System i: RPG/400 Programming

Course Overview

RPG/400 has proven to be one of the most popular programming languages for application development on the iSeries. This intensive course provides delegate with the skills to develop RPG/400 programs on the iSeries.

Audience

Application development staff who will be using RPG/400 to develop or maintain existing applications written in RPG/400 on the iSeries.

Skills Gained

This course will enable delegates to:

• Write an enquiry program using RPG/400 and create display files using SDA.
• Write a report program using RPG/400 and code printer file DDS.
• Write data validation routines and errors.
• Write a file maintenance program.
• Use program calling and parameter passing to link programs.
• Code structured programs in a contemporary RPG/400 style.
• Amend existing programs to add further code.
• Use externally described files in RPG/400.
• Use structured development techniques.

Prerequisites

iSeries System Facilities and iSeries Program Design should be attended prior to this course. The many practical exercises on this course require the delegate to code using PDM, SEU, SDA and DDS, all of which are taught on the iSeries System Facilities course.

Course Outline

Recap

• Physical and logical files.
• Relational database concepts.
• Level Checks.
• Display files and SDA, display file DDS.
• Processing function keys and conditional function keys.

Introduction to Programming

• Program logic and control structures.
• Interactive programs.
• Using structured coding techniques.
• RPG/400 specification types, sequence and layout.
• SEU specification prompting.
• Fields, constants, indicators and figurative constants.
• Header and file and calculation specifications.
• Calculation specifications.
• Accessing the database.
• Enquiry program logic.
• Writing an enquiry program with RPG/400.
• Input specifications, data structures, sub-fields and constants.
• Use of subroutines to structure programs.
• Calling other programs and passing parameters.
• Printer files and printer file DDS.
• The structure of a report and record formats.
• Logic for a report program.
• Creating a report program.
• Using arithmetic in RPG/400.
• Calculation of totals and averages in a report.
• Subtotal processing.
• File Handling in RPG/400.
• Partial key processing.
• Program and procedure calling.
• Data validation and error messages.
• Validation routines in RPG/400.
• Using message files for error messages.
• Concepts and logic of file maintenance.
• Coding a file maintenance program in RPG/400.
• File maintenance operations and record locking.
• Using debug and on-line debug.
• Array processing.
• String handling operations.
• Using named data areas and the LDA.
• Reading and updating a data area in RPG/400.

Follow On Courses

• iSeries RPG Subfile Programming
• iSeries Interactive SQL