RE: Required products for a new i user?

["McKown, John" <John.Mckown@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx 
> [mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Nathan Andelin
> Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2008 11:12 AM
> To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
> Subject: Re: Required products for a new i user?
>
> > From: "McKown, John"
> > We are 95%+ COBOL. Most of the rest is CA-Easytrieve.
>
> Easytrieve was one of my favorite tools for reports and 
> updating database tables in batch under MVS.  I liked the 
> syntax compatibility with COBOL.  It was easy to learn.  But 
> that was quite a few years ago.  Can you tell me whether they 
> ever added support for interactive screens?  You may be 
> disappointed if you were expecting an IBM i version.  I'm not 
> aware of one.

I am not aware of any interactive use for Easytrieve on the mainframe.
It may exist in the Windows version.

> Under IBM i the newest compilers for ILE languages (C, RPG, 
> COBOL, and CL) are bundled in one licensed product.  Heritage 
> compilers (older versions) are another product.  My 
> transition from COBOL to RPG went smoothly, and I've been 
> happy with RPG ever since.  CL is a gem, too.
>
> Nathan.

Looks like my dislike for RPG was based on an old tutorial I found on
the web. I need to look at the latest ILE version to see. Of course, it
doesn't much matter. I don't write Easytrieve and rarely any COBOL. If
the compilers are all bundled together and I'm given free reign for my
"ad hoc" stuff, then I'll probably use REXX or C. 

--
John McKown 
Systems Engineer IV
IT

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