Re: PL/I for AS/400 -- MIDRANGE-L

Title: RE: PL/I for AS/400

Howard & Robert,

A 9404 with a copy of 1.2 of the OS is most likely worthless. ([B/C]10) It would most likely not run and of the V3R2 code and to be of any real use in learning OS/400 you really should start no farther back than this. Also, while PL/1 may not be a standard LPP, Page 64 of the system handbook states "However, as an interim solution, PRPQ P10131 (5799-GCG) is available, which offers a PL/1 compiler for OS/400 V4R5, V4R4, V4R3 or V4R2"

Howard, So look for a 170 or 270 and get what you need for your project. Also, at one time IBM had a group doing Wang Office migrations to AS/400's so you might find some tools hanging around to make this easier....

Good Luck..

JMS..

----- Original Message -----

From: Weatherly, Howard

To: 'MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com'

Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2001 8:52 AM

Subject: RE: PL/I for AS/400

Not sure about the code you got but I am sure that 1.2 is way out of date! were up to 4.5. The 9404 is a good machine and can do most anything you need it to do (except for PL/I it seems). I would get IBM to give it a once over though! On the other hand If you are thinking of dumping it, I might be interested in taking it off your hands.

Do you know if it is a CISC or has it been upgraded to RISC (Or were all 9404s RISC?)

For what it's worth, unless you are doing a great deal of bit manipulation, you might just want to convert to COBOL and for the programs that do have some of the more exotic features of PL/I you could use 'C' or RPG or even Fortran.

-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Sitko [mailto:solarsystems@email.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2001 16:34
To: MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
Subject: PL/I for AS/400

Hello all,

We're considering converting our Wang VS system to an IBM AS/400 because
we're concerned about Wang dropping support for the VS line. So last week
we picked up an obsolete AS400 and thought we might be able to get some
hands on testing. The system came with two tapes (version 1.2 of OS/400)
and a PTF tape, and it has what looks like two full height and one half
height disk drives. It also came with two operator consoles.

When we power it on, we expected it to IPL, but instead, a code of 999
appears on the operator console. Should I just throw this machine out and
get a newer model from IBM, complete with documentation and up to date
Operating system? Or does this one have any value (training value, that
is).

But, since all our Wang applications are written in PL/1, and I just found
out that IBM does not market PL/1 for the AS400 any more, maybe I should
look into other platforms. And, I'm told, the PL/1 that used to be
available was really a very limited subset (no language support for writing
interactive programs, for example).

I'd appreciate some insight into these problems:

1. Is the AS400 I just bought useless? I think it's a model 9404, but I
have no documentation on it whatsoever.

2. Should I just trash it, if it's no good, or try to sell it for a few
bucks on ebay or through a used market?

3. Is PL/1 available for the AS/400; if not from IBM, then from anyone?

4. Can someone tell me how to IPL this thing? Just to see if it works?

Thanks,

Bob
Solar Systems