RE: Book: RPG for the Cobol Programmer

I don't know of any books that specifically target COBOL users in teaching
RPG, but I can tell you what we did.  The company I worked for from 1990-95
converted from AS/400 COBOL to RPG III because we purchased some software
that was written in RPG III and it had to be customized.  We had a couple of
one week, in-house training class (basic RPG, advanced RPG)and then jumped
into customizing the new software.  We basically learned 'on the job' which
seems to be a common denominator with a lot of shops.

As far as the statement 'COBOL logic won't fit in RPG language' goes, the
COBOL syntax might not, but the concept of structured logic and logic flow
certainly does.  My shop used structured COBOL programming logic and carried
that concept over to our RPG programs.  It was hard for us to go from the
freedom of using up to 30 characters to identify variables or subroutine
names to just six or eight and it was difficult to go from a fairly relaxed
format of free form code to stringent columnar restrictions; BUT, we enjoyed
not having to worry so much about coding file definitions, screen displays,
and other functions which COBOL requires you to handle.

I've noticed, however, that as IBM releases newer versions of RPG, it is
looking more and more like a combination of COBOL and other languages;
longer names, less columnar restrictions, etc.  

Maybe we could meld the best of them all together to produce: RPGLEBOL++.

Ron.

-----Original Message-----
From: Finucci Domenico [mailto:Domenico.Finucci@Fiditalia.it]
Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2001 10:26 AM
To: 'MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com'
Subject: R: Book: RPG for the Cobol Programmer


Good morning. I'm afraid COBOL logic won't fit in RPG language -)
Sincerely

Domenico Finucci
Fiditalia , Milano, 02- 4301-2494


-----Messaggio originale-----
Da: Bruce Collins [mailto:bruce@twitchellcorp.com]
Inviato: giovedì 21 giugno 2001 17.03
A: MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
Oggetto: Book: RPG for the Cobol Programmer


Is there such a book as RPG for the COBOL programmer. and I mean RPG III or
Higher.

Bruce "Hoss" Collins
IT Manager
Twitchell Corporation
4031 Ross Clark Circle NW
Dothan, AL 36303
V (334) 792-0002 x1266
F (334) 673-4121
bacollins@twitchellcorp.com


"Those who think they know it all really annoy those of us who do!"

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