iSeries (AS/400) Crossover to Modern RPGLE code
Detailed Course Content (ISR4X)

Course Content :

Conversion & Specification Changes

• Converting RPG to RPGLE
• Benefits of RPGLE
• Two stage program creation
• RPGLE H-Spec layout and associated keywords
• Free-form CTL-OPT statement
• RPGLE H-Spec layout and associated keywords
• Free-form DCL-F statement
• RPGLE layout of the C-Spec and need for Operation Extenders
• Coding 'Extended Factor 2' and expressions
• Logic control operation codes with extended factor 2

Variable Definitaion & Data Areas

• D-spec definition of standalone fields and constants
• Variable length strings
• D-spec definition of data structures
  Qualified, External, Like Inidicator, Program status
• Data Area Definitions (hard and soft coded)
• Using Data Structures & Data Areas
• Free Format DCL - statements
• External ALIAS support

Free Format Code & Built in Functions

• Free format calculation specifications
• EVAL and EVALR operation codes
• Arithmetic precision control in free format code
• Free format alternatives to traditional RPG operation codes
• Free format keyed databse access %KDS
• Selective updating %FIELDS
• File I/O without indicator using BIF's instead of result indicator
• Intercept errors with %ERROR or MONITOR
• String handling BIF's
• Data type conversion BIF's

Arrays and Pointers

• D-Spec Array Definition
• Overlaying arrays
• Complile time data
• Using array BIF's: %LOOUP, %XFOOT, %SUBARR
• Multiple occurrence data structures
• Multi-dimensional arrays
• Complex Data Structure definition and interrogation
• Sort & Search data structure array
• Pointer vairiables and %ADDR
• BASED variables and Templates
• Dynamic Storage and associated BIF's
• Null terminated strings and %STR

Prototyped Calls & Sub-procedures

• Sub-procedure Definition
• Prototypes & Procedure Interface
• Procedural Call - CALLP
• Local and Global variables
• Local Files
• Reusing a sub-procedure
• Activation group implications
• Methods of passing parameters: By Reference, Read-Only Reference, Value
• Optional Parameters: OMIT, "NOPASS, %ADDR, %PARMS
• Faster return values with RTNPARM ( and %PARMNUM )
• Fre format procedure statement DCL-PROC

ILE Concepts and Introduction

• ILE v OPM
• Relationship between program and module objects
• Dynamic call v Static call
• ILE program and module object information - DSPPGM, DSPMOD
• Convert CLP to CLLE & procedure Call - CALLPRC
• Binding CL and RPG together into a single program
• Update ILE program objects
• Include copyright into module objects
• Application isolation with Activation groups
• Controlling which activation group is used
• Reclaim resources for an activation group

RPG Modules

• Bind RPG modules with programs
• Make source code available for interactive debug
• Defining PEP
• Understand export / import concepts
• Using export on sub-procedure definitions
• Define and use NOMAIN modules
• Code Cycle-Main and Linear-Main procedures
• Teraspace storage model v Single-level storage model

Service Programs & Binding Directories

• Bind by copy v Bind by reference
• Service Program creation and Maintenance
• Service Program exports and Public Interface
• Control of Service Program Signatures
• Signature Versioning
• Binder Language and QSRVSRC
• Public and Private procedures
• Binding Directory objects
• Use of Binding Directory to simplify the program creation process

Finding Runtime Errors - Debug

• Enabling a program for debug
• Start debug (STRDBG)
• Set break points and check variables
• Track program logic
• Tips n' techniques