Expert: Michael Corbo - 7/18/2001

Question
Hello Michael,

Our company (Advanced Marketing Services, symbol MKT on NASDAQ) is committed to migrating our warehouse management system from a VAX/Alpha cluster to a package system (PkMS, from Manhattan Associates) on an AS400 platform.  There is an interface (Mercator) to shuttle data back and forth between an Oracle enterprise suite of packages and PkMS.  We have literally spent millions, and the effort is an ongoing one, with a final "big bang" conversion early next year.

I've written applications code for 25 years, primarily using high-level languages (various flavors of BASIC and IDML, as well as systems scripts and macro assembler code), on all kinds of Data General and DEC systems.  I'm also proficient as a VMS systems manager.

I will be tasked to, among other things, write RPG code and CL scripts for IS support and end-users at Corporate headquarters and the distribution centers.

In the meantime, I spend most of my time supporting (and enhancing) the existing legacy systems, on which I am expert.  Therefore, time is extremely limited and precious, yet I must obtain AS400 skills quickly.

I was looking at the Manta CBT interactive training courses, specifically, their program development combination pack, containing tutorials for RPG and CL programming, working with DB2 databases (on which the RPG-written PkMS system is based), and using SQL.

Have you heard of these courses, and if so, could you comment on whether or not they would be a worthy investment of money and (especially) time?

I guess my question, in general, is: while I am a seasoned programming and systems professional, I'm also an AS400 novice, so do you have recommendations or advice for choosing a quick and effective training path?

Answer
Dale,

Congratulatios on your move to an AS/400 or eServer iSeries as is is now known.  Manta CBT course are pretty good, although I would hate to comment and send you there as it's been years since I took one.  

In my opinion the best courses are the ones that IBHM offers.  It starts out with an on-line course which can then be continued through live classes.

http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/eserver/iseries/institute/ct6prrg.htm

should get you to the rpg/iv programming education roadmap.

Mike