binarylogics: 2011

Monday, April 11, 2011

Friday, April 8, 2011

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Organization of OS/400 Objects

Objects

On the AS/400, everything that can be stored or retrieved is stored in an object. Examples of objects are libraries, files, executable programs, queues, and more. Objects share some common attributes such as name, type, size, description, date created, and owner. The concept of an object allows the system to perform certain standard operations, such as authorization management, on all objects types. The object types that we will be primarily concerned with in this manual are:

*LIB Libraries
*FILE Files
*PGM Compiled programs
*OUTQ Output queues

Send Message (SNDMSG)

Send Message (SNDMSG)

Type choices, press Enter.

Message text . . . . . . . . . .  ________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________

To user profile . . . . . . . . .  __________   Name , *SYSOPR, *ALLACT...



F3=Exit F4=Prompt F5=Refresh F10=Additional parameters F12=cancel
F13=How to use this display F24=More keys

To execute the command, supply the required information for Message text and user profile and press <Enter>. Most of the parameters used on commands have default values that are used if no other value is specified. You may change the default values if you desire to do so.
If <F4>= Prompt is shown on the prompt display, you can press < F4>to request a list of predefined values (such as *SYSOPR and *ALLACT in the above display) that are permitted in the field where the cursor is currently positioned.
In relation to the SNDMSG command, you can use DSPMSG at any time to display messages in your message queue.

Using the Prompt Facility

AS/400 provides interactive command prompting for any command supplied with the system or created by the user. On the command entry screen notice the option F4 = Prompt at the bottom of the screen. You can type the command name only, and press <F4>to see the prompt display for the command. Usually, a command may require many parameters before it can be executed. The prompt displays provide a convenient method of supplying that parameter information. For example, type SNDMSG on any command line and press <F4>. The following prompt display is shown:

More Help

There are three ways to get help on the READ/DOS book reader (AS/400 command MANUALS):

Start the book reader and select the bookshelf entitled BookManager READ/DOS.
Press <F1>anywhere you're in question about your current options.
Press <Alt>h (or <F10>h) and select the appropriate help selection for your current problem.

CD-ROM Manuals

CD-ROM Manuals
If you are attached to the AS/400 using PC Support/400 you have the ability to look at a hypertext version of a subset of the complete AS/400 manual set. To start the hypertext book reader type the command MANUALS at any AS/400 prompt. This guide is laid out like a library. The library contains bookshelves. These bookshelves contain books. For example our library contains a bookshelf name Languages. We select the bookshelf by using the arrow keys to place the highlighted cursor over it and press <Enter>. On this bookshelf there are several books on languages. One of the books is titled "COBOL/400 Reference". Once again we use the arrows and cursor to select the item. Now that we have the book it opens up a "Table of Contents" for the book. By using this search and select procedure you can look through the book like a book you'd check out at the library.

STRSCHIDX

The start search index command is used when you would like to get help on a specific or general topic. To use the index search facility type STRSCHIDX and hit <Return>. Type your subject topic, or topics on the bottom subject line. When you hit <Return>again your topic will be searched for and the topics found will be displayed on the screen above the topic line. To display the information you are looking for type 5 in the option field by the topic line press <Return>. To get out of the index search facility press <F3>until exited.

Getting Online Help

AS/400 provides extensive On-line help, and a simple method of accessing the help information. On-line help information is provided for all system displays. The type of help provided depends on the location of the cursor.
For all displays, the following information is provided:

What the display is used for
How to use the display
How to use the command line if there is one
How to use the entry fields and parameter line if any
What function keys are active and what they do.

If the <Help>key is pressed when the cursor is in an area where specific on-line help information is available, the help text for that area of the display is shown.
If the <Help>key is pressed when the cursor is in an area for which no specific information is available, information for the entire display is shown. Then you can page forward or backward through the information for the entire display and for each area.
If the <Help>key is pressed while a help display is shown, a description of the types of help that are available on the displays, and how to get each type of help is shown.
The <Help>key on the PC Support stations is labeled <Scroll Lock>. On the VT-100 or PC-VT stations the key sequence for < Help>is <ESC>h.
If <F11>=Search index is shown at the bottom of the display, you can press <F11>to see the Search Help Index display. On that display, you can request information about any topic you specify.

Signing Off of the AS/400

Press <F3>until you see a command prompt, ===>.
At the command prompt type SIGNOFF.

Changing Your Password

The first time you log on the AS/400 you will be forced to change your password before continuing.

Press <Enter>to change your password.
At the "Current Password" field, type `xx' followed by the last six digits of your social security number (ie. xx999999) NOTE: nothing you type on this screen will be displayed to ensure that no one views your password as you type it.
Press <Tab>or <Field Exit>.
For the "New Password" field, type the password you would like to use when you sign on to the computer. It must not exceed 10 characters, it must begin with a alphabetic character and the remaining characters may be any combination of alphabetic, numeric characters. Note: Try not to make it too difficult, you will need to know it to sign on the AS/400 again.
Press <Tab>or <Field Exit>
At the "New Password (to verify)" field, type in your new password for a second time to make sure you have entered it correctly. If you have entered it incorrectly you will get an error message and your initial password will still be `xx' followed by the last four digits of your social security number.
Press <Enter>
Upon completion, the following message will be displayed:
Password changed successfully
Read the following screens, pressing <Enter>to exit each one, until you reach the AS/400 Main Menu screen.

Later on when you want to change your password, type CHGPWD on the command line and go through the same steps.

Signing On to the AS/400

PC Support/400

Reboot the PC by pressing <Ctrl><Alt><Delete>at the same time. Press this key combination twice.
Select the option that indicates PC Support and/or AS/400.
Answer "Enter common user ID:" with your username
Answer "Enter password for common user ID:" with your password.
If there is a beep or a message press <Enter>to bypass the message.
At this point you should have the following screen:

Sign On

                                     System . . . . . : MKTAS400
                                     Subsystem . . . . : QINTER
                                     Display . . . . . : PCnnnnS1


      User . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  __________
      Password . . . . . . . . . . . .
      Program/procedure. . . . . . . .  __________
      Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  __________
      Current library. . . . . . . . .  __________

Type your username in the "User" blank.
Press the <Tab>key.
Type your password. The password will not be displayed.
Press the <Enter>key.

If for some reason you can not longer type, press the <Reset>key. On the Microterms or PC-VT this would be the <Esc>key then R. On PC Support/400 this would be the left <Ctrl>key.
If this is the first time you signed on continue with the Changing your password section of this manual.

Introductory Reference to the IBM AS/400

Introduction to the AS/400

The IBM Application System/400 popularly known as AS/400 is a family of mid-range business computing systems, that supersedes IBM's highly successful System/3X family. The AS/400 is available in three different types the 9402, 9404, and the 9406.
Currently, here at Minnesota State University, Mankato, the Computer Services is supporting a dual processor IBM AS/400 9406 model D80, that contains 192 Megabytes of primary memory and 7.1 Gigabytes of mirrored secondary storage.
The AS/400 systems exclusively use the IBM Operating System/400 (OS/400). It is a multi-user operating system that works with the Licensed Internal Code (LIC) instructions to implement the functions that are basic to the AS/400 architecture. OS/400 can perform tasks under direct control of both the user and an application program.
The AS/400 system differs from the traditional systems in several ways. They offer more compatibility across the product line since only one operating system and architecture is used consistently across the entire family. The system offers very high performance compared to the earlier System/3X computers. This is achieved by a combination of faster processors, extended storage and improved fixed disk systems. The software architecture is different from that of more traditional systems. Implementing functions such as security, database and communications in microcode, and providing a one-piece operating system resulted in improved efficiency, consistency and simplicity.

Now, to take a look into the highlights of the system

AS/400's standard functions plus the many communications options and supporting software provide users with flexibility for various communications environments. The AS/400 application programming interface provides some new capabilities not found in earlier operating systems. The basic architecture of AS/400 systems makes for a very productive program development environment. The built-in database and single-level storage provide high-level structures and consistency. This along with the programming tools available for AS/400 can increase programmer productivity. The programmer has the flexibility to choose one of the following programming languages for their application programs:

BASIC
C
CL command language
COBOL X3.23-1974 & X3.23-1985
FORTRAN
Pascal
PL/I
REXX
RPG II & III

The AS/400 marks a new beginning in the business computing world. This new generation of systems with advanced technology and advanced applications serve as a growth platform for the customer to expand in application, size and network complexity.

Definition -AS/400 (IBM iSeries, AS/400e, eServer iSeries/400)

The AS/400 - formally renamed the "IBM iSeries," but still commonly known as AS/400 - is a midrange server designed for small businesses and departments in large enterprises and now redesigned so that it will work well in distributed networks with Web applications. The AS/400 uses the PowerPC microprocessor with its reduced instruction set computer technology. Its operating system is called the OS/400. With multi-terabytes of disk storage and a Java virtual memory closely tied into the operating system, IBM hopes to make the AS/400 a kind of versatile all-purpose

 server that can replace PC servers and Web servers in the world's businesses, competing with both Wintel and UNIX servers, while giving its present enormous customer base an immediate leap into the Internet.

 Ask your AS/400 questions at ITKnowledgeExchange.com

The AS/400, one of IBM's greatest success stories, is widely installed in large enterprises at the department level, in small corporations, in government agencies, and in almost every industry segment. It succeeded another highly popular product, the System/36 and was itself based on a later, more sophisticated product, the System/38. AS/400 customers can choose from thousands of applications that have already been written and many have been "Web-enabled." IBM points to the AS/400's "uptime" of 99.9%.

The AS/400 comes with a database built-in. One widely-installed option is Domino (Notes with a Web browser).

According to IBM, these are some important new uses for the AS/400:

Data warehousing: With multi-gigabytes of RAM and multi-terabytes of hard disk space, the AS/400 can be a repository for large amounts of company data to which data mining could be applied.
Java application development: With its closely integrated Java virtual machine and new tools designed by IBM for building commercial applications with Java, the AS/400 can be used as a development system.
Web and e-commerce serving: Equipped with a Web server and applications designed to support e-commerce (taking orders, tracking orders, providing service to customers, working with partners and suppliers) and with firewall capabilities, the AS/400 can handle Internet serving for a moderate-size company.
Corporate groupware services: Assuming that Domino and Notes have been included with the system, it's designed to quickly provide a corporation with sophisticated e-mail, project file sharing, whiteboards, and electronic collaboration