March 4, 2020
March 4, 2020 | Volume 16 Issue 44
- LEAD ARTICLE: Practical RPG: Encapsulating Your Data with Extension Files, Part 3
- FEATURED ARTICLE: RPG Academy: Database Modernization—Methodology, Part 6
- FEATURED ARTICLE: Developer Kit: Making a Business Case for Modernization and Beyond
- NEWS HIGHLIGHT: Remain Software Milestone Enhancements Boost Efficiency and Productivity for Organizations on IBM i and Multi-platform
- WHITE PAPER: 2020 IBM i Marketplace Survey Results
- FEATURED VIDEO: Design an Invoice in 10 Minutes
- EVENT: CIO Summit — March 23-24, 2020 in Dallas

Practical RPG: Encapsulating Your Data with Extension Files, Part 3
Replace file specifications with your own field definitions.
By Joe Pluta
In my previous articles on this topic, I introduced extension files as a way to future-proof a legacy database and showed how to encapsulate those files in SQL access to allow growth. But I left out one important detail: When the compiler sees a file specification, it defines all the fields in that file. If you remove the F-spec, you have to define those fields yourself. And that's even trickier if you already have an extension file.
Free Registration Announced for RPG & DB2 Summit Lunch & Learn Series
IBM Reports 2020 Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year Results
Seiden Group Offers Free Application Profiling Tool for PHP on IBM i

RPG Academy: Database Modernization - Methodology, Part 6
If the previous article left you curious about what an I/O Server is, this one will explain it with a little help from an expert. Keep reading to find out more!
Written by Rafael Victória-Pereira
Last time around, I mentioned that some business rules can be moved directly to the database as constraints and your input/output code can also go somewhere else: an I/O Server. One of the experts I discussed this topic with is Patrick Sheehy, of Global Modernization Champion at Tembo Technology Lab (the company behind AO Foundation). Patrick was kind enough to share the company’s view on I/O Servers, which I share in italics below.
What to Do When Your AS/400 Talent Retires
IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small.
This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business?
This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn:
- Why IBM i skills depletion is a top concern
- How leading organizations are coping
- Where automation will make the biggest impact
Enjoy!
Download your copy today!
2019 State of IBM i Modernization
The annual Profound Logic ‘State of IBM i Modernization Survey” takes a look at the trends and attitudes that shape the IBM i modernization market. We reached out to the IBM i community, and the response was outstanding: close to 800 people, nearly 300 more than last year, took the survey. This enthusiasm resulted in very interesting findings for how businesses plan to use and modernize the platform in the coming year.
As you read through each section of the survey, you will see our summary of the results and suggestions for the future. We hope the survey will help your business better understand what is possible for your IBM i platform in the coming year.
Node Webinar Series Pt. 1: The World of Node.js on IBM i
Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application.
Part 1 will teach you what Node.js is, why it's a great option for IBM i shops, and how to take advantage of the ecosystem surrounding Node.
In addition to background information, our Director of Product Development Scott Klement will demonstrate applications that take advantage of the Node Package Manager (npm).
watch now!
What Most IBM i Shops Get Wrong About the IFS
Can you trust all of your users all of the time?
A typical end user receives 16 malicious emails each month, but only 17 percent of these phishing campaigns are reported to IT. Once an attack is underway, most organizations won’t discover the breach until six month later.
A staggering amount of damage can occur in that time. Despite these risks, 93 percent of organizations are leaving their IBM i systems vulnerable to cybercrime. In this on-demand webinar, IBM i security experts Robin Tatam and Sandi Moore will reveal:
- How phishing attacks are becoming more sophisticated
- Three little-known ways malicious programs can reach your IFS
- Why the IFS is IBM i’s “Typhoid Mary”
You’ll also learn why some of the most common malware solutions still leave IBM i systems vulnerable—and what you can do to protect your organization.
Easiest Way to Save Money? Stop Printing IBM i Reports
The thought of printing, distributing, and storing iSeries reports manually may reduce you to tears. Paper and labor costs associated with report generation can spiral out of control. Mountains of paper threaten to swamp your files. Robot automates report bursting, distribution, bundling, and archiving, and offers secure, selective online report viewing.
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- Browser interface to make notes
- Custom retention capabilities
- Seamless product integration
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Developer Kit: Making a Business Case for Modernization and Beyond
Editor's note: This article introduces the white paper Developer Kit: Making a Business Case for Modernization and Beyond, which is free to download from the MC White Paper Center.