29
Fri, Nov
0 New Articles

HOT TIPS: Utilities (11 Tips)

General
Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

Utilities

Easier Character Case Toggle in SEU

To switch between uppercase and lowercase entry in SEU easily, set up record/playback keys or PCS keyboard macros for the following definitions:

 UPPER = {F10}set caps on{enter}{F10} lower = {F10}SET CAPS OFF{enter}{F10} 

The braces are not literal characters but are meant to indicate the special keys.

- Douglas Handy

Access Unlike Member Type Prompts

The source member type may be temporarily changed during an SEU/400 session via F13. This allows CL command prompting from within RPG for QCMDEXC strings, or from within OCL36, for instance.

- Douglas Handy

SEU Find/Change Improvement

Here is an AS/400 tip that I have found very useful. When I am using SEU, I often like to have only what I am finding or changing on the screen. To do this:

1. At the first line of the program, enter line command "X9999" to exclude all lines of program. Note: "X99" or "X999" can be used depending on size of program.

2. Run F xxx ALL or C xxx xxx ALL.

3. The screen returns with only your finds or changes.

4. To return to the entire program, press F5 (Refresh).

- Don DeChamps

Quick SEU Find

I accidentally discovered an undocumented change in SEU. From the top line labeled "SEU==>" you don't need to put in the "F" or "FIND" before the search string when you are searching. Just put in the word you are searching for (in quotes if there is an imbedded blank) and press F16, and it searches just like I used to do on the S/38. At COMMON many S/38ers complained and IBM must have quietly capitulated (it is not in the help text). We are on V2R1M1 and I don't know if this was in prior releases.

- Blair Hamren

Ejecting to New Page in SEU

An undocumented feature of SEU that we have used since our S/38 days and which is still in AS/400 SEU allows you to skip to a new page when you print out a TXT member upon exiting SEU. This is handy if you use SEU like a word processor, which we sometimes do. If you place a "%" (percent sign) in column 1 of a line and then exit SEU and choose Print=Y on the exit screen, the line with the "%" will start on a new page and the "%" will not print. Note, however, that this does not work when you use STRSEU with PDM OPTION(6)-you must actually go into the member and print it from the exit screen.

- Blair Hamren

Undo Changes in SEU

Press the Clear key in SEU to undo any changes since the last Enter or function key. This tip is especially great for when you hit the Field Exit key accidentally.

- Greg Prior

Repeat Last Search Field in SEU

If you do a FIND or CHANGE command at the "SEU===>" line, then run another command, you can repeat the FIND or CHANGE by using * after the FIND command instead of retyping the search argument or pressing F9 multiple times.

- Greg Prior

Quick Cursor in SDA

When you are in the SDA Work Screen and have several fields, you can use F18 and F19 to move the cursor to the next or previous field in SDA. It sure beats using the arrow keys!

- Greg Prior

Change Field Usage in SDA

To change the usage of a field on the SDA work display, simply key the new usage character (I-Input, O-Output, B-Both) over the first position of an existing field and press Enter. It doesn't matter whether the existing field is alpha or numeric.

- Laura DeBoth

Use UPDDTA to Create Permanent DFU Programs

You can use the Update Data (UPDDTA) command to quickly generate DFU programs for files. You can bypass the start-up time involved with each use by saving and reusing the generated program:

1. Use the SETATNPGM command to set the Attention key program to QCMD.

2. Run UPDDTA for the file.

3. As soon as you get into DFU, press the ATTN key.

4. Display QTEMP library. There will be a program and display file with names beginning with a "Q" (like QDZTD00001). Do a CRTDUPOBJ for the file and the program, duplicating and renaming them into a library of your choice. The name of the program and the display file must be the same.

5. In the future, use the CHGDTA command, substituting the name of the program from step 4.

- Craig Pelkie

Typing Quotes in SDA

If you have ever tried to enter quotes, apostrophes or other special characters on to a display screen using SDA, you may have run into some problems. If you just type them in, SDA will interpret them as SDA commands and get confused. This led me to many frustrating moments until I discovered an easy way to solve this problem.

