Free-Format RPG IV, First Edition

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.

About the Author

Jim Martin has a BS degree in mathematics and an MS in computer science. He was employed by IBM for 26 years, where he wrote RPG applications for customers and also worked in the programming laboratory as a programmer of portions of CPF and OS/400. After leaving IBM, he took post-graduate work in computer science and performed RPG training. He is an IBM-certified RPG IV developer.