Programming in RPG IV, Second Edition

by Judy Yaeger, Judy Yaeger

Since its original publication, Programming in RPG IV has given thousands of students and professionals a strong foundation in the essentials of business programming featuring the newest incarnation of the RPG language: RPG IV. Now, the all-new Third Edition covers RPG IV as it exists in Version 5 -- a release that brings dramatic change to this popular programming language. The new free-format specification, the latest built-in functions, and more are all covered in this fully updated text (current to V5R2), complete with numerous programming examples and support material. Older programming styles and operations are now covered in sidebars, in support of programmers who are tasked with maintaining and/or updating "legacy" code.

Focusing on real-world problems and down-to-earth solutions, this easy-to-understand textbook will help you master the latest techniques and features of RPG to make you stand out in the highly competitive iSeries employment market. The book is designed to give students a thorough understanding of how to use RPG IV effectively in a variety of practical applications. Students experience how to develop an application system of programs to meet the information-processing needs of three different companies. The scope of the book includes the development of RPG; top-down, structured design; RPG IV specifications, operations, and built-in functions; file definition, access, and manipulation; interactive applications; in-depth data definition, including RPG IV data types, tables, and arrays; and modular programming concepts.

Seven appendixes supplement the material covered in the chapters, providing an indispensable summary of RPG IV specifications, keywords, edit codes, built-in functions, and operation codes; an RPG IV style guide; introductions to program development on the AS/400, the basics of SEU, and the process of debugging programs; the data file definitions for the assignments; and a summary of RPG's fixed-logic cycle and use of indicators -- components of older versions of RPG often encountered on the job in maintenance programming. A comprehensive glossary supports the topics and terminology presented throughout the book. If you've used Dr. Yaeger's RPG/400 textbook, Programming in RPG/400, you'll find the transition to this book painless. If you're a new user, you'll find that the book provides everything you need to know to write a well-designed RPG IV program. Each chapter builds on the previous ones and includes informative, easy-to-read explanations and examples as well as a section of questions, exercises, and programming assignments that reinforce the knowledge gained from the chapter and strengthen the groundwork for succeeding chapters.

408 pages, Paperback

First published September 28, 2000