Free-Format RPG IV: How to Bring Your RPG Programs Into the 21st Century

Description

What could be more important than upgrading your RPG skills? Traditional fixed-format style RPG IV programmers everywhere are embracing the increased productivity, better readability, and easier program maintenance that comes with the free-format style of programming in RPG IV. This book, a "how-to" guide and the first of its kind, will provide you with concise and thorough information on this powerful new way of coding RPG IV. Though free-format information is available in IBM manuals, it is not separated from everything else, thereby requiring hours of tedious research to track down the information you need. With this book, your search is over. Free-Format RPG IV is the "one-stop" resource that will save you time and frustration. In it, you'll find everything you need to know to write RPG IV in the free-format style. Author Jim Martin not only teaches rules and syntax, but also explains how this new style of coding has the potential to improve overall programmer productivity—from initial development through maintenance. He methodically covers the "how to" involved in free-format RPG IV, including many style issues, such as named indicators and built-in functions. He also addresses input and output, program flow, data manipulation, and math operations. There is even a chapter on prototyping and APIs. Free-Format RPG IV is the definitive guide on the topic and just what you need to get started with this exciting, powerful style of programming. With Free-Format RPG IV you will: - Learn not only the "how-to," but also the "why" of free-format RPG IV - Acquire essential, free-format style tips to help you write good, maintainable code - Find complete-program solutions for specific problems, including associated display and printer files - Discover how upgrading your RPG skills to free-format can take your programming career to the next level. Review: Learning Free format RPG - This is a very easy book to learn RPG from. It is explained in easy to understand terms and language. If you know RPG IV and are trying to learn free format this is the book to buy. I have met the author and sit in two of the classes he thought and he is easy to learn from and makes learning fun. Review: Everything I expected - This book is one of those examples of "all good things come in small packages". It is a very pleasant read and excellent for reference. Besides the free format syntax, the book also explains other things such as the use and syntax of Built In Functions and some aspects of ILE. Highly recommend this book to anybody thinking of using RPG Free.