What is CL?
IBM i Control Language (CL) is a powerful scripting language for the IBM AS/400, IBM iSeries and IBM i Systems. It's got roots in the older IBM Job Control Language and it works as a simple way to script commands, instructions and other functions into an easy to understand programs. Sometimes we can create simple business functions purely in CL - without the need for more complex RPG logic.
- A CL source program is a set of CL source statements that can be compiled into either an original program model (OPM) program or an Integrated Language Environment® (ILE) module.
- A CL program or CL procedure is a group of CL commands that tells the system where to get input, how to process it, and where to place the results.
- The program or procedure is assigned a name by which it can be called by other procedures or bound into a program and run.
- As with other kinds of procedures, you must enter, compile, and bind CL source statements before you can run the program or procedure.
- When you enter CL commands individually (from the Command Entry display, for instance, or as individual commands in an input stream), each command is separately processed.
- When you enter CL commands as source statements for a CL program or procedure, the source remains for later modification if you choose; the commands are compiled into a module if you use the ILE compiler. This module remains as a permanent system object that can be bound into other programs and run. Thus, CL is actually a high-level programming language for system functions.
- CL program or procedure ensure consistent processing of groups of commands.
CL Programming for Beginners
- If you are a complete programming noob then this CL Programming course might be useful
- If you are a software developer looking to add CL (Control Language) to your skillset then this might not be completely useless
- If you are an old school RPG programmer looking to add some broader programming style to your skillset then this might be for you
- If you've dabbled in CL but never really looked at some of its more advanced features then this is definitely for you!
Hopefully anyway 🙂