Conference Sessions - Basic RPG IV
RPG IV 101
This session is designed to give RPG III and RPG/400 programmers the fundamentals start using RPG IV. The new RPG IV (ILE RPG) is here, and it's very different from RPG/ 400.
In this session you will learn:
- The specifications that no longer work
- The changes in operation codes.
- How RPG supports free-form calculations
- Changes in the RPG language definition with many samples comparing RPG/ 400 to RPG IV
Prerequisites: A basic knowledge of RPG/ 400 is assumed.
Using Dates in RPG IV
Does your programs perform date calculations (aging, due dates, warranty dates etc.)? This session introduces the powerful Date, Time and Timestamp data types.
This session explains:
- Definition (internal and external)
- Calculating Dates/Times
- Calculating durations
- Moving to/from numeric and character fields
- Testing for valid values.
The D Spec
The Definition Spec bring new versatility to RPG.
This session explains how to
- declare arrays
- declare fields
- declare data structures
- declare pointers
- declare named constants
- declare prototypes
- Multiple examples of definitions (and how they are used) are provided
Debugging RPG IV Programs
Debugging a program is a necessary evil. In RPG III we used the Interactive Source Debugger (STRISDB) but what about RPG IV? This session examines the use of both the green screen ILE source-level debugger (STRDBG) and the debugger provided with RDi.
This session explains:
- Breakpoints (unconditional and conditional)
- Displaying and/or changing the value of a variable
- Watching variables
- Stepping through a program
- Debugging multiple modules/programs (including Service Programs)
- Debugging programs running in Batch
Exception Error Handling
Learn all about the various options for error handling in RPG IV.
This session explains:
- Trapping operation errors
- Monitor Groups
- Program and File Information Data Structures
- ILE Error Handling Options
Subfiles Explained
Subfiles are standard to all iSeries green screen applications but they are still surrounded by a certain "mystique".
This session explains:
- How subfiles work. Step by step
- Subfile DDS keywords
- The differences (and similarities) between Load All, Expanding,Single Page and initialized subfiles
The Call of the Prototype
Still calling programs by using CALL, PARM, PARM or PLIST?
Prototypes defend against passing parameters with the wrong data type and/or size. In fact, in many cases they can be coded in such a way as to take care of the differences for you! Prototyped calls are essential in /Free-form RPG programming as well as being a requirement for subprocedures.
In this session, you will learn how to enhance application reliability and your productivity by using Prototypes for all your calls.