The trick is to enter the special character as a normal character initially, and then change it to what you want afterward. For example, to enter the line:

Enter the customer's number, then "M" to modify

...first type it in like this:

'Enter the customerxs number, then xMx to modify'

Press the Enter key, then go back and type over the x's like this:

Enter the customer's number, then "M" to modify

- Jon Vote

BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS

LATEST COMMENTS

Support MC Press Online

$

Book Reviews

Resource Center

  • SB Profound WC 5536 Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application. You can find Part 1 here. In Part 2 of our free Node.js Webinar Series, Brian May teaches you the different tooling options available for writing code, debugging, and using Git for version control. Brian will briefly discuss the different tools available, and demonstrate his preferred setup for Node development on IBM i or any platform. Attend this webinar to learn:

  • SB Profound WP 5539More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT Generic IBM announced the E1080 servers using the latest Power10 processor in September 2021. The most powerful processor from IBM to date, Power10 is designed to handle the demands of doing business in today’s high-tech atmosphere, including running cloud applications, supporting big data, and managing AI workloads. But what does Power10 mean for your data center? In this recorded webinar, IBMers Dan Sundt and Dylan Boday join IBM Power Champion Tom Huntington for a discussion on why Power10 technology is the right strategic investment if you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux. In this action-packed hour, Tom will share trends from the IBM i and AIX user communities while Dan and Dylan dive into the tech specs for key hardware, including:

  • Magic MarkTRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now!  Request Now.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericForms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericIT security is a top priority for businesses around the world, but most IBM i pros don’t know where to begin—and most cybersecurity experts don’t know IBM i. In this session, Robin Tatam explores the business impact of lax IBM i security, the top vulnerabilities putting IBM i at risk, and the steps you can take to protect your organization. If you’re looking to avoid unexpected downtime or corrupted data, you don’t want to miss this session.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericCan you trust all of your users all of the time? A typical end user receives 16 malicious emails each month, but only 17 percent of these phishing campaigns are reported to IT. Once an attack is underway, most organizations won’t discover the breach until six months later. A staggering amount of damage can occur in that time. Despite these risks, 93 percent of organizations are leaving their IBM i systems vulnerable to cybercrime. In this on-demand webinar, IBM i security experts Robin Tatam and Sandi Moore will reveal:

  • FORTRA Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAManaging messages on your IBM i can be more than a full-time job if you have to do it manually. Messages need a response and resources must be monitored—often over multiple systems and across platforms. How can you be sure you won’t miss important system events? Automate your message center with the Robot Message Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAThe thought of printing, distributing, and storing iSeries reports manually may reduce you to tears. Paper and labor costs associated with report generation can spiral out of control. Mountains of paper threaten to swamp your files. Robot automates report bursting, distribution, bundling, and archiving, and offers secure, selective online report viewing. Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAFor over 30 years, Robot has been a leader in systems management for IBM i. With batch job creation and scheduling at its core, the Robot Job Scheduling Solution reduces the opportunity for human error and helps you maintain service levels, automating even the biggest, most complex runbooks. Manage your job schedule with the Robot Job Scheduling Solution. Key features include:

  • LANSA 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.

  • LANSAWhen it comes to creating your business applications, there are hundreds of coding platforms and programming languages to choose from. These options range from very complex traditional programming languages to Low-Code platforms where sometimes no traditional coding experience is needed. Download our whitepaper, The Power of Writing Code in a Low-Code Solution, and:

  • LANSASupply Chain is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. From raw materials for manufacturing to food supply chains, the journey from source to production to delivery to consumers is marred with inefficiencies, manual processes, shortages, recalls, counterfeits, and scandals. In this webinar, we discuss how:

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • Profound Logic Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application.

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra 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: