RE: Required products for a new i user?

-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Nathan Andelin
Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2008 11:12 AM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: Re: Required products for a new i user?

From: "McKown, John"
We are 95%+ COBOL. Most of the rest is CA-Easytrieve.

Easytrieve was one of my favorite tools for reports and
updating database tables in batch under MVS. I liked the
syntax compatibility with COBOL. It was easy to learn. But
that was quite a few years ago. Can you tell me whether they
ever added support for interactive screens? You may be
disappointed if you were expecting an IBM i version. I'm not
aware of one.

I am not aware of any interactive use for Easytrieve on the mainframe.
It may exist in the Windows version.

Under IBM i the newest compilers for ILE languages (C, RPG,
COBOL, and CL) are bundled in one licensed product. Heritage
compilers (older versions) are another product. My
transition from COBOL to RPG went smoothly, and I've been
happy with RPG ever since. CL is a gem, too.

Nathan.

Looks like my dislike for RPG was based on an old tutorial I found on
the web. I need to look at the latest ILE version to see. Of course, it
doesn't much matter. I don't write Easytrieve and rarely any COBOL. If
the compilers are all bundled together and I'm given free reign for my
"ad hoc" stuff, then I'll probably use REXX or C.

--
John McKown
Systems Engineer IV
IT

Administrative Services Group

HealthMarkets(r)
Administrative Services Group
9151 Boulevard 26 * N. Richland Hills * TX 76010
(817) 255-3225 phone * (817)-961-6183 cell
john.mckown@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx * www.HealthMarkets.com

Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments,
is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain
confidential or proprietary information. Any unauthorized review, use,
disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended
recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all
copies of the original message.