Working with archive services

Use an archive service to copy a set of related rows from one or more tables and save the rows to a file.

The archive service specifies the set of parameters needed to archive data and object definitions from source tables and the file in which to store the archived information.

The archive service always extracts definitions for tables and columns. These definitions are used to create the destination tables, if necessary. You can also choose to extract other object definitions, including primary keys, relationships, and indexes.

The service also includes an option to delete the archived data after the archive processing is complete.

Archive file

An archive file contains the selected, relationally intact data described in the access definition and the object definitions needed to re-create the database, if necessary. Archive directory entries provide general information about each archive file and any archive indexes for the file.

After you have extracted data and created an archive file, you can browse the contents of the file to answer questions or satisfy a customer request. You can search archive directory entries, archive index files, and archive files, using criteria for the files and data of interest. If necessary, you can restore selected data from the archive file. Also, using your own application, you can copy an archive file to tape, delete it from your disk files, and retain the archive directory entries on the client system or shared file server. The retained archive directory entries and archive index files can be searched to determine the archive files to be returned to disk for browsing or restoring.

Archive index file

The archive index file facilitates searches for archived data to browse or restore. Parameters for indexing archived data are specified in the access definition.

Access Definition

The access definition governs the overall archive process. An access definition identifies the tables, relationship traversal, and selection criteria for the data you want to archive, and may identify tables from which archived data is deleted. It also provides parameters for indexes and archive actions – user-defined SQL statements executed at predefined points in an archive or restore process. You can select a named access definition or create a new access definition for a single archive request. Use an access definition to accomplish the following tasks:

Delete process

Archived data from selected database tables can be deleted as part of the archive process, or you can delete archived data in a separate step. In either case, you can review and change your selections before deleting data.



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