Intro to the AS/400
Chapter 1 - Welcome to the AS/400
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Copyright 2001 by Janson Industries
Objectives
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
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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
Copyright 2001 by Janson Industries
Mid Range
Mainframe
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AS/400 History
1969
System 3
1975
S/32
1977
1978
S/34
1983
S/38
Architecture
Productivity
Features
S/36
Ease of use
Features
New Features
1988
AS/400
2001
iSeries
Copyright 2001 by Janson Industries
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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
management
 Ordering

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
 Programmer

functions (copy, delete)
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
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

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 .
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____________
S1010045
QINTER
QPADEV0012
e.g. INTROXX
____________
____________
____________
Your password will not appear when you type it
Press Enter
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Copyright 2001 by Janson Industries
Main Menu
MAIN
AS/400 Main Menu
System:
Memphis
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
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


Header
Menu choices
AS/400 Main Menu
System:
BRUCE
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
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)
 Through
menu options
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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
:
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:
:
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
to” instructions
 Error
information and correction
procedures
 Monitoring
information
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Entry Screens




Header
Body
Function
keys
Message
area
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 . . . . .
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F3=Exit F4=Prompt F5=Refresh
F13=How to use this display
__________
*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
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 . . . . .
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Field Descriptions
Copyright 2001 by Janson Industries
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*LIBL
*LIBL
*FIRST
*FIRST
*NONE
*NO
*CHAR
Data Entry
Fields
Name
Name, *LIBL, *CURLIB
Name, *PRINT
Name, *LIBL, *CURLIB
Name, generic*, *FIRST, *ALL
Name, *FIRST, *FROMMBR
*NONE, *ADD, *REPLACE...
*NO, *YES
*CHAR, *HEX
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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Copyright 2001 by Janson Industries
List Screens

Header
Work with Libraries Using PDM
List type . . . . . . .




Options
Body
Command
line
Function
keys
*ALL
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
Position to . . . . . ___________
4=Delete
9=Save
5=Display
10=Restore ...
Text
Bottom
Parameters or command
===> _________________________________________________________________________
F3=Exit
F4=Prompt
F5=Refresh
F6=Create
F9=Retrieve
F10=Command entry
F23=More options
F24=More keys
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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Copyright 2001 by Janson Industries
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
:
:
:
:............................................................................:
Copyright 2001 by Janson Industries
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
31
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Additional Message Help

Additional Message Information
Header
Message ID . . . . . . :
Date sent . . . . . . :

Cause

Recovery

Replies
Message . . . . :
CPA0701
01/14/99
Time sent . . . . . . :
16:42:11
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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Copyright 2001 by Janson Industries
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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Copyright 2001 by Janson Industries