January 6, 2021
January 6, 2021 | Volume 16 Issue 54
- LEAD ARTICLE: Practical SQL: Making Connections
- FEATURED ARTICLE: RPG Academy: UI Modernization, Part 6 - Introducing Rational Open Access
- NEWS HIGHLIGHT: IBM Study: Majority of Surveyed Companies are Not Prepared for IT Needs of the Future, Say U.S. and U.K. Tech Leaders
- FEATURED ARTICLE: Security Bulletin: Malware Infection Discovered on IBM i Server!
- WHITE PAPER: UPDATED: Developer Kit: Making a Business Case for Modernization and Beyond
- FEATURED VIDEO: Design an Invoice in 10 Minutes
- EVENT: Women in IBM i Virtual Hangout

Practical SQL: Making Connections
The connection string is the bridge between the SQL world and the QSYS world of the IBM i.
By Joe Pluta
I have recently been spending a lot of time working with a couple of concepts: data warehouses (and other external database access) and disaster recovery. These two concepts are fundamentally related, and like so many things in the IBM i world, some well-planned architecture decisions up front will make the back end very easy. In this case, we'll be talking about the connection string used by external processes to talk to your enterprise data on the IBM i.
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: UI Modernization, Part 6 - Introducing Rational Open Access
Rational Open Access: RPG Edition, formerly known as RPG Open Access, is a valuable tool in any modernization initiative. Let’s start exploring it in this TechTip.
By Rafael Victória-Pereira
There have always been quite a few UI modernization tools, some created by IBM, such as the old HATS, and others—many others—created by vendors. Until IBM created RPG Open Access, each tool followed more or less the same theoretical principles, but had its particular implementation. However, Rational Open Access (ROA), RPG Open Access’s newish name, was created to simplify the way an IBM i–based backend and a “modern” frontend can coexist and work together seamlessly. According to IBM: Rational Open Access: RPG Edition provides a way for RPG programmers to use the simple and well-understood RPG I/O model to access resources and devices that are not directly supported by RPG. Open Access opens up RPG's file I/O capabilities, allowing anyone to write innovative I/O handlers to access other devices and resources such as:
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.
Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:
- Automated report distribution
- View online without delay
- Browser interface to make notes
- Custom retention capabilities
- Seamless product integration
Rerun another report? Never again. Try the Robot Report Management Solution FREE for 30 days.
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Security Bulletin: Malware Infection Discovered on IBM i Server!
Malicious programs can bring entire businesses to their knees—and IBM i shops are not immune.
By HelpSystems
Editor's note: This article introduces the November 2020 Webinar: Security Bulletin: Malware Infection Discovered on IBM i Server!, which is On-Demand and available to download and view from the MC Webcast Center.
Imagine what would happen to your organization if users couldn’t process orders, accept payments, access customer lists, or any number of day-to-day activities.