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IBM i | AS400 | iSeries

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IBM i Programming - RPG, CL, DDS, SQL & ILE for Beginners

Welcome to "Programming on the IBM-i AS400 iSERIES System"

Whether you're stepping into the world of IBM-i for the first time or looking to build a solid foundation in classic and modern programming techniques, this course aims to be your gateway to mastering one of the most resilient and business-critical platforms in enterprise computing.

In this beginner-friendly journey, you'll learn how to write and manage programs using the core languages of the IBM-i ecosystem:

RPG (Report Program Generator) from traditional fixed-format RPG to modern free-format RPG IV and RPGLE.
CL (Control Language) for scripting and automation of system tasks.
DDS (Data Description Specifications) for defining files, screens, and printer layouts.

As you progress, we'll introduce you to modern RPG techniques, including embedded SQL for powerful database interactions and ILE (Integrated Language Environment) concepts that bring modularity and reusability to your code.

It's time to demystify the IBM-i platform and equip you with practical skills that are still in high demand across industries. Whether you're maintaining legacy applications or building new solutions, you'll gain the confidence to navigate the AS400/iSeries landscape with clarity and purpose.

Choosing the Best IBM i IDE: A Practical Guide for Modern Developers

3 Chapters

Introducing 'Integrated Development Environments' for IBM i Systems

What is an IDE?

What modern IDE can we use with the IBM i System?

The Original IBM IDE : SEU (Source Entry Utility)

The Original IBM IDE : SEU (Source Entry Utility)

SEU 101 - What is SEU (Source Entry Utility)

SEU 101 - Using SEU to Edit RPG Source Code

SEU 101 - SEU to Edit DDS File Source Code

What is SDA?

Green Screen Alternatives to SEU

IBM IDE : Rational Developer for IBM i

The OG Windows IBM IDE : Rational Developer for IBM i (RDi)

Download and Install Rational Developer for IBM i (RDi)

CL : IBM i Control Language

4 Chapters

Welcome to IBM-i CL (Control Language)

Introduction to IBM-i Control Language

What is IBM-i Control Language (CL)?

History of Control Language (CL)

What does Control Language (CL) look like?

Programming with IBM-i CL (Control Language)

CL 101 - What is Control Language CL

CL 101 - Writing a Simple CL program

CL 101 - Sample CL Program Enhanced

CL 101 - Import FLAT/CSV Data from PC to IBM-i

CL 101 - EMLOUTQ - Introduction

CL 101 - EMLOUTQ CL Code walkthrough

Control Language (CL) Program Template

Introduction to a CL Program Template

Diving Deeper into the CL Template

Intermediate Control Language (CL) Programming

Declaring CL Variables

Email an IBM i File as a CSV

Reading Program Messages to find submitted job information

Sending and Receiving USER Messages with CL

List all files in an IFS Folder with QSHELL

CHKSBSACT - A Reusable CL Command to Check Subsystem Status

Add Initial iASP to System Job Descriptions

RPG : Learn to program for beginners

9 Chapters

IBM i RPG - So much more than a Report Program Generator

General info about RPG

RPG Variables and procedures

Introduction to Files / Tables

Display files

Solutions to RPG exercises

Coding Standards from RPG to RPGLE

IBM i RPGLE Programming Language - Declarations

DCL-C in RPGLE - Declaring Constants

DCL-S in RPGLE - Serving Up Variables with Pizza

DCL-DS in RPGLE - Crafting Pizza Orders with Structure

DCL-F in RPGLE - File Handling with Cheesy Examples

IBM i RPGLE Programming Language - Operation Codes

RPG Arithmetic Operations - ADD

RPG Arithmetic Operations - DIV (Divide)

RPG Arithmetic Operations - MULT (Multiply)

RPG Arithmetic Operations - SQRT (Square Root)

RPG Arithmetic Operations - SUB (Subtract)

RPG Arithmetic Operations - Z-ADD (Zero and Add)

RPG Arithmetic Operations - Z-SUB (Zero and Subtract)

RPG Array Operations - LOOKUP (Look Up a Table or Array Element)

RPG Array Operations - SORTA (Sort an Array).jpg

RPG Array Operations - XFOOT (Summing the Elements of an Array)

RPG Bit Operations - BITOFF (Set Bits Off)

RPG Bit Operations - BITON (Set Bits On)

RPG Bit Operations - TESTB (Test Bit)

RPG Branching Operations - CABxx (Compare and Branch)

RPG Branching Operations - CASxx (Conditionally Invoke Subroutine)

RPG Branching Operations - COMP (Compare)

RPG Branching Operations - GOTO (Go to)

RPG Branching Operations - ITER (Iterate)

RPG Branching Operations - LEAVE (Leave a Do/For Group)

RPG Branching Operations - TAG (Tag)

RPG Call Operations - CALL (Call a Program)

RPG Call Operations - CALLB (Call a Bound Procedure)

RPG Call Operations - CALLP (Call a Prototyped Procedure or Program)

RPG Call Operations - PARM (Identify Parameters)

RPG Call Operations - CALLP (Call a Prototyped Procedure or Program)

RPG Call Operations - PARM (Identify Parameters)

RPG Call Operations - PLIST (Identify a Parameter List)

Getting Started with RPG Free-Form Programming

Getting Started with IBM i RPG: A Guide for New Programmers

Getting Started with IBM i RPG: Variables and procedures

Getting Started with IBM i RPG: Files and Tables

Getting Started with IBM i RPG: Display files aka Workstation Files

Getting Started with IBM i RPG: RPGLE Overview

Modern RPG : Sub Procedures

What is an RPG Sub-Procedure?

RPGLE Prototypes - defining the Procedures

RPG Subprocedures are very cool

Sub Procedure Parameters can be optional

RPG ON-EXIT is housekeeping for sub-procedures

Writing RPG ILE Programs on your IBM Power System

RPG 101 - Basic old fashioned AS400 RPG Hello World Example

RPG 101 - Tarting up the old fashioned AS400 RPG to iSERIES RPGLE Hello World Example

RPG 101 - Setting legacy RPG Free

RPG 101 - Finally stepping up to a modern RPG Free Format Layout

RPG 101 - Modern RPG deserves a modern Editor

RPG 101 - Tweaking Hello World to make it a bit more fancy

Beginners Overview of an RPG400 File Update Program

Modernize RPG400 to RPG ILE FREE - Introduction

Modernize RPG400 to RPG ILE FREE and PF to SQL - 1 - Review PF LF and DSPF

Modernize RPG400 to RPG ILE FREE and PF to SQL - 2 - RPG Deep Dive

Modernize RPG400 to RPG ILE FREE and PF to SQL - 3 - RPG Modernize to RPG Freeformat

Modernize RPG400 to RPG ILE FREE and PF to SQL - 4 - Upgrade RPG400 to RPGLE Subroutines to Subprocedures

Modernize RPG400 to RPG ILE FREE and PF to SQL - 5 - Upgrade Physical Files to SQL Tables

Modern RPG : Service Programs

What is a Service Program on the IBM i System?

What are the advantages of IBM i RPG Service Programs?

Two Programmers talking about IBM i Service Programs

Code Example: Simple IBM i RPG Service Program

Visual Studio Code for IBM i and a simple RPG Service Program

Write Clean Code

Debugging RPG Programs on IBM i: A Beginner’s Guide to Squashing Bugs

RPG : Modernization - Legacy RPG to Modern RPGLE

3 Chapters

RPG Evolution, Modernization and Refactoring

RPG Evolution, Modernization and Refactoring – Starting with RPG 2 and the dreaded Logic Cycle

RPG Evolution, Modernization and Refactoring – RPG Three becomes Four

RPG Evolution, Modernization and Refactoring – Taking RPG4 into the modern code world

RPG Evolution, Modernization and Refactoring – Setting RPG Free

RPG Evolution, Modernization and Refactoring – Finally some modern RPG FREE FORMAT

Modernize AS400 RPG to IBM i RPGLE

Modernize RPG - From AS400 RPG to IBM i RPGLE

1 - Starting with some RPG2 Logic Cycle Code

2 - A little polish takes us to RPG3 wider format

3 - RPG400 - Enter the AS400 - no Bruce Lee

4 - Setting RPG Free - RPG ILE Free Format

Upgrading Legacy Column Based RPGLE to Free Format RPGLE

Upgrading Scott Klements RPGLE Copybooks from Legacy Column RPG to Free Format RPGLE

What is Scott Klements IFS RPGLE Code Example?

