled tasks
You can now filter the QMF scheduled tasks by using the Task Name, Date Range, State and Last Run filters. The details of a run, such as the last run time and the status of the task are displayed in the tooltip. To know how to filter the scheduled tasks, see Filtering scheduled tasks.

After filtering the tasks, you can now unschedule and schedule multiple scheduled tasks at a time. For more information, see Scheduling and unscheduling the scheduled tasks.

Export and import data support for IBM Cloudant
You can now export Cloudant data to a relational data source and import relational data into a Cloudant data source. This feature is applicable to LOB data also.
Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.3 support
All QMF components are now supported with TLS 1.3 enabled SSL connections. For more information on how to configure TLS 1.3, see Securing Communication using Transport Layer Security (TLS).
SSL support for simplify rollout
You can now use the simplify rollout feature with SSL in both the single and the distributed environments.
Multiple Web APIs user sessions
The Web APIs can now handle multiple user sessions to seamlessly interface with QMF.
Comprehensive list of Scheduled Tasks
You can now see all the scheduled tasks that are available in a repository in the Scheduled Tasks view.
Note: Though the tasks, which are not local and are created by other instances of QMF Server are also listed, you cannot perform any operations on these tasks.
Support for special registers
QMF now supports special registers for MySQL, Informix, and Oracle databases. Using these special registers you can perform various operations like insert, and update via table editor and expression builder.
Virtual table support for Spark data source
QMF now supports virtual table for the Spark data source. You can now create a virtual table for the Spark data source and use the virtual table to import data from Spark.
Localization of Tip Of The Day
QMF now supports Tip Of The Day in multiple languages. Tip of the day increases user awareness for the QMF features. QMF presents relevant tips on the user interface based on the activity.
Productivity enhancements
The following enhancements are made in QMF Server:
  • You can import the JSON data using the file protocol in the JavaScript data source. You can perform specific operations on the table by using the Load Data script.
  • You can now bind multiple SQL packages to prevent data type mismatch warnings.
  • The following new JDBC advanced properties are added in the Advanced JDBC Settings window:
    • sslClientHostnameValidation - Specifies whether the IBM Data Server Driver for JDBC and SQLJ validate the host name of the client while establishing a connection to the data server that uses transport level security (TLS).
    • sslKeyStoreType - Specifies the type of keystore that needs to be added for SSL connections.
    • SSLTrustStoreType - Specifies the type of the trusted certificate file.