Re: WDSC HELP needed. Installation and Education -- WDSCI-L

Welcome, Frank, to the bleeding edge of a brave new world! ;-)

Looks like you're trying to install version 4, as Mark points out. I agree, get version 5.1, which you can order if you have Software maintenance or subscription.

If you do no Java development (only RPG or COBOL and CL and DDS) and do not need to add any functions to the environment, I don't think you need to know Java. I use the product regularly and do not use Java at all. The older CODE editor uses a different macro language, and it has been suggested that it will be brought in to Remote Systems Explorer. That LPEX macro language is simpler but not as full-featured.

There are some settings for performance that are Java options, but there's a document on the Web that gives some guidelines there.

I'm also not aware of any problem with Win2K and Client Access, except for Operations Console on a Win2K box with service pack 4, and this is a Microsoft bug. I have the fix, but you should not need it for normal developers' machines - only if you use Operations Console for your console.

I'm sorry to say that I do not recommend the RSE editor for CL - it does not format the same way as SEU. The external CODE editor is better for CL and can be started from RSE.

The filters are actually pretty good. They are a different way of doing things than PDM. It's a paradigm from the older CODE editor. There are options to open only to members or certain kinds of objects, etc. And a nice table view is available.

The ability to have multiple source members open at the same time is a great thing. Esp. when I need to reference something in one from another - it's more accessible than F15 and half-screen in SEU.

BTW, you'd never know this, but for training and tutorials, etc., go to the Library link, not the Training and certification link. I think you'll be a lot happier. <http://www-306.ibm.com/software/awdtools/wds400/library/>

You could also find some stuff at Jon Paris' and Sue Gantner's site: <http://www.as400pro.com/TipsCode400.htm>

Once you have 5.1 installed, the update process is pretty good - there's an Update Manager that knows where to look, so you don't need to download everything. It'll take 3-4terations to get everything, however.

When you reboot after the first phase of installation, be sure to take the iSeries extensions for CODE and Visual RPG before doing anything else.

VERY IMPORTANT - go to the WDSC sebsite and get the PTFs for the iSeries that are required - there's a link. And, of course, the required options of 5722-WDS need to be installed - sounds as if you already have them.

BTW, I've been dragged kicking and screaming - I've fought (and lost) with various versions of CODE since the mid-late 90's, hoping for something that'll be good enough to replace PDM and SEU in a graphical emulator with copy-paste, which is still pretty good, IMO. But I'm the one championing this stuff at our company. We're basically in the "better tools" step of the "roadmap" that IBM's cramming down our throats, and that's fine for our needs. The other developers basically work out of CODE Project Organizer, which has less of an impact on your PC's resources. 128meg works OK for CODE. You still need to install everything but don't need to use it all until you want or need to.

As far as similarity to PDM, that's hype. This is different, and better in many ways. At the same time, you can't do searches in multiples members of multiple source files, as in PDM. It's not obvious (or possible?) to do user options or PDM options against multiple objects/members, etc. Again, there are differences, and I'm still learning. But PDM and WRK* screens are still often my choice, for speed and power, when I need to do mass changes and maintenance. OpsNav is also still not a substitute, although there are facilities there that are fantastic.

HTH
Vern

At 10:21 AM 12/30/2003 +1000, you wrote:

I have tried many times to install  WDSC.
I think the PCs I have are too slow as it took me most of a day to install
from CD.
Even then most times I get a failure in the install process.
We are on V5R2. We use Win98.  Should I use 2000, XP  ??.
We chose to stay with Win98 because Client Access has poor
performance under Win2000.

The best process I have done so far is
a. Transfer the DVD to Folder on our Novell Network Version 4.0 DVD
C241GML  LK3T-8377-00
b. Download the Update into the same folder.  (wdsc40sp4ENU)
c. Install from the Network.
    I get an error message towards the end of the install,
    'Distributed Debugger
    'Internal Error. Click Finish and reboot.  Then continue the install
from Add/Remove Programs
    'Repair Option.
    I follow the instructions and the same error comes up.
    I cant do anything about the error and I assume the updates will
correct the error.

d. Apply the update.

The entire process usually takes between 45mins to an hour.

>From the ISERIES NEWS (Sept 2003)  I try the LPEX and CODE editors and I
find things
quite difficult, so I decide I need education, the article mentions PDM
similarities but
I dont see any.  I check the WDSC-L archives on education  (see below),
I cant see how to use the self education.

Can someone help me with the following link as I cant get it to work.

http://www-306.ibm.com/software/awdtools/wds400/education/#self

So far I have found the following,

Get the most powerful PC you can with the most amount of memory.
Copy the DVD to a network drive to install.
Download the Service Packs in advance.
Get Education on how to use WDSC.
LPEX seems to be a generic editor that needs configuration.
The concept of stored filters is strange.  I use the PDM Library and
'position to'
fields continuously, I dont see the need to create lists of these entries
and
then try to remember some made up name to find a previously used entry,
this is cumbersome.  I cant get PV , PDM options , colourisation,
indentation.
But I have managed to edit a source member, even one with > 32000 lines.

I dont know Java, do I need to?
, oh well maybe the education will help.

Frank Kolmann