Expert: Concise Systems/Laird Scranton - 9/10/2001

Question
Dear Concise Systems/Laird Scranton,

I think you might be able to help me.  For the last 12 years, I'm have been a Sr. Systems Analyst at a large Insurance data processing center in Scranton Pa (go figure.. small world).  I work on workstations connected to a main frame in COBOL, CICS, DB2 SQL.  I'm half way to a Software Engineering Degree fron the U. of Scranton.

My situation is this,  I'm currently applying for a job that uses RPG and CL on an AS400..   it would be a great job for me and I want it very very much.
I have no question that I have the aptitude to learn RPG and CL on the job, my only problem is convincing the interviewer of this.

My question to you..  where can I find on the net  a good intro to the RPG CL AS400.. (I've had RPG in college and A'ced the class, but that is all I know about it.)

Is there any other advise you can give me that might help?

Thanks, Parker  

Answer
A good place to start is at www.midrangecomputing.com.  You are likely to find AS/400 education resources advertised there, including self-instruction courses.  You can learn CL language - a basic set of commands which let you control AS/400 jobs and devices - in a few months.  It takes longer to learn to program in RPG, but you could learn on-the-job with the right employer.  The AS/400 is a great machine from a programmer's standpoint - it's worth the effort to learn it.  Good luck!

Laird Scranton
Concise Systems