Some DB2/400 SQL Metadata tables

plus some other interesting tables and functions.

The IBM i maintains a set of tables and views that describe the metadata in each relational database. This includes information about tables, data types, parameters, procedures, packages, views, indexes, aliases, sequences, variables, constraints, triggers etc... These objects can be found in libraries SYSIBM, QSYS and QSYS2. There appear to be several generations of these objects with overlapping information. Because some of the table and field names exceed 10 characters, it is best to used an advanced SQL tool like the IBM ASC Run SQL Scripts tool.


List all tables in a specific library using table QSYS2.SYSTABLES

This would include P=Physical file, T=Table, L=Logical, V=View and A=Alias. Note that Physicals/Tables are broken out seperately. A subset of information provided by QSYS2.SYSTABLES can be found in QSYS2.TABLES

  SELECT SUBSTR(TABLE_SCHEMA, 1, 10) AS LIBRARY , 
     SUBSTR(TABLE_NAME, 1, 10) AS TABLE,  
                 SUBSTR(TABLE_TEXT, 1, 30) AS DESCRIPTION, 
                 TABLE_TYPE, LAST_ALTERED_TIMESTAMP, SYSTEM_TABLE_NAME,
     SYSTEM_TABLE_SCHEMA, TABLE_OWNER, SYSTEM_TABLE, 
                 SELECT_OMIT, IS_INSERTABLE_INTO,
     TABLE_DEFINER, COLUMN_COUNT, ROW_LENGTH 
  FROM QSYS2.SYSTABLES
  WHERE TABLE_TYPE  IN ('L','P', 'T', 'V') AND 
  TABLE_SCHEMA = 'MYLIB'

List all tables in a specific library using table QSYS.QADBXREF

The QSYS.QADBXREF is similar to QSYS2.SYSTABLES table containing information about all tables, physical files, indexes, logical files, source physical files and SQL views on your AS/400 system. Note that access to this file is often restricted.

SELECT  DBXLIB, DBXFIL, DBXTXT, DBXATR, DBXTYP,  
DBXATR, DBXTYP,DBXUNQ,DBXLFI  
FROM QSYS.QADBXREF WHERE DBXLIB = 'MYLIB'                            

Find information about a table's columns with SYSIBM.SQLCOLUMNS

SELECT
    SUBSTR(SQLCOLUMNS.TABLE_SCHEM, 1, 10)  as Library,  
    SUBSTR(SQLCOLUMNS.TABLE_NAME, 1, 50)   as Long_Table_Name,
    SUBSTR(SQLCOLUMNS.NAME, 1, 35)         as Long_Field_Name,   
    SQLCOLUMNS.SYS_CNAME                   as Short_Field_Name,
    SQLCOLUMNS.COLUMN_TEXT,
    SQLCOLUMNS.ORDIN00001                  as SEQUENCE,
    SUBSTR(SQLCOLUMNS.TYPE_NAME, 1, 20)    as Data_Type,
    SQLCOLUMNS.COLUMN_SIZE  ,
    SQLCOLUMNS.DECIMAL_DIGITS ,
    SQLCOLUMNS.NULLABLE,   SQLCOLUMNS.IS_NU00001
FROM SYSIBM.SQLCOLUMNS   
WHERE SQLCOLUMNS.TABLE_SCHEM ='MYLIB'

Get table name, description and column names by joining SYSTABLES and SYSCOLUMNS

SELECT SYSTABLES.SYSTEM_TABLE_SCHEMA AS LIBRARY,
    SUBSTR(SYSTABLES.TABLE_NAME, 1, 10) AS TABLE,  
                SUBSTR(SYSTABLES.TABLE_TEXT, 1, 25) AS DESCRIPTION,     
    SUBSTR(SYSCOLUMNS.COLUMN_NAME, 1, 10) AS COLUMN_NAME, 
    SYSCOLUMNS.ORDINAL_POSITION,               
    SYSCOLUMNS.DATA_TYPE, SYSCOLUMNS.LENGTH, NUMERIC_SCALE,
                SUBSTR(SYSCOLUMNS.LONG_COMMENT, 1, 25) AS LONG_COMMENT,         
    SUBSTR(SYSCOLUMNS.COLUMN_HEADING, 1, 20) AS HDG1, 
                SUBSTR(SYSCOLUMNS.COLUMN_HEADING, 21, 20) AS HDG2,
                SUBSTR(SYSCOLUMNS.COLUMN_HEADING, 41, 20) AS HDG3,
                COLUMN_TEXT, "CCSID"              
FROM QSYS2.SYSTABLES LEFT JOIN QSYS2.SYSCOLUMNS 
    ON SYSCOLUMNS.TABLE_SCHEMA =                            
    SYSTABLES.TABLE_SCHEMA AND SYSCOLUMNS.TABLE_NAME = SYSTABLES.TABLE_NAME 
WHERE SYSTABLES.SYSTEM_TABLE_SCHEMA = 'MYLIB' AND
    SYSTABLES.TABLE_NAME = 'MYTABLE'

