04
Mon, Nov
5 New Articles

TechTalk: Understanding QTEMP

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

From: Chris Ringer To: All

I'm on a S/36, but I'm trying to learn all I can about the AS/400. I'm hearing things about QTEMP. I believe that this is a temporary library. Is it a temporary library by user ID, workstation ID, or job? If I am running in the S/36E and one user runs a bunch of report programs that require a sort beforehand, the same file name will be used in all the jobs running.

I normally use ?WS??TIME? for the filename here on my S/36 and externally describe the file using ASNA's 400/RPG. I understand that this will cause problems on the AS/400 because the output of a sort will be a temporary file with a random name.

You can't use DDS in the case on the AS/400. I think I'll have to assign a known file name as the output of my S/36 sorts, externally describe it with ASNA and then plan on doing a clear file when moving to the AS/400. But if the file name I put in QTEMP is not by job, clear file may screw up some of the other reports simultaneously being generated by multiple copies of program X running at the same time.

From: Richard Shaler To: Chris Ringer

QTEMP is a temporary library that's unique for a job. When you sign-on, a QTEMP library is created and remains as a library that only your interactive job can use. If you submit a job to batch, a new job is started along with an associated QTEMP library. When the batch job ends, the QTEMP library goes away. With an interactive job, QTEMP does not go away until you sign off. So, if you create a file in an interactive job, that file will remain on the system unless you sign off or you explicitly get rid of it.

#GSORT on the AS/400 (native mode) is executed via the FMTDTA command. The output file must already exist but does not have to be defined with DDS. All files on the AS/400 have associated file definitions even though they may not have an associated DDS source member. For example, if you migrate a file from the S/36, you can run the display file field description (DSPFFD) command against it and find one field defined that is the length of the record. If the file has a key, a key field will also be defined.

Getting back to the sort. The #GSORT equivalent FMTDTA command requires your sort specifications to be contained in a separate source member. Before you execute the command, you could create the output file with the CRTPF command with a record length appropriate for you sort specifications. You could place this file in QTEMP. If the job is interactive you would either need to create a unique name for the file, or delete it or clear it, depending on whether the same file was going to be used in the same interactive job.

From: Pete Hall To: Chris Ringer

You can create a file with a variable name with DDS. You simply specify a source member name in the CRTPF command. As Richard noted, everything in QTEMP will go away when the job ends. It is important to note, however, that the definition of a "JOB" is slightly different on the AS/400 than it is on the S/36.

On the AS/400, for an interactive job, a "JOB" is everything that happens between sign-on and sign-off. On the S/36, job files go away when the first level procedure (?PROC?) ends. If you create work files in QTEMP, they might already exist when you execute an interactive menu option. Your OCL sorts will execute without modification in the S/36E. If you plan to convert them to FMTDTA however, you lose the ability to evaluate run-time substitutions and conditional branching.

FMTDTA is pretty much identical to the S/36 SORT procedure in this respect. It is fairly easy to convert OCL sorts with run-time substitution to OPNQRYF, and those without will generally be better off as logical views. In regard to porting your ASNA record definitions, you should be aware that although ASNA allows you to redefine fields within a record, DDS does not. Files which contain more than one record format (header and detail records, for instance) must be translated into several physical files, one for each record format, linked by a logical file in order to use field level DDS.

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: