Integrating C functions with normal RPG IV gives you the best of both worlds.

Written by Jim Martin

Editor's Note: This article is an excerpt from the MC Press book Functions in Free-Format RPG IV.

Most RPG programmers don't know the C programming language and avoid technical articles and discussions that have anything to do with it. In fact, I will go so far as to say that many RPG programmers get a little “testy” when someone says that C is better than RPG, since it is newer, uses functions, etc., etc., etc. I have to admit that I was not interested in the C language when it was first available. I was busy on a midrange IBM platform that didn’t even have a C compiler.

Integrate your Web applications with your users' personal calendars.

Written by Glenn McClenny

I'll be the first to admit that I'm aging. How old am I? Well, that's a secret that I may divulge at the end of the article. But with age comes organization. Work days become hectic, and sometimes I need a reminder of what I'm supposed to do next. I'm sure some of your users need reminders at times too. That's where the concept of this article started.

This one short volume manages to essentially be both a general introduction and a detailed reference.

Written by Joe Pluta

With Functions in Free-Format RPG IV, Jim Martin has done it again. Jim has a particular expertise in taking a highly technical topic and distilling it into just a couple of hundred pages, making it accessible to any IBM i programmer. Jim also has a knack for identifying just the right balance of general knowledge and technical detail, and this book demonstrates that sense of balance.

Create an RPG program to retrieve a list of existing files on an FTP server.

Written by Tom Snyder

In a previous article, I discussed how to upload a file to an FTP server and how to automate the process using RPG in a manner that would allow your program to evolve to easily support future modifications and server additions and changes. In this article, I'll discuss how you can retrieve information from an FTP server and use that information to download files.

Create a useful procedure to remove white space from strings in RPG.

Written by Tom Snyder

In a previous article, I discussed how to use string manipulation built-in functions (BIFs) to process external files. I explained %TRIM, %TRIML, %TRIMR, %SUBST, %XLATE, %CHECK, and %CHECKR. But it was brought to my attention that I failed to mention the crucial string manipulation %SCAN BIF when an MC Press Online reader named Donna G. asked me, "Do you have any suggestions on how to strip out the blanks that are in the middle of data?" 

Create a reusable program to make automating your file transfers easy.

Written by Tom Snyder

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a popular way to get your files from one computer to another over the network. The IBM i makes it easy to do this, and I will show you how to create a reusable program that will make your automation of the process even easier.

When you add a field to a file, you do not have to recompile all programs that access the data.

By Sam Lennon

Traditionally, if you add a field to a physical file, you have to recompile all programs that use that physical file definition. Generally, you also need to recompile all programs that use logical files over the physical. But with some planning, you can avoid many of these recompiles, thereby shortening and simplifying the installation. And without level checks.

With the right RPG tools, you can make the most challenging data manipulation project fun.

Written by Tom Snyder

Dealing with interface files from external systems is always an involved exercise in data validation. It's also a prime opportunity for using the string manipulation built-in functions (BIFs) available in RPG ILE.