RE: Logical File or OPNQRYF or any other way ? - Legacy

Rob,

You wrote:

"What 'back door' were you thinking of?"    The ability to get to
supposedly a relational database via access verbs such as READ, WRITE,
etc.   If the iSeries were truly relational, that would not be allowed. 
  

"I didn't understand the last two sentences."   

 I'm not sure which ones to which you are referring.


"Are you trying to say that any file access, outside of imbedded SQL,
is what makes it non relational?"
I'm not comfortable with the term "imbedded SQL" as that implies to me
imbedded in a program, but the simple answer is Yes, a truly relational
database must only be accessed via one language, in all cases, and in
the truly relational world, the defacto is SQL.

"And this is a bad thing?"    Yes, it violates the essence of what Codd
was saying, and what he was saying was often oriented toward what is
best for good database and application development architecture for the
near and long term.  To wit..., allowing multiple access verbs and
paths, does not conform to the rest of the truly relational world if you
want applications built that are compatible with other relational
database engines your company might need to consider and for which there
is a good supply of traditionally trained employees in relational
database and application design.   I don't know about you but business
leaders I've consulted with don't like having an environment that is not
flexible thus making things harder when it comes to M&A activity or
expansion or downsizing.