iSeries (AS/400) RPG4 Programming
Detailed Course Content (ISR4P)

Course Content :

Report Program Generator

• Understand the Structure of an RPG Program
• Use and understand basic H-Spec and F-Spec coding
• Be aware of free format alternatives to H, F, D, P specifications
  CTL, DCL-xx Statements
  
• Understand the difference between RPG & RPGLE source type
  Understand the difference between fixed and free-format code
• Edit, compile and run a simple RPGLE Program
• Print source code and review compiled program code
• Find errors in source code when compile fails
• Define the terms RPG, ILE, OPM, SEU, PDM

Introduction to RPG Programming

• Use and understand the meaning of:
  DOW..., ENDO, EVAL, READ, UPDATE, RETURN
• Use the BIF's: %TRIM, %FIELDS, %EOF
• Understand the difference between sequential and random file processing
• Intercept end of file condition
• Design and write a basic sequential file processing program
• Copy data and carry out program testing
• Rename variables from external definitions with : PREFIX, RENAME

Arithmetic and Conditional Processing

• Use and understand the meaning of:
  IF..., ELSE..., ENDIF... SETLL... DELETE
  SELECT... WHEN... OTHER... ENDSL
  
• Use and understand the operators
  AND OR NOT
• Use and understand the Arithmetic operations:
  ASS, SUB, MULT, DIV, EVAL, +, =, -, ", /, +=, -=, *=, /=
• Use BIF's: %ERROR, %EQUAL
• Use H-spec keywords: EXPROPTS, TRUNCNBR
• Code Operational Extenders h,r,m,e

Parameters, Variables & BIF's

• Define a program variable (D-Specification)
• Review the basic DCL statement
• Understand and use keywords INZ, LIKE
• Use the BIF's :
  %TRIM, %CHAR, %EDITC, %DEC, %SUBST
• Use figurative constants (*BLANK, 'ZEROS)
• Understand legacy EVAL options & EVALR:
  MOVE, MOVEL, Z-ADD, SETON, SETOFF
• Understand need for operational extender p
• Be aware of additional built in functions such as:
  %XLATE, %CHECK, %CHECKR, %SCAN, %REPLACE,
  %SCANRPL, %DATE, %TIME, %DIV, %REM
• Code a Main procedure interface and prototype

Report Program

• Understand basic DDS for a print file
• Understand how print file and RPG interact
• Use and understand the difference between :
  CHGPRTF & OVRPRTF
• Design a report program
• Use and understand WRITE
• Code print file in RPG and OFLIND
• Activate and De-activate Conditioning indicators on device file
• Give meaningful names to conditioning indicators for a device file (INDDS)

Report Program and Sub-totals

• Understand and use :
  CHAIN CLEAR
  BEGSR ENDSR EXSR
• Use the built function %FOUND()
• Check for when a variable has changed
• Include a sub total into a report

Flexible File Handling

• use and define a prototyped call: CALLP
• Use QCMDEXC to run CL commans in RPG
• Understand additional file commands:
  SETLL, SETGT, KLIST, KFLD, READE, READPE, READP, OPEN %OPEN()
• New File keywords EXTFILE, USROPN, EXTDESC
• Use OVRPRTF from within an RPG Program
• Generate multiple spool file entries from one print file and one program

Enquiry Program

• Understand basic DDS display file coding
• Code and enquiry program with 3 screens
• Use the op codes: DOU... ENDDO & EXFMT
• Understand the F-SPec for a display file
• Control / arrest the path of function keys

Linking Programs

• Understand DDS window keywords
• Use a windon in an RPG program
• Link programs together
• Use prototyped calls

File Maintenance

• Understand the logic and code a basic file maintenance interactive program
• Understand the concept of record locking
• Intercept record locking errors
• Structure and code validation routines
• Intercept and override DDS validation
  

Finding Runtime Errors

• Enable a program debug
• Start debug (STRDBG)
• Set break points and check variables
• Track program logic