Intro to the AS/400

Chapter 1 - Welcome to the AS/400

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Objectives

Define minicomputer Explain the 3 types of AS/400 software

Explain the 4 types of display screens Show how the various screens interrelate
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What is a Minicomputer?

Size
Speed Users

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What is a Minicomputer?
Size

Speed

Users

PC
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Mid Range

Mainframe

AS/400 History
1969 1975 1977 1978 System 3 S/32 S/34 S/38
Architecture Productivity Features New Features

1983

S/36
Ease of use Features

1988

AS/400

2001
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iSeries

So what is an AS/400?

Minicomputer or Midrange computer Plug-and-go system Easy to use, menu driven

AS stands for Application System

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Software Architecture
User

AS/400
Application Software

Main Memory System Hardware

Operating System Software LIC Hardware

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Application software

Primary interface for users Performs user functions such as:

Payroll Inventory Ordering

management

Can be purchased or developed

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Operating System

Called OS/400 Provides access to common system functions such as:

Security System

Monitoring functions (copy, delete)

Programmer

Rarely accessed by application users

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Licensed Internal Code

Programs that perform the most basic system functions:

Read/write
Communications Security

Interfaces directly with system hardware Often stored on read-only chips Provides a buffer between application code and hardware
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Emulation Software

Allows a PC to operate as an AS/400 workstation There are many products available that allow AS/400 sessions on a PC

They usually provide (at least) a Windows frame with common Windows functions:
Cut/paste Display

appearance Keyboard Mapping

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Standard Green Screen Interface

Windows functions are accessed with: Command bar Button bar

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Signing On
Sign On System . . . . . : Subsystem . . . . : Display . . . . . : User . . . . . . Password . . . . Program/procedure Menu . . . . . . Current library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ S1010045 QINTER QPADEV0012

e.g. INTROXX

Your password will not appear when you type it Press Enter
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Main Menu
MAIN Select one of the following: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. User tasks Office tasks General system tasks Files, libraries, and folders Programming Communications Define or change the system Problem handling Display a menu Information Assistant options Client Access tasks AS/400 Main Menu System: Memphis

90. Sign off Selection or command ===> _________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ F3=Exit F4=Prompt F9=Retrieve F12=Cancel F13=Information Assistant F23=Set initial menu
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The AS/400 Screens

Menu Screens Information Screens Entry Screens List Screens

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Menu screen components

MAIN AS/400 Main Menu System: Select one of the following: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. User tasks Office tasks General system tasks Files, libraries, and folders Programming Communications Define or change the system Problem handling Display a menu Information Assistant options PC Support tasks BRUCE

Header Menu choices

90. Sign off

Command line Function keys Message area

Selection or command ===> _____________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ F3=Exit F4=Prompt F9=Retrieve F12=Cancel F13=Information Assistant F23=Set initial menu

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Menu Screens

Menus allow you to locate system functions such as:

Copying a file Starting a utility program Changing system parameters

There are two types of menus:

System

menus Utility menus

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System Menus

System menus have an ID in the upper left corner of the screen You can access system menus:
With

the GO command and menu ID (e.g. GO Main) menu options

Through

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Utility Menus

Utility menus are accessed by starting a utility program. Two ways to start a utility program:

With a CL command (STRPDM) Through menu options

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Information Screens

Header

Body

Function keys

MAIN AS/400 Main Menu .............................................................................. : AS/400 Main Menu - Help : : : : The AS/400 Main (MAIN) menu allows you to select the general task : : you want to do. : : : : How to Use a Menu : : : : To select a menu option, type the option number and press Enter. : : : : To run a command, type the command and press Enter. For assistance : : in selecting a command, press F4 (Prompt) without typing anything. : : For assistance in entering a command, type the command and press F4 : : (Prompt). To see a previous command you entered, press F9 : : (Retrieve). : : : : To go to another menu, use the Go to Menu (GO) command. Type GO : : followed by the menu ID, then press the Enter key. For example, to : : More... : : F3=Exit help F10=Move to top F11=InfoSeeker F12=Cancel : : F13=Information Assistant F14=Print help : : : :............................................................................:

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Information Screens

Information screens display helpful text Information screen text can include:
How Error

to instructions

information and correction procedures

Monitoring

information

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Entry Screens

Header

Copy File (CPYF) Type choices, press Enter. From file . . . . . . Library . . . . . . To file . . . . . . . Library . . . . . . From member . . . . . To member or label . . Replace or add records Create file . . . . . Print format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __________ *LIBL __________ *LIBL *FIRST *FIRST *NONE *NO *CHAR Name Name, *LIBL, *CURLIB Name, *PRINT Name, *LIBL, *CURLIB Name, generic*, *FIRST, *ALL Name, *FIRST, *FROMMBR *NONE, *ADD, *REPLACE... *NO, *YES *CHAR, *HEX

