About 15 years ago, I published a free utility named DSPDBF (Display Database File). This utility displayed any System/38 database file in character over hex mode and allowed you to change the data in the file by typing into the existing character or hexadecimal values. This is still one of the most popular utilities I've written, second perhaps only to the simple DLTOBJ (Delete Object) command that many programmers believe is part of OS/400.
WRKDBF is better than my old DSPDBF, and it is free. Written in 1989 by Bill Reger, it provides an interface that effectively looks like the default query produced by the RUNQRY command but in a "Work with" panel format. With this utility, you can display, change, delete, copy, and undelete records. Yes, I said undelete!
WRKDBF is easy to use and intuitive for AS/400 programmers. Initially, WRKDBF displays the data from any database file in a traditional "Work with" panel format. From the "Work with" panel, you have several options available, including Add, Change, Copy, Delete, Display, Print, and Undelete records.
WRKDBF is one of the few applications that has taken advantage of a little-known feature of OS/400 Database that allows you to undelete previously deleted records. This feature alone warrants the download and installation of this tool.
The Change and Display options show the current data for the record in a DFU-like entry panel. Obviously, you are not allowed to modify the data in display mode, but other than that the interfaces are the same. While viewing the data, you can press F8 to switch the view to hexadecimal mode. This allows you to go into a record and modify its contents in hex, a very useful feature for packed decimal database fields.
The Copy option is similar to PDM's Copy Source Member option. You type in option 3 and press Enter, and a full record view (similar to the Display option) is displayed. At that point, you can change the contents of any field in the file before pressing Enter to copy the record (the idea being that you change the key fields to avoid duplicate keys in the file).
Then there are the function keys. You can add new records to the file by pressing F6, see a list of field descriptions by pressing F14, search the database file by pressing F16, and more!
WRKDBF is a good tool whose author suggests that he may eventually move the tool to a shareware product, so I would suggest downloading a free copy today.
| Tool Name: | WRKDBF |
| Title: | Work with Database File |
| Download URL: | www.wrkdbf.com |
| Author: | Bill Reger Sr. Mgr. IS&T Convergys Corporation |
| Year First Offered: | 1989 |
| Current Version: | July 2000 Ver. 10.11.04 |
| Price: | Currently available as free software |
Now It's Up to You
Now go forth and start using this information right away to increase your productivity! And do your midrange colleagues a favor by forwarding them this issue of the Midrange Developer free newsletter. They'll thank you!
And remember, if you have comments or questions you'd like me to address in future issues, email me at
Robert Cozzi, Jr.
Editor
Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.
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:
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