Hey there, esteemed IBM i beginners and learners! If you have already powered through my earlier post over at https://www.nicklitten.com/10-essential-ibm-i-commands-every-beginner-must-master/ then you are probably feeling pretty comfortable at the green screen by now. Excellent work!
Today, as a direct follow-up, I am going to whip through ten more everyday commands that every new IBM i programmer should have in their back pocket. These are the ones that fill the gaps between “I can sign on” and “I can actually get real work done.” No repeats from the first list, I promise.
Here we go.
1. DSPLIBL Displays your current library list. Think of it as the IBM i version of the PATH variable on other systems. When your program suddenly cannot find an object, this is the first place you look.
Just type: DSPLIBL
2. WRKLIB Work with libraries. This one lets you list, create, change, or delete libraries across the whole system. Perfect when you need a quick overview of what is where.
Command: WRKLIB
3. DSPJOB Shows everything about your current job or session. Job number, user profile, library list, status, you name it. When things get weird, this command is your diagnostic best friend.
Type: DSPJOB
4. SBMJOB Submit a job to batch. This is the command that separates the hobbyists from the production warriors. Need to run that long report or data extract without locking up your session? SBMJOB is your ticket.
Example: SBMJOB CMD(CALL PGM(MYLIB/MYPGM))
5. CALL The straightforward way to run a program right now. Nothing fancy, just fire it up.
Command: CALL PGM(MYLIB/MYPGM)
6. DSPPFM Display Physical File Member. Need to peek inside a file without writing a quick query? This command shows the raw data in a member, plain and simple.
Type: DSPPFM FILE(MYLIB/FILE1)
7. CPYF Copy File. One of the most-used commands on the system for copying data between files. Great for testing, quick fixes, or creating backup copies before you do something brave.
Example: CPYF FROMFILE(LIB1/FILEA) TOFILE(LIB2/FILEB) MBROPT(*REPLACE)
8. DLTF Delete File. When that test file has outlived its usefulness, this command makes it disappear cleanly.
Command: DLTF FILE(MYLIB/OLD_FILE)
9. CRTLIB Create Library. Need a new home for your objects? This is how you build it.
Type: CRTLIB LIB(MYNEWLIB)
10. WRKSYSSTS Work with System Status. Want to see CPU usage, memory, disk, and job counts at a glance? This is the command that shows you how hard the machine is working.
Just enter: WRKSYSSTS
Why these commands actually matter
Together they round out the classic beginner toolkit:
- Navigation and orientation (DSPLIBL, WRKLIB)
- Job and session control (DSPJOB, SBMJOB, CALL)
- File and data handling (DSPPFM, CPYF, DLTF)
- Basic object creation (CRTLIB)
- System health check (WRKSYSSTS)
Master these and you will stop feeling like a tourist on the system. You will start feeling like someone who actually belongs at the command line. And trust me, that moment is when IBM i programming stops being scary and starts being fun.
Got a favourite command from this list or one I missed that you use every day? Drop it in the comments. I read every single one.
Until next time, keep your library lists clean and your batch jobs running smoothly.