Body

Function keys Message area

F3=Exit F4=Prompt F5=Refresh F13=How to use this display

F10=Additional parameters F24=More keys

Bottom F12=Cancel

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Entry Screen Body

From file . . . . . . Library . . . . . . To file . . . . . . . Library . . . . . . From member . . . . . To member or label . . Replace or add records Create file . . . . . Print format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *LIBL *LIBL *FIRST *FIRST *NONE *NO *CHAR Name Name, *LIBL, *CURLIB Name, *PRINT Name, *LIBL, *CURLIB Name, generic*, *FIRST, *ALL Name, *FIRST, *FROMMBR *NONE, *ADD, *REPLACE... *NO, *YES *CHAR, *HEX

Field Descriptions
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Data Entry Fields

Entry Field Values

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Entry Screens

Allow you to send information and instructions to the system Also called prompt screens Tab key moves the cursor between entry fields

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List Screens

Header
List type . . . . . . .

Work with Libraries Using PDM *ALL Position to . . . . . ___________ 4=Delete 9=Save 5=Display 10=Restore ...

Options
Body Command line Function keys

Type options, press Enter. 2=Change 3=Copy 7=Rename 8=Display description Opt Library YOURLIB01 __ YOURLIB02 __ YOURLIB03 __ YOURLIB04 __ YOURLIB05 __ YOURLIB06 Type *PROD *PROD *PROD *PROD *PROD *PROD Text

Bottom Parameters or command ===> _________________________________________________________________________ F3=Exit F4=Prompt F5=Refresh F6=Create F9=Retrieve F10=Command entry F23=More options F24=More keys

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Message area

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List Screens

Display system objects such as:

Programs Files Jobs

Allow you to perform functions against listed items such as:

Copy Delete Rename
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Navigating the AS/400 screens

Menu options
GO CL commands

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Screen Interface - menu options

Main Menu
Option 4

Files, Libraries, and Folders

Option 1

Files
Option 1

Work with Files (WRKF)

Fill entry field, press Enter

Work with Files

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Screen Interface
Main Menu F3 F12 Files, Libraries, and Folders F12 Files
Go Main

F12
F3 Work with Files (WRKF) F12 Work with Files
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Page Up & Page Down

MAIN AS/400 Main Menu .............................................................................. : AS/400 Main Menu - Help : : : : The AS/400 Main (MAIN) menu allows you to select the general task : : you want to do. : : : : How to Use a Menu : : : : To select a menu option, type the option number and press Enter. : : : : To run a command, type the command and press Enter. For assistance : : in selecting a command, press F4 (Prompt) without typing anything. : : For assistance in entering a command, type the command and press F4 : : (Prompt). To see a previous command you entered, press F9 : : (Retrieve). : : : : To go to another menu, use the Go to Menu (GO) command. Type GO : : followed by the menu ID, then press the Enter key. For example, to : : More... : : F3=Exit help F10=Move to top F11=InfoSeeker F12=Cancel : : F13=Information Assistant F14=Print help : : : :............................................................................:
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More Means the screen continues Use the Page Up and Page Down keys to see the next screen
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On-line Help

F1 Contextual
General

help

Screen Function

keys List options

Menu

option help Entry field help Message help

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Additional Message Help

Header
Message ID . . . . . . : Date sent . . . . . . :

Additional Message Information CPA0701 01/14/99 Time sent . . . . . . : 16:42:11

Cause Recovery Replies

Message . . . . :

CPF2103 received by ORDERRPT at 100. (C D I R)

Cause . . . . . : Control language (CL) program ORDERRPT in library YOURLIBXX detected an error at statement number 100. Message text for CPF2103 is: Library YOURLIBXX already exists in library list. Recovery . . . : This inquiry message can be avoided by changing the program. Monitor for the error (MONMSG command) and perform error recovery within the program. To continue, choose a reply value. Possible choices for replying to message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : C -- Cancel the CL program. D -- Dump the CL program variables and cancel the CL program. I -- Ignore the failing command. R -- Try the failing command again. Bottom Press Enter to continue. F3=Exit F6=Print F9=Display message details F10=Display messages in job log F12=Cancel F21=Select assistance level
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Points to Remember

The AS/400 is a midrange computer geared toward ease of use and application systems The simplest way to execute functions on the AS/400 is through the screen interface system The AS/400 is one of the easiest to use and most cost effective computers ever produced
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