This online workshop covers CL from start to finish. The "Control Language Programming" class introduces Control Language and helps you understand its primal position in the IBM i world, including its role in the Integrated Language Environment (ILE).

Duration: 5 days
Next class: 23-27 August 2010
11am-5pm Eastern, with breaks for lab exercises and lunch.

Who Should Attend
This class is appropriate for programmers who need to write Control Language programs to direct processes on the server.

Prerequisites
A working knowledge of IBM i user interface, operations, and programming tools is recommended. Previous programming experience on another hardware platform may be helpful.

What You Will Accomplish
At the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Enter Control Language commands into the system
• Use the CL prompt facilitity
• Compile CL programs
• Define and process variables in a CL program
• Use CL’s program control structures
• Call programs and pass parameters to them
• Handle errors which may occur during the running of a CL program
• Use CL to process data files and displays
• Process system information from data areas and system values
• Create customized user-defined commands
• Understand CL’s role in the Integrated Language Environment (ILE)

What You Will Receive
You will receive:

• Custom printed handout, containing class notes
• Completion certificate

Course Outline

The class covers these topics:

• What is CL?
• Control Language Command Names
• Command Parameters
• The IBM i User Interface
• Creating CL Programs
• The Structure of a CL Program
• Declaring Program Variables
• Manipulating Variables with the CHGVAR Command
• CL Control Structures
• Expressions
• Controlling Workflow
• Error Handling
• Passing Parameters
• Retrieving and Changing External Attributes
• Files and Data Areas
• Using IBM-Supplied APIs
• Displaying and Changing Command Properties
• Understanding the Job Log
• Understanding the Integrated Language Environment
• User-Defined Commands

Lab Exercises

• Declaring and Manipulating Variables
• Using Expressions
• Controlling Program Flow
• Error Handling
• Calling Programs
• Passing Parameters
• Processing Database Files
• Using Display Files
• Processing an Outfile
• Retrieving External Attributes
• Reading Data Areas
• Using System Values
• Creating CL Procedures
• Creating Commands