05
Tue, Nov
5 New Articles

The API Corner: Module, Module, Who's Got My Module?

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

It's time you learned how to use the List Service Program Information (QBNLSPGM) API.

 

A recent article of mine in iApplication Designer, "V6R1 CL: The Story Continues," prompted the following note from reader David S.: "I enjoyed your article on V6R1 (6.1) CL. One of the enhancements you mentioned reminded me of a question I have had for some time... [about] CL and RPG modules. If I change and recompile a module (the module may be used in multiple programs), how do I find which programs need to be updated/re-created to include the new module? Does 6.1 CL/RPG help with this?"

 

Unfortunately, 6.1 does not help in this specific area, but David's note did inspire me to provide a practical demonstration of how to use two types of APIs. The APIs are List and Open List, areas that we haven't talked about in this column yet. For the next several columns, we'll be developing an application that will find all of the places a module has been bound into a *SRVPGM or *PGM.

 

As we need to start somewhere, we will start with the List Service Program Information (QBNLSPGM) API, which is documented here. The QBNLSPGM API returns information about *SRVPGMs, similar to what is returned by the Display Service Program (DSPSRVPGM) command. In particular, the API can return information concerning what *MODULEs are bound into the *SRVPGM. The API takes four parameters:

 

Required Parameter Group:

1

Qualified user space name

Input

Char(20)

2

Format name

Input

Char(8)

3

Qualified service program name

Input

Char(20)

4

Error code

I/O

Char(*)


  Default Public Authority: *USE

  Threadsafe: No

The first parameter, Qualified user space name, is the name of the *USRSPC the API is to return information into. We will, in the program, be creating this *USRSPC using the Create User Space (QUSCRTUS) API. The first 10 bytes of the qualified name is the name of the *USRSPC object. The second 10 bytes is the name of the library containing the *USRSPC or one of the special values *CURLIB and *LIBL.

 

The second parameter, Format name, describes the type of information we want returned. The QBNLSPGM API supports several formats corresponding to the types of information that are available--procedure name exports, data imports, copyrights, etc. Format SPGL0100 is used to access *MODULE-related information. The format of the information returned with SPGL0100 can be found in the API documentation. The key piece of information we will be working with today is the bound module name located at decimal offset 20 of format SPGL0100. The QSYSINC/QRPGLESRC definition for format SPGL0100 is found in source member QBNLSPGM, and the first few fields of the format are shown below.

 

DQBNL010000       DS                                             

D*                                             Qbn LSPGM SPGL0100

D QBNSN00                 1     10                               

D*                                             Srvpgm Name       

D QBNSLIBN               11     20                               

D*                                             Srvpgm Library Name

D QBNBMN00               21     30                               

D*                                             Bound Module Name 

D QBNBMLN00              31     40                               

D*                                             Bound Module Library

D QBNSFILN00             41     50                               

D*                                             Source File Name  

D QBNSFLN00              51     60                               

D*                                             Source File Library

D QBNSFILM00             61     70                               

D*                                             Source File Member

 

 

Within the QSYSINC-provided data structure QBNL010000 are the fields QBNBMN00 (the Bound Module Name) and QBNSN00 (the service program name), two fields that are clearly of interest to us. Also in the data structure is a wealth of

additional information about the module. We won't be using these additional fields, but, for instance, field QBNSFILM00 is the Source File Member name used to create the *MODULE. If necessary, we could use this source member information to confirm that module X was indeed created from source member X, determine if module Y was really X renamed, etc. Reviewing all of the information that is available to you, even if you don't believe you need it initially, may very well suggest additional features your application may need to provide.

 

If you don't have the QSYSINC library installed on your system, you can install it with RSTLICPGM, specifying option 13 of the operating system. The QBNLSPGM API returns one occurrence of the QBNL010000 data structure for each *MODULE found bound into a *SRVPGM.

 

The third parameter, Qualified service program name, is the name of the *SRVPGM we want information about. The first 10 bytes of the qualified name can be a specific *SRVPGM name, a generic *SRVPGM name such as A*, or the special value *ALL. The second 10 bytes of the qualified name can be the name of a specific library or one of the special values *ALL, *ALLUSR, *CURLIB, *LIBL, or *USRLIBL.

 

The fourth parameter, Error code, is the standard error code structure we have seen before.

 

With that information out of the way, let's now write a sample program that displays all occurrences of a specific module that is found within one or more *SRVPGMs. Here's the initial code (and I stress initial because this code needs several improvements, which we will make before concluding on this topic in a future column):

 

h dftactgrp(*no)                                           

                                                           

dModUsage         pr                                       

d ModNam                        10    const                

d SrchLib                       10    const                

                                                           

dModUsage         pi                                       

d ModNam                        10    const                

d SrchLib                       10    const                

                                                           

d/copy qsysinc/qrpglesrc,qusec                             

d/copy qsysinc/qrpglesrc,qusgen                            

                                                            

dChkSrvPgmMod     pr                                       

dSetup            pr                                       

                                                           

dGenHdr           ds                  likeds(QUSH0100)             

d                                     based(ModLstSpcPtr)          

                                                                   

dObjLibNam        ds                                               

d                               10    inz('*ALL')                  

d ObjLib                        10                                 

                                                                   

dModLstSpcPtr     s               *                                 

dCount            s             10i 0                              

dNbrMods          s             10i 0                              

dHits             s             10i 0                              

dWait             s              1                                  

                                                                   

dModLstSpc        c                   'MODLUSRSPCQTEMP'            

                                                                   

 /free                                                              

                                                                   

  // check that the required parameters were passed                  

  if %parms < 2;                                                     

     dsply 'There are two required parameters:';                     

     dsply '1. The module you are searching for';                    

     dsply '2. The library to be searched in';                       

     dsply 'The program did not run.' ' ' Wait;                      

     *inlr = *on;                                                    

     return;                                                         

  endif;                                                             

                                                                      

  Setup();                                                           

                                                                     

  ChkSrvPgmMod();                                                     

                                                                     

  dsply (%char(Hits) + ' *SRVPGM instances of ' +        

         %trimr(ModNam) + ' found.') ' ' Wait;            

                                                                      

  *inlr = *on;                                                       

  return;                                                            

                                                                     

 /end-free                                                            

                                                                     

 *****************************************************************   

                                                                     

pChkSrvPgmMod     b                                                  

                                                                     

dChkSrvPgmMod     pi                                                 

                                                                      

dGetSrvPgmInfo    pr                  extpgm('QBNLSPGM')             

d QUsrSpcNam                    20    const                          

d Format                         8    const                          

d QSrvPgmNam                    20    const                          

d QUSEC                               likeds(QUSEC)                  

                                                                     

d/copy qsysinc/qrpglesrc,qbnlspgm                                     

                                                                    

dSrvPgmE          ds                  likeds(QBNL010000)            

d                                     based(SrvPgmEPtr)             

                                                                     

dSrvPgmEPtr       s               *                                 

                                                                    

 /free                                                              

                                                                     

  // Get the list of all *SRVPGMs and bound *MODULEs                

  GetSrvPgmInfo( ModLstSpc :'SPGL0100' :ObjLibNam :QUSEC);          

                                                                     

  if (GenHdr.QUSIS = 'C');                  

     SrvPgmEPtr = ModLstSpcPtr + GenHdr.QUSOLD;                     

     for NbrMods = 1 to GenHdr.QUSNBRLE;                            

         if SrvPgmE.QBNBMN00 = ModNam;                               

            dsply ('*SRVPGM: ' + %trimr(SrvPgmE.QBNSLIBN) +         

                   '/' + SrvPgmE.QBNSN00);                          

            Hits += 1;                                              

         endif;                                                      

         SrvPgmEPtr += GenHdr.QUSSEE;                               

     endfor;                                                        

  else;                                                             

     dsply ('Unable to access *SRVPGMs.');                          

  endif;                                                            

                                                                    

 /end-free                                                           

                                                                    

pChkSrvPgmMod     e                                                 

                                                                    

                                                                      

 *****************************************************************   

                                                                     

pSetUp            b                                                  

                                                                      

dSetUp            pi                                                 

                                                                     

dCrtUsrSpc        pr                  extpgm('QUSCRTUS')             

d SpcName                       20    const                          

d SpcAttr                       10    const                          

d SpcSiz                        10i 0 const                          

d SpcVal                         1    const                          

d SpcAut                        10    const                          

d SpcTxt                        50    const                          

d SpcRpl                        10    const options(*nopass)         

d QUSEC                               likeds(QUSEC) options(*nopass) 

d SpcDmn                        10    const options(*nopass)         

d SpcTfrSiz                     10i 0 const options(*nopass)         

d SpcSpcAln                      1    const options(*nopass)         

                                                                     

dGetUsrSpcPtr     pr                  extpgm('QUSPTRUS')             

d SpcName                       20    const                          

d UsrSpcPtr                       *                                  

d QUSEC                               likeds(QUSEC) options(*nopass) 

                                                                     

 /free                                                                

                                                                     

  // set Error code bytes provided to send exceptions                

  QUSBPRV = 0;                                                       

                                                                      

  // Set the library to search for *SRVPGMs                          

  ObjLib = SrchLib;                                                  

                                                                      

  // Create *USRSPC for module listing                               

  CrtUsrSpc( ModLstSpc :' ' :1 :x'00' :'*CHANGE' :' ' :'*YES' :QUSEC); 

                                                                       

  // Get pointer to *USRSPC for module listing                         

  GetUsrSpcPtr( ModLstSpc :ModLstSpcPtr :QUSEC);                       

                                                                       

 /end-free                                                              

                                                                       

pSetUp            e         

 

 

This program, MODUSAGE, takes two parameters. The first parameter is the name of the module we are looking for. The second parameter is the name of the library or one of the special values *ALL, *ALLUSR, *CURLIB, *LIBL, and *USRLIBL to search for *SRVPGMs. Given these two input parameters, the program then examines each *SRVPGM found in the specified library (or libraries in the case of a special value) and displays the qualified name of any *SRVPGM found that contains the specified *MODULE.

 

To compile MODUSAGE, use the command CRTBNDRPG MODUSAGE. To test MODUSAGE, in order to find all *SRVPGMs in library MYLIB that module MYMOD is bound to, use CALL MODUSAGE (MYMOD MYLIB).

 

As to how the program works, that will have to wait until our next column as we have run out of room in this issue of RPG Developer. There is, though, enough of the program shown above for you to use it for testing, and certainly feel free to examine the program in order to determine how it works. Hopefully, in the next column we'll confirm your understanding! And, yes, some of the style may appear a bit strange, but you will in time see why as we add more function to MODUSAGE.

 

One word of caution: While MODUSAGE accepts special values such as *LIBL, you may, for now, want to limit your testing to specific libraries (or at least to special values that do not include QSYS--for instance, *ALLUSR or *USRLIBL). Otherwise, you may end up with error message CPF3CAA--List is too large for user space MODLUSRSPC. This is one of the considerations that we will be addressing with a future enhancement to MODUSAGE.

 

Meanwhile, if you have other API questions, send them to me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. I'll see what I can do about answering your burning questions in future columns.

                                          

Bruce Vining

Bruce Vining is president and co-founder of Bruce Vining Services, LLC, a firm providing contract programming and consulting services to the System i community. He began his career in 1979 as an IBM Systems Engineer in St. Louis, Missouri, and then transferred to Rochester, Minnesota, in 1985, where he continues to reside. From 1992 until leaving IBM in 2007, Bruce was a member of the System Design Control Group responsible for OS/400 and i5/OS areas such as System APIs, Globalization, and Software Serviceability. He is also the designer of Control Language for Files (CLF).A frequent speaker and writer, Bruce can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 


MC Press books written by Bruce Vining available now on the MC Press Bookstore.

IBM System i APIs at Work IBM System i APIs at Work
Leverage the power of APIs with this definitive resource.
List Price $89.95

Now On Sale

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: