© 2001 ComCon
Skills for the RPG Programmer
ComCon5, Oakton CourtBallybrackCo. DublinIreland
Re-skilling the RPG Programmer
Phone: +353 1 282 6230e-Mail: [email protected]: www.ComConAdvisor.com
Paul Tuohy
WEBCAST SCHEDULEToday’s event will run one-hour long. Here are the expected times for each segment of the webcast:
• :00 – :05: Moderator introduces the speaker and discusses the details
of the Webcast.
• :05- :35: Speaker delivers a PowerPoint presentation on the webcast topic.
• :35- :60: Moderator and speaker engage in a Q&A on the topic.
You can submit questions to the speaker at any time during the event. Just click on the “Ask a Question” button at the bottom of the presentation screen.
TECHNICAL FAQsHere are answers to the most common technical problems users encounter during a webcast: Q: Why can’t I hear the audio part of the webcast?A: Try increasing the volume on your computer.
Q: I just entered the webcast and do not see the slide that the speaker is referring to. What should I do?
A: The slides are constantly be pushed to your screen. You’ll should refresh (hit F5) to view the latest slide.
If your question is still not answered, please click the “Ask a Question” button at the bottom of your screen and submit your problem. A technical support person will respond immediately.
You can also visit the Broadcast Help page for more information or to test your browser compatibility: http://help.yahoo.com/help/bcst/
© 2001 ComCon
Skills for the RPG Programmer
ComCon5, Oakton CourtBallybrackCo. DublinIreland
Re-skilling the RPG Programmer
Phone: +353 1 282 6230e-Mail: [email protected]: www.ComConAdvisor.com
Paul Tuohy
© 2001 ComCon
Agenda
Skills for what? Why do you need to re-skill? What has changed?
What Are The First Steps? Know your system. Know your database. Use The Right Tools for the Job. Get to Grips with RPG IV and ILE. Find Out about Event-Driven Programming. Learn the basics of HTML and Javascript.
Then What? HTML, Javascript and CGI. Visualage RPG Java WebSphere whatever.
© 2001 ComCon
The times they are a changing.......
Java
WebSphereILE WebFacing
RPG IV HTML/CGI
© 2001 ComCon
Premise
You are not using third-party tools There are many Great third-party tools out there.
I will mention some later. Maybe you should be using one of them!!!!
All You Have is WebSphere Development Toolset (V5R1) or WebSphere Development Studio Client (V5R1/V5R2)!
Application Development Toolset (ADTS). WebSphere Development Tools for iSeries.
–Code/400 (Editor, Designer, Project Manager).–Distributed Debugger– WebSphere Studio– WebFacing Tool–VisualAge for RPG.
VisualAge for Java ALL of the compilers for OS/400
–RPG, Cobol, C, Java, etc.
© 2001 ComCon
Where to Start?
There are a few things you need to look into before you enhance your programming skills.
Become familiar with the IFS (Integrated File System) Become familiar with iSeries Navigator (Operations Navigator)
–Especially the IFS and Database. Grasp the basics of SQL
–You can do this from iSeries Navigator without Interactive SQL.–SQL is slowly(?) replacing DDS.
Find out about triggers. Find out about referential integrity.
© 2001 ComCon
Use iSeries Navigator
iSeries Navigator is the GUI interface for OS/400 Navigator is getting the development dollars – Green Screen is not! Navigator is part of the “free” portion of iSeries Access. Have a look at Basic Operations to get a feel for how it works. Become familiar with the IFS (Integrated File System) Become familiar with the Databases.
© 2001 ComCon
Explore the IFS
iSeries supports multiple file systems – not just QSYS! Root - PC style QOpenSys - Unix style QDLS - Shared Folders QSYS.LIB - Traditional OS/400 QOPT - Optical Storage QNTC - Windows NT Servers And more……
© 2001 ComCon
Explore Databases
This is the new interface for Database functions Have a look at how tables/views and indexes are created
© 2001 ComCon
Creating a Table
This is not DDS! Navigator offers a “friendly” interface to SQL’s Data Definition Language (DDL)
© 2001 ComCon
Database Navigator
Database Navigator will give you a diagram of your Database! Just a little bit easier then DSPFD and DSPFFD!
© 2001 ComCon
SQL
Get to grips with SQL. It is becoming the standard for maintaining the database. SQL is being developed - DDS is not.
© 2001 ComCon
Triggers and Referential Integrity
Triggers Programs that are called when a row (record) is inserted, updated or deleted. An excellent means of applying business rules.
Referential Integrity Define relationships between tables (physical files) e.g.
You cannot delete a customer if they have outstanding invoicesWhen you delete the Order Header record, automatically delete all corresponding Order Details.
© 2001 ComCon
The Choices
Green Screen Although everything is heading towards GUI, there is still a place for green screen within applications.
Not everything lends itself to point and click.
GUI Application Good old Client Server!
Browser-based The interface is in a browser. Fast becoming the most popular. Easiest to distribute to the Internet.
© 2001 ComCon
The Right Tools
Get with the right tools.
SEU/SDA/RLU are NOT up to the job.
Use of Code/400 can increase productivity by 20% to 40%!!!
© 2001 ComCon
Code/400
Code/400 is A customizable editor Reference manual as help Navigator Verifier Much, much more
© 2001 ComCon
Code/400 Editor
© 2001 ComCon
Code/400 Verifier
© 2001 ComCon
Code/400 Help
© 2001 ComCon
Code/400 Navigator
© 2001 ComCon
RPG IV
Get up to speed with RPG IV
If you are still using RPG III - STOP NOW
You will start to see gains from RPG IV within a very short period of time.
/FREE D_PgmTxt = *Blank;
D_Proc = SDSProcName;
D_PgmTxt = 'Work with';
If Show_Paid and Show_Unpaid;
D_PgmTxt = %trim(D_PgmTxt) + ' Paid and Unpaid';
EndIf;
If Show_Paid and Not Show_Unpaid;
D_PgmTxt = %trim(D_PgmTxt) + ' Paid';
EndIf;
/END-FREE
© 2001 ComCon
Getting there……
Getting there is easy!
CVTRPGSRC IBM supplied conversion tool. Performs basic syntax conversion. Convert, Compile, Relax.
Third-party Option If you want more than basic syntax conversion. If you want code re-engineered to use new features. Check out the RPGToolBox from Linoma Software (www.linoma.com)
© 2001 ComCon
RPG IV Highlights
Here you have it -- the brand new RPG! 10-character external names (files, format and field names). Allow mixed case. Allow blank lines. Introduction of new Definition (D) Specification. Elimination of Extension (E) and Line Counter (L) Specifications and the practical elimination of Input (I) Specifications.
Re-definition of the Header (H), File (F) and Calculation (C) Specifications. More powerful array definition and processing. Prefixing externally defined files. Date processing and manipulation. Named Indicators Introduction of new data types, especially integers and pointers. Introduction of Built-in Functions (e.g. %SUBST). Introduction of Subprocedures and other ILE-related features. Integration with Java. And, of course, free format. But perhaps the most important change is that the re-structuring has made RPG
even easier to change in the future
© 2001 ComCon
Subprocedures
Subprocedures are the biggest change to RPG - EVER!
They provide a means of encapsulation.
DayNumber = DayofWeek(InputDate);
ErrInds = ValidCustomer(CustomerData);
If (GetCustomerDept(Customer)) = 'A01';
© 2001 ComCon
Subprocedures
This is what the code looks like.......
P DayOfWeek B D PI 1P 0 D InpDate D
D ASaturday S D Inz(D'02/13/99') D WorkDay S 1P 0
/FREE
WorkDay = %Rem(%Diff(InpDate : ASaturday : *D): 7);
If WorkDay < 1; WorkDay = WorkDay + 7; EndIf;
Return WorkDay;
/END-FREE P DayOfWeek E
© 2001 ComCon
ILE
Subprocedures lead to Service Programs.
You start to look at program design in a different way.
Procedure
Procedure
Procedure
Procedure
Procedure
Procedure
*Module
*Module
*SrvPgm
Procedure
Procedure
*Module
Procedure
Procedure
*Module
*Pgm
© 2001 ComCon
Clients are Event Driven!
