What is db2lobeditor?
db2lobeditor is a lightweight, cross‑platform utility written in Java that lets you read, edit, export and re‑import large binary or text columns (LOBs) from a DB2 database. It works through JDBC and is available both as a command‑line program and as a Swing GUI, so it runs on any system that has Java 8 or later.
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Core features
| Feature | How it works | Why it matters |
|---------|--------------|----------------|
| **Edit LOB columns** | Open a connection, specify the table and column, and edit values directly. | You can fix a single large field without loading the whole table. |
| **Export to file** | Export the selected column to a binary or CSV file. | Lets you back up or inspect data in external tools (e.g., Excel, Notepad). |
| **Import from file** | Read a file and write its contents back into the column. | Quick way to replace data or restore a backup. |
| **Stream mode** | Read/write in user‑defined chunks instead of loading the whole LOB into memory. | Handles very large BLOBs without exhausting RAM. |
| **Export to CSV** | Export only the LOB key and length, keeping the operation light on resources. | Can be opened in spreadsheet programs for quick inspection. |
| **Logging** | Keeps a simple log of every operation while the application runs. | Auditing and troubleshooting of changes. |
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How to use it
| Mode | What you need | Example command |
|------|--------------|-----------------|
| **Command line** | Java 8 +, JDBC driver, connection details | `java -jar db2lobeditor.jar -c
-u -p -s -t -c |
| Swing GUI | Same requirements; just launch the JAR and use the dialog | Same command line – the GUI loads automatically. |
| Stream‑mode | Use the -stream flag and set a chunk size with the slider | java -jar db2lobeditor.jar -stream -chunk 1048576 …` |
If you prefer a pure‑CLI workflow, the program offers a “command” mode that accepts simple text commands and prints status messages. The GUI is only a convenience layer and is not required.
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Running on different OSes
- Windows – Run from PowerShell or CMD after adding the DB2 JDBC driver to the classpath.
- Linux/macOS – Use a terminal; no special setup is required.
- Remote operation – The JAR can be called from a client program via sockets, which allows integration into automated scripts or CI pipelines.
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- Source – All Java files live in a public GitHub repo (
github.com/your‑repo/db2lobeditor). - Build –
mvn clean package pulls the DB2 JDBC driver automatically. - License – Apache 2.0 terms (open for contributions).
- Adding support – Fork the repo, add Oracle or MySQL JDBC support, or create a REST wrapper; then push a pull request.
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Why use it?
- No heavy GUI – The Swing interface shows only the key and LOB length, keeping memory usage low.
- Handles massive data – Stream mode can process gigabytes of BLOB data without exceeding RAM.
- Cross‑platform – Works on any JVM‑enabled system.
- Easy to customize – The code is modular; you can add new file formats, batch import/export, or integrate with other databases.
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Bottom line:
db2lobeditor lets you safely edit, export, and import large binary/text columns in DB2 from the command line or a small desktop UI, while keeping a lightweight footprint. Grab the source from GitHub, build with Maven, and adapt it to your workflow - whether you need a quick interactive tweak or an automated integration.
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