The IBM i Concepts & CL Programming online presentation introduces overall IBM i (iSeries, AS/400) concepts, including object architecture, user interface, and basic work management concepts. In addition to providing a comprehensive introduction to IBM i, this class introduces Control Language programming concepts and helps you understand its primal position in the IBM i world, including its role in the Integrated Language Environment (ILE).

Duration: 5 days
Next class: Date to be announced
11am-5pm Eastern, with breaks for lab exercises and lunch.

Who Should Attend
This class is appropriate for programmers new to the IBM i operating system who will be writing Control Language programs to direct processes on the server.

Prerequisites
No previous knowledge of IBM i or CL is required.

What You Will Accomplish
At the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Navigate IBM i menus to accomplish a task
• Understand basic work management concepts
• Identify various operating system objects and how they are organized and used
• Understand basic database concepts and identify data retrieval tools
• Enter Control Language commands into the system
• Use the CL prompt facilitity
• Compile CL programs
• Define and process variables in a CL program
• Use CL’s program control structures
• Call programs and pass parameters to them
• Handle errors which may occur during the running of a CL program
• Use CL to process data files and displays
• Process system information from data areas and system values
• Understand CL’s role in the Integrated Language Environment (ILE)

What You Will Receive
You will receive:

• Custom printed handout, containing class notes
• Completion certificate

Course Outline

The class covers these topics:

• What is CL?
• Control Language Command Names
• Command Parameters
• Creating CL Programs
• The Structure of a CL Program
• Declaring Program Variables
• Manipulating Variables with the CHGVAR Command
• CL Control Structures
• Expressions
• Controlling Workflow
• Error Handling
• Passing Parameters
• Retrieving and Changing External Attributes
• Files and Data Areas
• Understanding the Job Log
• Understanding the Integrated Language Environment

Lab Exercises

• Declaring and Manipulating Variables
• Using Expressions
• Controlling Program Flow
• Error Handling
• Calling Programs
• Passing Parameters
• Processing Database Files
• Using Display Files
• Processing an Outfile
• Retrieving External Attributes
• Reading Data Areas
• Using System Values
• Creating CL Procedures