June 12, 2020
June 12, 2020 | Volume 14 Issue 48
- LEAD ARTICLE: SQL 101: A Data Definition Language Hands-on Tour, Part 2
- FEATURED ARTICLE: Configurations That Will Bite You
- FEATURED NEWS: IBM quits facial recognition, joins call for police reforms
- NEWS HIGHLIGHT: Wipro and IBM Collaborate to Help Clients Accelerate Their Cloud Journeys
- WEBINAR: Expert Tips for IBM i Security: Beyond the Basics
- MC VIDEO SHOWCASE: Design an Invoice in 10 Minutes
- EVENT: MITEC 2020 iSight

SQL 101: A Data Definition Language Hands-on Tour, Part 2
Let’s start the move from DDS physical files to DDL tables. As you’ll see, there’s more to this move than a change of name. Keep reading to find out what changes!
By Rafael Victória-Pereira
If DDS physical files are the large container ships that hold your data in a turbulent and ever-changing sea of users, business logic, communications, and programs, SQL tables are the luxury yachts. They provide the same functionality as their DDS counterparts but offer a slew of additional features that IBM keeps increasing with each OS release. The many possibilities provided by the CREATE TABLE SQL instruction are the best proof of this silly little nautical metaphor. In a previous TechTip, I used a made-up Invoice Master physical file to explain the SELECT SQL instruction. In case you don’t remember, here’s a table describing the fields on that file:

Configurations That Will Bite You
IBM i security configuration is usually pretty straightforward, but there are a few things that, misconfigured, can produce results you don’t expect. Carol explores some of those areas of the system.
By Carol Woodbury
In most areas, IBM has done a decent job of making it obvious what the outcome of a particular setting will be, but some outcomes aren’t so obvious. In addition, I’ve seen administrators turn a straightforward configuration upside down and make it very difficult to understand the actual result of their configuration choice. In this article, I explain these scenarios in hopes that you will take a look at your own configurations and make sure you’re getting the outcome you think you are.
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
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Annual IBM List Celebrates Global Women Leaders Shaping the Future of Artificial Intelligence
Company honors 35 professionals from 12 countries, as new global survey shows benefits of diversity to AI -- but notes that work is still needed to close gender gap
IBM at its Think Digital conference unveiled its list of Women Leaders in AI, recognizing 35 exceptional female business leaders from 12 countries who are using artificial intelligence to drive transformation, growth and innovation across a wide variety of industries.