RE: RPG Training -- RPG400-L

Pete,

Yes, there was not enough information regarding what experience the new hire has. What languages? How many years? Track record in previous positions?

My first RPG class was instructor led; maybe eight people (+ me). In my case I had just quit teaching History so I had absolutely no experience in data processing; didn't know the difference between a record and a file so I was pretty confused. When I took a Cobol class at the local university a few years later, it was a breeze (relatively speaking). I initially learned workstation programming at an IBM self-learning center in Albuquerque. It helped me get started, but no one to who I could direct questions.

I eventually (for a brief period) trained new programmers at one company. The company, at the time, hired from within and trained them. Most were in the same boat I was when I started; one that I remember had taken Cobol in college. In that setting it was always possible to tailor the training to the trainee's background. So, it just depends.

Jerry C. Adams
IBM System i Programmer/Analyst
--
B&W Wholesale
office: 615-995-7024
email: jerry@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

-----Original Message-----
From: rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Pete Helgren
Sent: Monday, February 22, 2010 3:54 PM
To: RPG programming on the IBM i / System i
Subject: Re: RPG Training

Jerry,

I see your point. When I wanted to learn Java I didn't go to Java One,
I took an instructor led course on Java. I *wish* there had been a
"Java for RPG Programmers" class (the book wasn't much help to me, I had
too many unanswered questions).

I highly recommend something instructor led where you can ask questions
while they are still fresh and collaborate on real world examples of
code that you can immediate try (and break).

Given the variables, and depending upon Teri's shop, bringing someone in
for a specific training and some update training for other programmers
might not be a bad option either.

Pete

Jerry Adams wrote:

Don and Pete,

I respectfully disagree that COMMON would be a good fit for a new hire with no RPG background (as Teri indicated). I think the conferences are great for enhancing one's RPG skills, but not if you don't know squat. I have not been to System i Developer (yet - still hoping), but I suspect the same would be true for Jon, at al, in this setting.

I have not used ATS since my early RPG II days (good grief, > 3 decades ago), but they were fairly good then. I am not familiar with Manta and the one Mark mentioned. However, as a former teacher/instructor, in lieu of a one-to-one (instructor-to-student) I have found that the self-paced methods are usually the 2nd best option. Reading the books/manuals is not a good method (though I did know one Cobol programmer who learned RPG II by reading the (atrocious) S/3 RPG II manual). I keep Cozzi's book as a reference on the shelf just behind me, but I wouldn't throw it at anyone and say, "Here, learn RPG." But it does depend upon the person's background; Teri said s/he had some programming experience but didn't say what kind or how much.

THEN send the guy/gal to COMMON and/or System i Developer and/or RPG World. The pay back is much better then, in my experience. And, of course, let him/her join the Midrange forums.

Jerry C. Adams
IBM System i Programmer/Analyst
--
B&W Wholesale
office: 615-995-7024
email: jerry@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

-----Original Message-----
From: rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Don
Sent: Monday, February 22, 2010 12:48 PM
To: 'RPG programming on the IBM i / System i'
Subject: RE: RPG Training

Manta's good.

Checkout the conferences by both Jon & Susan Gantner as well as the ones
put on by Bob Cozzi. Sometimes your local user group will be doing seminars
as well. COMMON also has RPG classes. If you can find Bob Cozzi's or
Charlie Massoglia's books on RPG, that's a good start... Pull down the
redbook "Sorceror's Guide...."

I would suggest the IBM tech conference but they're more web and AIX centric
nowadays and didn't have ANY traditional i/os centric language classes at
the last conference. If you wanted sessions on PHP you could find them
there as I recall.

-----Original Message-----
From: rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of THarteau@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, February 22, 2010 12:57 PM
To: rpg400-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RPG Training

Hi,
We will be having a new person starting in a couple of weeks. He
has some programming experience, but no RPG. I looked in the archives for
any comments on beginning training, but they were mostly from 2006 or
earlier. Does anyone have any comments, good or bad, on available
training products? We are kind of looking at Manta or e-learning. It
doesn't have to be free, but we don't want to spend more than we have to.
It has taken 1 1/2 years to get approval to get a person, so want to get
him up and running effectively. Thanks!

<===================================================>

Terri Harteau
Felker Brothers Corporation
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"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path
and leave a trail."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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