September 4, 2019
September 4, 2019 | Volume 16 Issue 38
- LEAD ARTICLE: Practical RPG: Service Programs—How
- FEATURED ARTICLE: RPG Academy: Database Modernization - Methodology, Part 1
- FEATURED ARTICLE: 2019 State of IBM i Modernization
- NEWS HIGHLIGHT: IBM Demonstrates Commitment to Open Hardware Movement
- WEBCAST: IBM i in 2019: It’s Not Just AS/400
- FEATURED VIDEO: Design an Invoice in 10 Minutes
- EVENT: RPG & DB2 Summit

Practical RPG: Service Programs—How
Service programs are incredibly versatile, but sometimes versatility makes it hard to get started.
By Joe Pluta
In my previous article, I explained why you would use a service program. Much of it centered on the ability to call the same logic using multiple paths. You simply create multiple procedures—I called them convenience procedures—that act as different entry points to the main business logic within your service program. They may provide default values for some arguments, or act as pre- and post-processors for the input and output values. The uses are varied, but you can probably see that you can end up with a lot of procedures. How then to manage the complexity?

RPG Academy: Database Modernization - Methodology, Part 1
It’s time to talk about database modernization methodology. Because each scenario is a little (or a lot) different from the others, you’ll have to adapt these steps to your particular situation.
By Rafael Victória-Pereira
Most database modernization scenarios have a few things in common, which allows you to follow the three-step methodology presented in this section, with a few tweaks. This methodology is just a set of tasks and guidelines that you’ll need to adapt to your particular scenario.
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.
Comply in 5! Well, actually UNDER 5 minutes!!
TRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms.
Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product.

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.
By Profound Logic Software, Inc.
Editor's note: This article introduces the white paper 2019 State of IBM i Modernization, which is free to download from the MC White Paper Center.
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.