Client Applications are event driven.
Client Applications can be written in: Java Visual Basic C/C++ Any PC programming language Even RPG!!!!
For VisualAge RPG you need to learn GUI Design Event Driven But it is still RPG
© 2001 ComCon
HTML
Learn the basics of HTML Easy to learn Lots of good books. I liked "HTML for the World Wide Web" by Elizabeth Castro ISBN 0-201-35493-4
Code/400 is a HTML editor.
<TR><td ALIGN=CENTER VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="404" HEIGHT="186"><font face="Arial">To contact us:<p>Phone: +353 1 282 6230<br> Fax: +353 1 282 6230<br> Email:<a href="mailto:[email protected]"> [email protected]</a><p>5, Oakton Court<br> Ballybrack<br> Co. Dublin<br> Ireland<p>© ComCon Computer Consultants 2002</font></td></TR>
© 2001 ComCon
CGI stands for 'Common Gateway Interface' It supports the ability to dynamically build Web pages
–It dictates format of the data stream for requests and responses A standard for communicating between a browser and an HTTP Server
Server is configured to pass specific URLs to CGI scripts Not simply to respond with a pre-built Web page In our case the "script" will be an RPG IV program
The program generates HTML and passes it to the server Which then sends it out for display as it would any other page
CGI programming on the AS/400 is supported by RPG IV (ILE RPG) Java
– Plus ILE COBOL, ILE C, ILE C++, Rexx and Perl
What is CGI ?
© 2001 ComCon
Sample of a CGI Web Page
© 2001 ComCon
Sample of Code for Previous Page
WebOut = NewLine + '<tr align=right>' + '<td>' + ProdCd +'</td>' + '<td align=left>' + ProdDs +'</td>' + '<td>' + CatCod + '</td>' + '<td>' + %Char(LndCst) + '</td>' + '<td>' + %Char(SellPr) + '</td>' + '<td>' + PrLOrdA + '</td>' + '<td>' + NoDaysA +'</td></tr>' WriteWebData(WebData : WebDataLen : APIError)
This writes one "detail" line The HTML code is constructed in the RPG Program.
© 2001 ComCon
"Native" CGI problems
The APIs are not as simple as one would like And the documentation is less than wonderful
Generating HTML directly in the program reduces flexibility To change the text, one must change the program
–And it is much more difficult to use HTML editors to design the pages
It would be nice to have something like DDS That way only the variable content is handled by the program
–But writing such a generalized routine to process HTML text and perform text substitution is not a trivial task
IBM has an answer And it is FREE !!
The CGIDEV2 Library Available for download at www-922.ibm.com
© 2001 ComCon
Sample from CGIDEV
: : /$TableRow<TR ALIGN=RIGHT><TD /%ProdCd%/</TD><TD ALIGN=LEFT>/%ProdDs%/</TD><TD>/%CatCod%/</TD><TD>/%LndCst%/</TD><TD>/%SellPr%/</TD><TD>/%PrlOrdA%/</TD><TD>/%NoDaysA%/</TD></TR>: :
WIth CGIDEV, the HTML is kept separate from (or external to) the RPG Program.
© 2001 ComCon
Code from Previous Sample
// Load substitution variables UpdHTMLVar('ProdCd':ProdCd) UpdHTMLVar('ProdDs':ProdDs) UpdHTMLVar('CatCod':CatCod) UpdHTMLVar('LndCst':%Char(LndCst)) UpdHTMLVar('SellPr':%Char(SellPr)) UpdHTMLVar('PrlOrdA':PrlOrdA) UpdHTMLVar('NoDaysA':NoDaysA)
// And add row to table WrtSection('TableRow')
Coding is MUCH easier with CGIDEV
© 2001 ComCon
So Far......
If you learn RPG IV Some ILE Some HTML
You can be on the Web in No Time!
Getting to the Web is Easy!!!!!
© 2001 ComCon
Javascript
Extend those HTML capabilities
Javascript is NOT full blown Java - by any means.
