RE: VisualAge RPG Questions

["Rooney, Michael P" <michael.p.rooney@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Joel,

I have similar concerns about ASNA's integration with .NET.  For the time
being, I continue to use the non-NET version.

As for a non-GUI VARPG program:

The point is that not all Windows programs are GUI-based. There are scores of
"services" (not service programs) that execute in the background without the
need for user interaction.  With either "visual" RPG product, you are not bound
or restricted to GUI development.

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 10:31 AM
To: RPG programming on the AS400 / iSeries
Subject: RE: VisualAge RPG Questions


On Mon, 2004-08-30 at 16:36, Rooney, Michael P wrote:
> 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.

When I visited ASNA's site, they made a big deal about .NET which makes
me wonder if I have to buy additional tools from MS.  I'm not a Windows
developer, so I don't even really know what the big deal is, but it does
make me nervous that VARPG won't be supportable in the future because of
.NET.

> 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).

I'm a little baffled by the idea of a non-GUI VARPG program.  What would
the point really be?  If I want to replicate a Service Program in VARPG,
is that what a DLL is?

> >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.

Tutorials are good.

> There is one commercially available book for learning VARPG, but is a little
> "dated".  Not a bad place to start though. 

Is that Brian Meyers's book?  He has it listed on his site with a link
to purchase it from Amazon, but Amazon doesn't seem to have it on
theirs.

Thanks,

Joel
http://www.rpgnext.com

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