March 15, 2019
March 15, 2019 | Volume 14 Issue 33
- LEAD ARTICLE: SQL 101: Embedding SQL in RPG Code, Part 2
- FEATURED ARTICLE: How Bad Are Certain IBM i Security Settings? Not So Bad, Pretty Bad, or Really Bad?
- FEATURED ARTICLE: How to Code Selective Prompting in a CL Program
- NEWS HIGHLIGHT: LaserVault Introduces ViTL: Eliminates Costly Manual Processes From IBM i Backups
- WHITE PAPER: 2019 State of IBM i Modernization
- MC VIDEO SHOWCASE: Design an Invoice in 10 Minutes
- EVENT: From Barcode Label to RFID Liberating

SQL 101: Embedding SQL in RPG Code, Part 2
Did you know you can use host variables nearly everywhere in an embedded SQL statement? Keep reading to find out more!
By Rafael Victória-Pereira
Last time around, I showed you how to embed SQL code in both fixed- and free-format RPG code. I also demonstrated the functionality provided by host variables, which allow SQL and RPG to exchange information in a simple and easy-to-implement way. Let’s continue that discussion.
Seiden Group Announces Free Access to CommunityPlus+ PHP for IBM i

How Bad Are Certain IBM i Security Settings? Not So Bad, Pretty Bad, or Really Bad?
I realize that I’ve spent a lot of time explaining best practices and what my recommendations are, but I don’t often explain why some settings aren’t the best.
By Carol Woodbury
Some of my favorite magazines will describe a popular action and then explain why that practice is not so bad, pretty bad, or really bad. Using this method, I’m going to describe how bad certain security settings 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
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How to Code Selective Prompting in a CL Program
Ted Holt explains how to add command prompting code that pauses a CL procedure and waits for the user to enter parameter values
By Ted Holt
Editor’s note: This article is excerpted from chapter 13 of Complete CL: Sixth Edition, by Ted Holt.
Selective prompting is one example of an advanced technique. With selective prompting, you activate the prompter for a command from within a CL procedure. In other words, a CL procedure can contain an instruction that causes the procedure to stop, display the command prompter for a particular command, and wait for the user to enter parameter values and press the Enter key. When the user presses Enter, the CL procedure continues to execute.