<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>Quote of the Day</TITLE></HEAD><BODY><DIV ALIGN=CENTER><H1>Quote of the Day</H1><HR><FONT COLOR="navy" SIZE="5"><SCRIPT><!--var quotes = new Array()quotes[0] = "Every time history repeats itself the price goes... quotes[1] = "The moment you think you understand a great work ... .. .. .. ..
quotes[9] = "So little done, so much to do....
document.write(quotes[Math.round(Math.random()*9)])
// --></SCRIPT></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
© 2001 ComCon
WebFacing
DOWProto
P DayOfWeek B D PI D/Copy 1P0 D WorkDate D D AnySunday S D INZ(D'1995-04-02')
D WorkNum S 7 0
D WorkDay S 1P 0 C WorkDate SubDur AnySunday WorkNum:*D C WorkNum Div 7 WorkNum C MvR WorkDay C If WorkDay < 1 C Return WorkDay + 7 C Else C Return WorkDay C EndIf P DayOfWeek E
RPG Programenter customer number:_____
Time:8:05 date:Oct 22,2000
?
5250
Web
5250
to W
eb
conv
ersi
onWorkstationmanager
Converts DDS to Servlets and JSPsThere is NO change to the RPG Programs
© 2001 ComCon
WebSphere Studio
© 2001 ComCon
WebSphere Application Server
TCP/IP
HTTP server
Servlet EngineJDBCRPGCobolEtc.
Administrative Server
Database
Any Client, Any Browser
HTMLWeb
Browser
Admin
Console
EJB Container
Application Server
EJB Client
Servlets Java Server Pages (JSPs) Enterprise Java Beans (EJBs)
© 2001 ComCon
And then there is Java
Get to grips with OO.... it is very different.
A good grounding in RPG IV and ILE makes it easier to understand.
Get Phone
Get Address
Set Balance
Get Balance
Get Name
Get Balance
Get Address
Set Balance
Set Name & Address
Set Balance
A Customer
© 2001 ComCon
Java
Java is an OO language
© 2001 ComCon
Java Code in Code/400
© 2001 ComCon
A Plan of Action
IFS
iSeries Navigator
SQL
Triggers and RI
Must Do....... Should Do....... And then Any of.......
Code/400
RPG IV and ILE
HTML and CGI
WebFacing
VisualAge for RPG
OO and Java
WebSphere Studio,
Javascript and JSPs
© 2001 ComCon
The Learning Curve
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Work Days
Code/400
RPG IV
ILE
Basic CGI
CGIDEV
Basic WAS
Basic Webfacing
Websphere Studio
OO
Java
Topics
The Learning Curve
CourseSelf Teach
Practice
Times are opinion based on the experience of many. "Practice" is to a level of proficiency as opposed to expertise.
© 2001 ComCon
How Long Will It Take?
Pick the Route Carefully!!!!!!
Course Self Teach Practice
Code/400 2 5 7
RPG IV 4 10 10
ILE 2 10 80
Basic CGI 1 5 25
CGIDEV 2 5 15
Basic WAS 3 10 20
Webfacing 2 5 15
Studio 2 5 10
OO 3 10 100
Java 8 20 30
© 2001 ComCon
The Choice is Yours!!
Lay the foundations IFS, SQL, iSeries Navigator, Triggers, Referential Integrity.
Take the first step Code/400 RPG IV and ILE HTML CGI
Jump VisualAge for RPG WebFacing OO and Java
© 2001 ComCon
Some References"Who Knew You Could Do That With RPG IV?"
IBM Red Book SG24-5402 at www.redbooks.ibm.com
"Re-Engineering RPG Legacy Applications" By Paul Tuohy ISBN 1-58347-006-9 at mc-store.com
"HTML for the World Wide Web" By Elizabeth Castro ISBN 0-201-35493-4
"e-RPG - Building AS/400 Web Applications with RPG" By Brad Stone ISBN 158347-008-5 at mc-store.com
"Java for RPG Programmers" By George Farr and Phil Coulthard ISBN 1-889671-23-1 at mc-store.com
The CGIDEV2 web site www-992.ibm.com
The RPG Toolbox www.linoma.com
Questions?
Submit your questions now by clicking on the “Ask A Question” button in the left corner
of your presentation screen.
Paul will answer your questions shortly after the broadcast.
Top Related