RE: (no subject) -- WDSCI-L

Mike

LOL! Glad I said something that seems helpful. And that you are beginning to see the RPG light! Can't seem to convince my C friends here are work!

As Booth said, VARPG is really a tool for creating Windows applications. It's probably not the thing you want for learning RPG, as things work differently on the PC, of course.

RSE is the starting point, I suppose, for working with RPG source. You have the option of using the RSE editor or the CODE editor, by right-clicking the source member and taking whichever one you want. (You'll need to have set up your profile and filters and all that gook first - check that help window you see when WDSC first comes up for ways to get help there.)

As for learning RPG, boy, it's been awhile. It might seem a little backwards, but there's a book out by George Farr and Phil Coulthard called Java for RPG Programmers, which might be useful as a kind of reference, as they show the equivalent code from both languages for various constructs. Available, along with Joe's books, at www.mcpressonline.com - go for the store link on that site.

There's nothing better, as a former colleague did, than to just sit down and type in code examples and run them and try some changes. It's time-consuming, but it works.

There are a number of RPG books at different levels at MC Press, too. Maybe some are already at your company site to borrow.

Others have said this, but you can get a lot at the iSeries InfoCenter <www.iseries.ibm.com/infocenter>. Once you've picked your continent and version, look under Programming for RPG. There are also links to a couple Redbooks there.

Finally, check out the RPG list at www.midrange.com - you'll get specific info there, and David will send you there eventually, anyway. <g>

Good luck
Vern

At 11:16 AM 9/9/2004, you wrote:

Vern,
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. I think that is exactly the route that I want to go and I am equipped with the "ammo" also(WDSC)-pun intended. I really love WDSC and would be glad if I could use WDSC for the purpose of calling RPG apps from Java and vice versa. I just now started looking at the help files...we'll see where I can go with that. I am probably looking at RSE usage(pls correct me if I am wrong). I also have VARPG and CODE/400 to learn RPG. But like you said I really do not need to learn RPG. I understand that but what if I really want to learn RPG?...Okay here is a honest confession...I am starting to love RPG and want to learn it as a challenge not to mention how useful it will be for me. You know the tools I have so do you have any suggestions? Joe gave me some excellent feedback and I think down the line we will be needing some of his consulting services for sure...I have to deal with RPG for right now. When it comes to "Translation" I will seek Joes help to buy a tool or two from him....I have to play it by the ear. My present mission is to get a grasp on the fundamentals of RPG through WDSC. Any help in this matter will be highly appreciated. I am so glad I am communicating with the RPG gurus...Please help this newbie:-)
Mike.
From: Vern Hamberg <vhamberg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Reply-To: Websphere Development Studio Client for iSeries<wdsci-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx> To: Websphere Development Studio Client for iSeries <wdsci-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: RE: [WDSCI-L] (no subject) Date: Thu, 09 Sep 2004 10:03:58 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Sender: vhamberg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Received: from mail.midrange.com ([69.3.23.26]) by mc8-f29.hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC(5.0.2195.6824); Thu, 9 Sep 2004 08:26:44 -0700 Received: from linux.midrange.com (localhost [127.0.0.1])by mail.midrange.com (8.13.0/8.13.0) with ESMTP id i89FPeVx014153;Thu, 9 Sep 2004 10:25:40 -0500 Received: from centerfieldtechnology.com (host199.cws.net [63.85.211.199] (maybe forged))by mail.midrange.com (8.13.0/8.13.0) with ESMTP id i89FOstr014056for <wdsci-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>; Thu, 9 Sep 2004 10:25:02 -0500 Received: from VMH-XP.centerfieldtechnology.com [209.180.55.213] bycenterfieldtechnology.com with ESMTP(SMTPD32-6.06) id A5C555801F8; Thu, 09 Sep 2004 10:24:53 -0500 X-Message-Info: yilqo4+6kc4mjBjxJSRGbexLx4FWeL5S Message-Id: <6.1.2.0.2.20040909093240.052f8ad0@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Version 6.1.2.0 In-Reply-To: <BAY9-F40kNyYcKUHbY600031da9@xxxxxxxxxxx> References: <BAY9-F40kNyYcKUHbY600031da9@xxxxxxxxxxx> X-Virus-Scanned: clamd / ClamAV version 0.75.1, clamav-milter version 0.75con linux.midrange.com X-Virus-Status: Clean X-BeenThere: wdsci-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: Websphere Development Studio Client for iSeries <wdsci-l.midrange.com> List-Unsubscribe: <http://lists.midrange.com/mailman/listinfo/wdsci-l>,<mailto:wdsci-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe> List-Archive: <http://archive.midrange.com/wdsci-l> List-Post: <mailto:wdsci-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx> List-Help: <mailto:wdsci-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=help> List-Subscribe: <http://lists.midrange.com/mailman/listinfo/wdsci-l>,<mailto:wdsci-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=subscribe> Errors-To: wdsci-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx Return-Path: wdsci-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx X-OriginalArrivalTime: 09 Sep 2004 15:26:44.0897 (UTC) FILETIME=[6A24F110:01C49681]
Mike
There are tools in WDSC to do just what you want, and they do not require changes to the back-end RPG (or COBOL, if you had it) code. One of these is called the Web Interaction Wizard. Here is a bit from the help text on this:

You can create a Web interaction with the iSeries Web Interaction wizard in several ways:

-- Use the iSeries Web Interaction wizard to generate the JSP files that are used as the input and output pages for your Web application. The wizard adds iSeries Web components (fields and controls), to the JSP files, and generates the iSeries run-time classes used to communicate with your business processes.

