RE: VisualAge RPG Questions

Joel,

Having used both products, while both are "visual" RPG tools, they are
distinctively different.  They both provide an excellent mechanism for
"porting" or running RPG applications on the Windows platform, with
each providing slightly different approaches to development.

The IBM product is closely aligned with ILE/RPG on the iSeries, thus
moving of code to VARPG is fairly straight-forward. In fact, using
compiler directives enables you to have a single version source that
executes on both platforms (non-GUI).

The ASNA product has numerous enhancements to the RPG language that are
geared towards working with ActiveX's.

IMHO, both products are very good, each having strengths in different
areas.  I will use either based upon the overall objective.

>From a Visual RPG resources perspective,  ASNA provides an excellent visual
RPG for "dummies" (actually "smarties") tutorial that exposes you to
much of its feaures while building your first AVR program.

There is one commercially available book for learning VARPG, but is a little
"dated".  Not a bad place to start though.  There is also VARPG newsgroup that
is constantly monitored by the Toronto development team, so it's a great
place to ask questions.  IBM has also has a VARPG "tips & techniques"
website at

http://www-306.ibm.com/software/awdtools/wdt400/about/varpg/support/wintips.html

however, this site isn't (IMHO) geared towards the VARPG newbie.

Regards,

Michael Rooney
Citigroup International              

 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Joel Cochran
Sent: Monday, August 30, 2004 7:09 AM
To: rpg400-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: VisualAge RPG Questions


Greetings all,

I am just starting to experiment with VARPG and I have a few questions:

1) Is VARPG still viable?  Is IBM still developing it?  Is anything
changing in Windows in the foreseeable future to prevent it from
working?

2) Can you use any database or does it have to connect to an iSeries?

3) What references/resources are recommended for learning VARPG?

4) How does VARPG compare to ASNA's Visual RPG?

5) Is there another list for VARPG?  If not, is this the appropriate
list for VARPG questions?

I've been aware of VARPG for a while, but I've recently becomed
interested in the possibilities, so any real-world experience, advice, 
points of view, and caveats would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Joel
http://www.rpgnext.com

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