RE: VA RPG Question.... -- CODE400-L

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Oh well.....it was worth a shot. Maybe in our lifetime we'll be able to
develop nice GUI ON THE AS/400. (Hear that IBM? ha ha) Thanks for all your
clarification.  I don't think getting into VA RPG is worth my time (at least
right now) if that's how it works. Thanks again!

Chris

-----Original Message-----
From: Flagler, Rick [mailto:flagler@timken.com]
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2001 12:33 PM
To: 'code400-l@midrange.com'
Subject: RE: VA RPG Question....


Chris,

VARPG is client-server. In that sense, you develop on the client and it runs
on the client. A runtime is required and you must touch each machine for
that to get installed. Unless something has changed that I missed, you can't
generate Servlets from VARPG yet.

Yes, if you want an application that requires Zero code on the client
(except a browser), then you probably want to look at the Webfacing tools,
or write back-end RPG and front-end HTML/JSP with the Websphere engine
powering your web site.

I too, often wished that it worked the way you described - in that fantasy
world, everyone would have AS/400 GUI by now.

Also, there are a lot of mouse-capable DDS keywords for the green screen,
allowing you to do pop-up windows, pulldown-menus and radio buttons and
checkboxes. This is often overlooked - but you and your users would probably
prefer the browser-based web-driven approach. RF

-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Proctor [mailto:cproctor@gartsports.com]
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2001 2:22 PM
To: 'code400-l@midrange.com'
Subject: RE: VA RPG Question....
Importance: High


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Thanks for the great information, Rick. I really appreciate it. Excuse my
ignorance, but it sounds, based on what you've said, is that the objects
don't reside on the 400 like they would if I just coded it in ILE RPG and
DDS, right? I guess I'm COMPLETELY clueless! ha ha.  I was thinking that VA
RPG code resided on the 400 and the only difference between it and green
screen was the GUI interface. Is this not the case? I have about 7 years
experience with PowerBuilder and a little Java, so I am aware of how the
executables can reside on the client and with connetions to whatever
databases are required.  Is this how VA RPG works? If this is the case, it's
probably not what I want to use, because my reasoning behind using VA RPG
was (initially) so I wouldn't have to install software on the clients PC.  I
just wanted them to be able to sign on or dialup from anywhere and access
the application. Let me know if I'm way off base, ok Rick?
In the meantime, I will look at the tutorial in VA RPG.  Thanks again for
your help.

Chris

-----Original Message-----
From: Flagler, Rick [mailto:flagler@timken.com]
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2001 12:08 PM
To: 'code400-l@midrange.com'
Subject: RE: VA RPG Question....


Chris,

The RPG syntax in VARPG is identical to what you've used in the past on the
iSeries Host. The DB files you open need a REMOTE keyword. The user
interface part is easier in some repects, than DDS. Take subfules - much
easier in VARPG because none of the SFLCTL stuff and no indicators. Tabbed
notebooks, which didn't exist in green-screen are a nice way to
organize/present information. If you've done any event-driven programming,
you'll like the way IBM implemented RPG. The use of visual parts takes some
getting used to, but it is intuitive - VARPG makes extensive use of EVAL
%SETATR/%GETATR to activate the parts and change their contents and settings
using format like:

EVAL %SETATR('window':'part':'attribute') = 'newvalue'
EVAL x = %GETATR('window':'part':'attribute')

The challenging part of VARPG, if there is/was one, used to be the packaging
of the completed application for the end user, not the development.
Originally, you had to create a package "disk" with the runtime and your
application and load it on each system. This however, has been fine-tuned so
the install now works over the AN and maybe you can even install once to a
LAN drive and have various folks run from there. It is a nice product. You
can also generate JAVA from the RPG code, if you like.

As far as educational resources, the VARPG install includes a sample of how
to use almost every part. These are located in the SAMPLES directory under
the VARPG Projects. There are very good manuals that ship as HTML with VARPG
- particularly the book about Client Server development with VARPG, if that
still exists. The COMMON user group has held VARPG classes at their
conference and the postings from these are available at the COMMON website
if you are a member. Also, IBM has some materials at their VARPG web site
http://www-4.ibm.com/software/ad/varpg/download/downwind.htm#sql and
http://www-4.ibm.com/software/ad/varpg/.

A lot of people with VARPG experience listen on the this list, so if you ask
VARPG related questions, you'll likely get quick answers. Hope that helps.
RF

Rick Flagler
Timken Super Precision (MPB)
Keene, NH
(603) 352-0310

-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Proctor [mailto:cproctor@gartsports.com]
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2001 1:06 PM
To: CODE400-L (E-mail)
Subject: VA RPG Question....
Importance: High


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Hi all,

I have never written anything in VA RPG, but I have the opportunity (and the
desire) to write an inquiry display with a GUI interface on the AS/400. I
believe it's going to be relatively simple to write, IF I can figure out how
to use VA RPG! (minor detail! ha ha) I'm using the V5R1 version of the
WebSphere Development Tools for iSeries. I've also loaded the SP3. I would
like to use the VA RPG Projects. Anyway, now for my question.....Is there a
tutorial somewhere that would help me understand how VA RPG works, or is it
more complicated than I invision? If it is, forget it! ha ha.  I'd
appreciate any input.

Thanks,

Chris Proctor
Manager of Systems Integration
Gart Sports


1050 Hampden Ave.
Englewood, CO 80110

Phone (303) 863-2280
Fax     (303) 863-2263
mailto: cproctor@gartsports.com

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