Get Physical File to Logical file relationships and other dependencies using table QSYS.QADBFDEP

Note that access to this file is often restricted. Dependencies come in several flavors including: D = Data, V = View and I = Indirect

SELECT DBFLIB as Master_Lib, substr(DBFFIL, 1, 10) AS Master_File, 
  DBFLDP Dependent_Lib, substr(DBFFDP, 1, 10) AS Dependent_file, DBFTDP 
  FROM QSYS.QADBFDEP   
WHERE DBFFIL LIKE '%MYFILE%' AND DBFLIB = 'MYLIB'                                                          

Just for fun, let's see what are the dependents on table QSYS.QADBFDEP.

SELECT DBFLIB as Master_Lib, substr(DBFFIL, 1, 10) AS Master_File, 
  DBFLDP Dependent_Lib, substr(DBFFDP, 1, 10) AS Dependent_file, DBFTDP 
  FROM QSYS.QADBFDEP   
WHERE DBFFIL = 'QADBFDEP' 
MASTER_LIB  MASTER_FILE  DEPENDENT_LIB  DEPENDENT_FILE  DEP   
                                                        TYPE  
QSYS        QADBFDEP      SYSIBM          SQLSTATS       D    
QSYS        QADBFDEP      QSYS2           SYSIXSTAT      I    
QSYS        QADBFDEP      QSYS            QADBLDEP       D    
QSYS        QADBFDEP      QSYS            QADBLDNC       D    
QSYS        QADBFDEP      QSYS            QADBLDNC       D    
QSYS        QADBFDEP      QSYS2           SYSINDEXES     D    
QSYS        QADBFDEP      QSYS2           SYSVIEWDEP     D    
QSYS        QADBFDEP      QSYS2           SYSTABDEP      D    
QSYS        QADBFDEP      SYSIBM          SQLSPECCOL     D    
********  End of data  ********                               

Get key fields in logical/view using table QSYS.QADBKFLD

We can get key field information by using Database file key field information (QSYS.QADBKFLD). Note that access to this file is often restricted.

SELECT DBKLIB, DBKFIL, DBKFMT, DBKFLD, DBKPOS, DBKORD, DBKATR,      
DBKFMP FROM QSYS.QADBKFLD WHERE DBKLIB = 'MYLIB'  AND DBKFIL ='MYFILE'              

Get logical/view + description + key field information with QSYS.QADBFDEP, QSYS.QADBXREF, QSYS.QADBKFLD and QSYS.QADBIFLD

Here is where things start getting useful. Below we combine name and description of logical/view with key fields including their description and attributes.

 
SELECT QADBFDEP.DBFLDP AS LIBRARY, SUBSTR(QADBFDEP.DBFFDP, 1, 10) AS FILENAME, 
  QADBXREF.DBXTXT AS SHORT_DESC, QADBXREF.DBXATR,
  QADBKFLD.DBKPOS AS ORDINAL_POS, QADBKFLD.DBKFLD AS KEY_FIELD,
  QADBIFLD.DBITYP AS DATA_TYPE, QADBIFLD.DBITXT AS FIELD_DESC,
  QADBIFLD.DBICLN AS CHARACTER_LEN, QADBIFLD.DBINLN AS NUMERIC_LEN,
  QADBIFLD.DBINSC AS NUMERIC_SCALE, QADBXREF.DBXREL AS RELATIONAL
FROM QSYS.QADBFDEP LEFT JOIN QSYS.QADBXREF
  ON (QADBFDEP.DBFFDP=QADBXREF.DBXFIL AND QADBFDEP.DBFLDP=QADBXREF.DBXLIB) 
LEFT JOIN QSYS.QADBKFLD 
  ON (QADBFDEP.DBFFDP=DBKFIL AND DBFLDP = DBKLIB AND DBFRDP = DBKFMT)
LEFT JOIN QSYS.QADBIFLD
  ON (DBFFDP=DBIFIL AND DBFLDP=DBILIB AND
  DBFRDP=DBIFMT AND DBKFLD=DBIFLD)
WHERE DBFFIL='MYFILE' AND DBFLIB='MYLIB'
AND QADBXREF.DBXATR='LF'
ORDER BY FILENAME, ORDINAL_POS

Show Information about referential constraints using QSYS2.SYSREFCST

SELECT
     SUBSTR(CONSTRAINT_SCHEMA, 1, 20) as Constraint_Scheme,
     SUBSTR(CONSTRAINT_NAME, 1, 45) as Constraint_Name,
     SUBSTR(UNIQUE_CONSTRAINT_SCHEMA, 1, 20) as Unique_Constraint_Name, 
UPDATE_RULE, DELETE_RULE, COLUMN_COUNT   
FROM QSYS2.SYSREFCST
 


Information about constraints columns from QSYS2.SYSCSTCOL

SELECT
    SUBSTR(CONSTRAINT_SCHEMA, 1, 20) as CONSTR_SCHEMA,                  
    SUBSTR(CONSTRAINT_NAME, 1, 45) as CONSTRAINT_NAME,                         
    SUBSTR(TABLE_SCHEMA, 1, 30) as TABLE_SCHEMA,
    SUBSTR(COLUMN_NAME, 1, 30) as COLUMN_NAME,                  
    SUBSTR(TABLE_NAME, 1, 30) as TABLE_NAME,    
    SYSTEM_TABLE_NAME,
    SYSTEM_TABLE_SCHEMA,              
    SYSTEM_CONSTRAINT_SCHEMA
FROM QSYS2.SYSCSTCOL


Show Information all Tables and Fields, indicating any applicable referential constraints (QSYS2.SYSCSTCOL).

SELECT
    SUBSTR(SQLCOLUMNS.TABLE_SCHEM, 1, 10)  as Library,   
    SUBSTR(SQLCOLUMNS.TABLE_NAME, 1, 50)   as Long_Table_Name,
    SYSTABLES.SYSTEM_TABLE_NAME            as Short_Table_Name,
    SUBSTR(SQLCOLUMNS.NAME, 1, 35)         as Long_Field_Name,    
    SQLCOLUMNS.SYS_CNAME                   as Short_Field_Name,
    SUBSTR(SQLCOLUMNS.TYPE_NAME, 1, 20)    as Data_Type,
    SUBSTR(CONSTRAINT_NAME, 1, 45)         as CONSTRAINT_NAME
FROM QSYS2.SYSTABLES as SYSTABLES
JOIN SYSIBM.SQLCOLUMNS as SQLCOLUMNS
ON(SYSTABLES.TABLE_NAME  = SQLCOLUMNS.TABLE_NAME
  and SYSTABLES.TABLE_SCHEMA  = SQLCOLUMNS.TABLE_SCHEM )
LEFT OUTER JOIN QSYS2.SYSCSTCOL as SYSCSTCOL
ON (SYSCSTCOL.COLUMN_NAME = SQLCOLUMNS.NAME and
    SYSCSTCOL.TABLE_NAME  = SQLCOLUMNS.TABLE_NAME and
    SYSCSTCOL.CONSTRAINT_SCHEMA  = SQLCOLUMNS.TABLE_SCHEM)
WHERE SQLCOLUMNS.TABLE_SCHEM ='MYLIB'


The QSYS2.SYSCST allows us to add some information about constraint types by field.

Here we are using tables (QSYS2.SYSTABLES), Columns (QSYS2.SYSCSTCOL) and Constraints (QSYS2.SYSCST). There may be some duplicate records if field has multiple constraints

  SELECT
    SUBSTR(SQLCOLUMNS.TABLE_SCHEM, 1, 10)  as Library, 
    SUBSTR(SQLCOLUMNS.TABLE_NAME, 1, 50)   as Long_Table_Name,
    SYSTABLES.SYSTEM_TABLE_NAME            as Short_Table_Name,
    SQLCOLUMNS.ORDIN00001                  as Seq_No ,
    SUBSTR(SQLCOLUMNS.NAME, 1, 35)         as Long_Field_Name,  
    SQLCOLUMNS.SYS_CNAME                   as Short_Field_Name,
    SUBSTR(SQLCOLUMNS.TYPE_NAME, 1, 20) || ' / ' ||
    SQLCOLUMNS.COLUMN_SIZE   || ' / ' ||
    SQLCOLUMNS.DECIMAL_DIGITS  AS TYPE_SIZE_DIGITS,  
    SUBSTR(SYSCSTCOL.CONSTRAINT_NAME, 1, 45) as CONSTRAINT_NAME,
    SYSCST.TYPE, SYSCST.COLCOUNT
FROM QSYS2.SYSTABLES as SYSTABLES
    JOIN SYSIBM.SQLCOLUMNS as SQLCOLUMNS
    ON(SYSTABLES.TABLE_NAME  = SQLCOLUMNS.TABLE_NAME
    and SYSTABLES.TABLE_SCHEMA  = SQLCOLUMNS.TABLE_SCHEM )
LEFT OUTER JOIN QSYS2.SYSCSTCOL as SYSCSTCOL
    ON (SYSCSTCOL.COLUMN_NAME = SQLCOLUMNS.NAME and
    SYSCSTCOL.TABLE_NAME  = SQLCOLUMNS.TABLE_NAME and
    SYSCSTCOL.CONSTRAINT_SCHEMA  = SQLCOLUMNS.TABLE_SCHEM)
LEFT OUTER JOIN QSYS2.SYSCST  as SYSCST
    ON (
    SYSCSTCOL.TABLE_NAME  = SYSCST.TBNAME  and
    SYSCSTCOL.CONSTRAINT_SCHEMA  = SYSCST.CDBNAME and
    SYSCSTCOL.CONSTRAINT_NAME = SYSCST.RELNAME)
WHERE SQLCOLUMNS.TABLE_SCHEM ='MY_LIB' and  
    SYSTABLES.SYSTEM_TABLE_NAME = 'MY_TABLE'
ORDER BY
    SQLCOLUMNS.TABLE_SCHEM,
    SQLCOLUMNS.TABLE_NAME,
    SQLCOLUMNS.ORDIN00001


Information about check constraints (QSYS2.SYSCHKCST)

SELECT 
     SUBSTR(CONSTRAINT_SCHEMA,1,10) AS SCHEMA,                    
     SUBSTR(TABLE_NAME,1,30) as TABLE_NAME,
     SUBSTR(CONSTRAINT_NAME,1,30) AS CONSTRAINT_NAME,
     CONSTRAINT_TYPE, IS_DEFERRABLE, INITIALLY_DEFERRED,          
     SYSTEM_TABLE_NAME, SYSTEM_TABLE_SCHEMA, CONSTRAINT_KEYS,              
     IASP_NUMBER, CONSTRAINT_STATE, ENABLED, CHECK_PENDING,                
     CONSTRAINT_TEXT, LONG_COMMENT, SYSTEM_CONSTRAINT_SCHEMA
FROM QSYS2.SYSCST   
WHERE CONSTRAINT_SCHEMA = 'ITG'                                    
 


Table/Row statistics (QSYS2.SYSTABLESTAT)

This table was designed for tracking table/row statistics across partitions, but has some useful information for everyone

SELECT
    SYS_DNAME As SHORT_DATABASE ,
    substr(TABSCHEMA, 1, 30) AS SCHEMA,
    SYS_TNAME AS TABLE_NAME ,
    substr(TABNAME, 1, 30) ,
    CARD as ROW_COUNT,
    DELETED as DELETED_ROW_COUNT,
    OPENS as OPENS,
    INSERTS as INSERTS,
    UPDATES as UPDATES
FROM QSYS2.SYSTABLESTAT                           
WHERE TABSCHEMA = 'QS36F'                         
                                             
where:
CARD = Number of valid rows in all partitions or members of the table.
DELETED = Number of deleted rows in all partitions or members of the table.
OPENS = Number of full opens of all partitions or members of the table since the last IPL.
INSERTS = Number of insert operations of all partitions or members of the table since the last IPL.
UPDATES = Number of update operations of all partitions or members of the table since the last IPL.
DELETES = Number of delete operations of all partitions or members of the table since the last IPL.


Tables for tracking SQL stored procedures and functions

The QSYS2.SYSROUTINES table contains one row for each procedure created by the CREATE PROCEDURE statement or CREATE FUNCTION statement.

SELECT substr(SPECIFIC_SCHEMA, 1, 20) as SPECIFIC_SCHEMA, 
substr(SPECIFIC_NAME, 1, 20) as SPECIFIC_NAME,
substr(ROUTINE_SCHEMA, 1, 20) as ROUTINE_SCHEMA,
substr(ROUTINE_NAME, 1, 20) as ROUTINE_NAME,
substr(EXTERNAL_NAME, 1, 30) as EXTERNAL_NAME,
substr(ROUTINE_TYPE, 1, 20) as ROUTINE_TYPE,
EXTERNAL_LANGUAGE, PARAMETER_STYLE, IS_DETERMINISTIC
FROM QSYS2.SYSROUTINES WHERE SPECIFIC_SCHEMA like '%MYLIB%'                 

see also:
SYSPROCS Information about procedures
SYSROUTINEDEP Information about function and procedure dependencies
SYSFUNCS Information about user-defined functions

The HISTORY_LOG_INFO table function

The HISTORY_LOG_INFO table function returns one row for each message in the history log based on the timestamp range specified. It returns information similar to what is returned by the Display Log (DSPLOG QHST) CL command. Added in OS/400 release 7.2

Return a list history log messages for all of yesterday and today. This is default period for this command.

SELECT ORDINAL_POSITION, MESSAGE_ID, MESSAGE_TYPE, MESSAGE_SUBTYPE, SEVERITY,
  MESSAGE_TIMESTAMP, FROM_USER, FROM_JOB, FROM_JOB_NAME, FROM_JOB_USER,
  FROM_JOB_NUMBER, FROM_PROGRAM, MESSAGE_LIBRARY, MESSAGE_FILE,
  MESSAGE_TOKENS, MESSAGE_TEXT, MESSAGE_SECOND_LEVEL_TEXT, SYSLOG_EVENT,
  SYSLOG_FACILITY, SYSLOG_SEVERITY
FROM TABLE(QSYS2.HISTORY_LOG_INFO())                                    

example:


Return a list of all history log messages for the last 7 days.

SELECT * FROM TABLE(QSYS2/HISTORY_LOG_INFO(CURRENT TIMESTAMP - 7 DAY))

Return a list of Allocation and I/O errors (RNQ and RNX) errors for specific date period.

SELECT MESSAGE_TIMESTAMP,  MESSAGE_ID, SEVERITY, FROM_USER, FROM_JOB,   
 FROM_JOB_NAME,  FROM_JOB_USER, FROM_JOB_NUMBER,  FROM_PROGRAM, 
 MESSAGE_TEXT,  MESSAGE_SECOND_LEVEL_TEXT,  MESSAGE_LIBRARY,  MESSAGE_FILE
FROM TABLE(QSYS2.HISTORY_LOG_INFO('2023-10-01-12.00.00.000000', '2023-10-08-12.00.00.000000'))                                     
WHERE  MESSAGE_ID LIKE 'RNQ%' OR  MESSAGE_ID LIKE 'RNX%'
ORDER BY MESSAGE_TIMESTAMP DESC

MESSAGE_FILE_DATA - Information in message files

Find message across multiple message files like DSPMSGD. By default it checks all message files.

SELECT *
   FROM QSYS2.MESSAGE_FILE_DATA
   WHERE  MESSAGE_FILE_LIBRARY = 'QSYS' and MESSAGE_FILE = 'QSQLMSG'


See similar tables, functions and views:
  • MESSAGE_QUEUE_INFO() table function
  • MESSAGE_QUEUE_INFO view
  • REPLY_LIST_INFO view
  • SEND_MESSAGE procedure
  • OBJECT_LOCK_INFO



complete list here...

https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/en/ssw_ibm_i_74/db2/rbafzcatalogtbls.htm