Upgrading Scott Klements IFS RPGLE Code Example

Modernizing Scott Klements IFS RPGLE Code Example

Video Adventures Upgrading & Modernizing Scott Klements IFS RPGLE Code to RPGLE Free

RPG : ILE Coding Workshop

5 Chapters

Example RPG for Beginners

RPGLE example reading from Db2 FLATFILE into Variable

RPGLE example reading from Db2 FLATFILE into Data Structure

Upgrading from Native File IO RPGLE to SQL with SQLRPGLE

Old RPG with GOTO TAG and Subroutines to modern RPGLE with Sub_Procedures

Example RPG Code using SQL

Create an IBM i Customer Master file using SQL

Example RPG Code using IFS

Pseudocode example writing to IFS with RPGLE

SQLRPGLE example reading from IFS with SQL

SQLRPGLE example writing to IFS with SQL

RPG from the AS400 Days

AS400 RPG printing with OUTPUT Specs and EXCEPTions

Programming - IBM i Stored Procedures

Create an IBMi SQL Stored Procedure

Testing our IBM i Stored Procedure

Video Workshop - Create and Test an IBM i SQL Stored Procedure

Create an IBM i SQLRPGLE Stored Procedure

Create an IBM i RPGLE Stored Procedure

Retrieving and Rebuilding IBM i Stored Procedures

RPG : Everything You Wanted To Know About Subfiles But Were Afraid To Ask

5 Chapters

Stepping into the world of Subfiles

Let's talk about subfiles!

Introduction to RPG Subfiles for AS400, iSeries and IBM i Power Systems

What is an RPG SUBFILE on the IBM i System?

What is a SFL Indicator?

What does an RPG Subfile look like?

Load All RPGLE Subfile

What is an IBM-i RPG 'LOAD ALL' Subfile?

Simple RPG Subfiles for Beginners - 1 - The DSPF

Simple RPG Subfiles for Beginners - 2 - Old RPG AS400

Simple RPG Subfiles for Beginners - 3 - RPG Subfile (Load All) ISERIES STYLE

Simple RPG Subfiles for Beginners - 4 - IBM i RPG SFL

Simple RPG FILE DATA Subfiles for Beginners - Legacy RPG Column Based

Simple RPG FILE DATA Subfiles for Beginners - RPG Freeform conversion with VS-Code

Simple RPG FILE DATA Subfiles for Beginners - DEBUGGING

Expanding Size RPGLE Subfile

What is an IBM-i RPG 'EXPANDING SIZE' Subfile?

Single Page RPGLE Subfile

Example Single Page Subfile

A Strangers (Dodgy) Sample Subfile Program

RPG Subfiles - Reviewing another programmers RPGLE Subfile Code

RPG Subfiles - Introduction to another Programmers Subfile

RPG Subfiles - The data description specifications (DDS DSPF)

RPG Subfile - Review the RPG program source code RPGLE COPYBOOK

RPG Subfile - Review the RPG program source code RPGLE BODY

RPG Subfile - Making this dodgy program compile!

RPG Subfile - Test the RPG subfile program and see what it does

RPG Subfile - Was this a good RPG Subfile Example?

Ready to learn?

NickLitten

IBM i Software Developer, Digital Dad, AS400 Anarchist, RPG Modernizer, Shameless Trekkie, Belligerent Nerd, Englishman Abroad and Passionate Eater of Cheese and Biscuits.

Nick Litten Dot Com is a mixture of blog posts that can be sometimes serious, frequently playful and probably down-right pointless all in the space of a day.

Enjoy your stay, feel free to comment and remember: If at first you don't succeed then skydiving probably isn't a hobby you should look into.