-- Create the JSP files that you want to use as the input and output pages for your Web application, and then use the iSeries Web Interaction wizard to add coding within the JSP files and to generate the iSeries run-time classes used to communicate with your business processes.

There is also a Program Call wizard when you add a new Program Call Bean. And this can also be used in a Web Service.

If you have WDSC, go to the Help->Help Contents. From the browser that comes up, click on the "Developer" item on the left. Then open up "Web applications", then "iSeries Web applications" and dig around.

Really, you do not NEED to learn RPG to do this. The only thing these things need is the interface, i.e., what are the arguments the program expects. If you are the only one doing this, you might need to learn how to read RPG to get the parameters. These have to be added manually in both the Program Call & Web interaction wizards.
Anyway, others have done this more. Take a good look at this help text.
Other options exist that can automate this and get you a nice Web look-and-feel. WebFacing is presented by IBM but might not work on a large project - some on this list can tell you stories. Another possibility is HATS (Host Access Transformation Service, I think), which lets you generate Java-based Web pages from existing iSeries applications. Finally, do check out www.plutabrothers.com for another solution - that's Joe's company, and they have a nice product. Joe is also very active on this list, so take advantage of his knowledge.

I hope you know we are not all iSeries bigots (I come pretty close <g>) and are not out to say one should not use Java - it has its place. And so do the so-called "old" apps you have in RPG - they probably are the best thing for what they do.

I'm glad to see that this is not a rewrite of all the back-end code. And I hope you can find some of WDSC's resources useful in simplifying the process.
Vern
At 08:38 AM 9/9/2004, you wrote:
Thanks a lot for your concerns Joe. I really appreciate it. Well, one thing I wanted to let you know is that we wont be starting everything from "scratch" if I am understanding correctly as to what you are pointing towards. Large part of our AS400 shop will still stay in RPG but we will be using Java mostly on the intranet and internet side for the outside world. I will be needing to take some/lots of applications in RPG and make Java versions of it so that I can make them work as servlets and JSP pages. May be I could easily convert them into Java beans and call those beans from JSP pages. In order to do this I will be needing to understand RPG and may be write my own RPG modifications to suit my needs and that is why I want to learn RPG so desperately. Thanks again. Please let me know what you think, Joe. I am very open to any kind of suggestions.
Mike.
From: "Joe Pluta" <joepluta@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Reply-To: Websphere Development Studio Client for iSeries<wdsci-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx> To: "'Websphere Development Studio Client for iSeries'" <wdsci-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: RE: [WDSCI-L] (no subject) Date: Wed, 8 Sep 2004 18:09:20 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Received: from mail.midrange.com ([69.3.23.26]) by mc11-f29.hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC(5.0.2195.6824); Wed, 8 Sep 2004 15:56:36 -0700 Received: from linux.midrange.com (localhost [127.0.0.1])by mail.midrange.com (8.13.0/8.13.0) with ESMTP id i88MsQM9018662;Wed, 8 Sep 2004 17:54:26 -0500 Received: from linux.plutabrothers.com (ip-64-32-211-101.dsl.chi.megapath.net[64.32.211.101])by mail.midrange.com (8.13.0/8.13.0) with ESMTP id i88Mrj3O018608for <wdsci-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>; Wed, 8 Sep 2004 17:53:50 -0500 Received: from pbdws2 ([10.1.1.25])by linux.plutabrothers.com (8.11.6/8.11.6) with ESMTP id i88LkBO17838for <wdsci-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>; Wed, 8 Sep 2004 16:46:12 -0500 X-Message-Info: yilqo4+6kc5BjEDyUttOXJDAA9reBsOw Message-ID: <042201c495f8$df6cbd10$1901010a@pbdws2> X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook, Build 10.0.4024 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1165 In-Reply-To: <BAY9-F52KrtyHw3vSI00001f575@xxxxxxxxxxx> X-Virus-Scanned: clamd / ClamAV version 0.75.1, clamav-milter version 0.75con linux.midrange.com X-Virus-Status: Clean X-BeenThere: wdsci-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: Websphere Development Studio Client for iSeries <wdsci-l.midrange.com> List-Unsubscribe: <http://lists.midrange.com/mailman/listinfo/wdsci-l>,<mailto:wdsci-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe> List-Archive: <http://archive.midrange.com/wdsci-l> List-Post: <mailto:wdsci-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx> List-Help: <mailto:wdsci-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=help> List-Subscribe: <http://lists.midrange.com/mailman/listinfo/wdsci-l>,<mailto:wdsci-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=subscribe> Errors-To: wdsci-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx Return-Path: wdsci-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx X-OriginalArrivalTime: 08 Sep 2004 22:56:37.0249 (UTC) FILETIME=[186D3F10:01C495F7]
> From: Mike Troxclaire
>
> I need to understand RPG so that when those programs
> get converted into Java I need to understand the Logic behind those
RPG
> programs so as to make sure that no garbage is coming out into Java
> classes.
Mike, please, please, PLEASE ask the powers that be in your company to
contact someone about this business decision.  I for one would be
perfectly happy to just chat with them about the reasons for staying
with RPG as opposed to rewriting everything in Java.
Aaron's company is currently implementing a Java interface to their
business logic, as are other companies.  They are finding it far more
productive to leverage their existing code rather than trying to rewrite
the entire system from scratch.
Please, let your bosses know there are alternatives!
Joe
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