Ask the Experts

Ask the Experts

• Run a stored procedure in AS/400 with limited profile access

  ISeries security expert Carol Woodbury explains how to run a stored procedure in AS/400 while restricting the access of the profile that makes the call.  Continue Reading

• Performing full AS/400 backups

  ISeries backup and recovery expert Ken Graap discusses backup and recovery needs on AS/400.  Continue Reading

• Using an FTP script to send a text file from AIX to AS/400

  ISeries PC/Windows connectivity expert Shahar Mor explains how to send a text file from an AIX machine on Linux to a remote AS/400.  Continue Reading

• How to FTP an IFS file on AS/400

  ISeries PC/Windows connectivity expert Shahar Mor discusses how to FTP an IFS file to another system.  Continue Reading

• Monitoring logins over TCP/IP using FTP

  ISeries PC/Windows connectivity expert explains how to set FTP exit programs to monitor user activity.  Continue Reading

• An FTP script to get a file from a PC to AS/400

  ISeries PC/Windows connectivity expert Shahar Mor gives an example of an FTP script that will move a file from a PC to AS/400.  Continue Reading

• Using a Windows FTP server to pull data from an IFS directory

  ISeries PC/Windows connectivity expert Shahar Mor explains how to use a naming format to pull data from an IFS directory.  Continue Reading

• Viewing the job log of an *ALLOBJ user

  ISeries security expert Carol Woodbury explains how a non-*ALLOBJ user can view the job log of a user with *ALLOBJ access.  Continue Reading

• BRMS backup jobs: Clearing expired save files

  ISeries backup and recovery expert Ken Graap explains how a user can clear expired save files during BRMS backup jobs.  Continue Reading

• Shrinking the BRMS backup window

  ISeries backup and recovery expert Ken Graap discusses how to cut the time it takes to complete a BRMS backup.  Continue Reading

• Completing an unattended Option 21 save to tape

  ISeries backup and recovery expert Ken Graap explains how to do an unattended Option 21 save to tape.  Continue Reading

• Executing a CL command on AS/400

  ISeries backup and recovery expert Ken Graap explains how to use FTP, the QUOTE command and the RCMD command to execute a CL command on AS/400.  Continue Reading

• Removing *ALLOBJ access and raising system security levels

  ISeries security expert Carol Woodbury explains how to smoothly transition to a higher system security level.  Continue Reading

• SQL Server Database and Java

  DB2/400 and DB2 UDB expert Kent Milligan explains how to access SQL Server Database with Java.  Continue Reading

• Identifying large Integrated File System files

  ISeries backup and recovery expert Ken Graap discusses how to find large files in the integrated file system (IFS).  Continue Reading

• Dynamic SQL statement in an RPG program

  DB2/400 and DB2 UDB expert Kent Milligan discusses how to substring a character field on an SQL join statement.  Continue Reading

• Risk associated with *ALLOBJ access in iSeries

  ISeries security expert Carol Woodbury discusses the risks associated with granting users *ALLOBJ access.  Continue Reading

• Group and object authority with level 20 security

  ISeries security expert Carol Woodbury discusses group and object authority on security level 20.  Continue Reading

• IBM AS/400 client access and Windows Vista

  ISeries PC/Windows connectivity expert Shahar Mor discusses client access support for Windows Vista.  Continue Reading

• Copying IFS files with QCMDEXC as SQL stored procedure

  ISeries PC/Windows connectivity expert Shahar Mor discusses how to copy IFS files to AS/400 with the QCMDEXC command.  Continue Reading

• Spool files to PDF with InfoPrint Server

  iSeries Print/Output Management expert Chip Milosch discusses how to create a PDF files using spool files from InfoPrint Server.  Continue Reading

• AS/400 security auditing and *ALLOBJ access

  System i security expert Carol Woodbury discusses *ALLOBJ access with an AS/400 security auditor.  Continue Reading

• Audit journal monitoring of *ALLOBJ profiles

  System i security expert Carol Woodbury discusses why QHST is not a reliable source for *ALLOBJ profile monitoring, and explains why the i5/OS audit journal should be used instead.  Continue Reading

• AS/400 security levels

  System i security expert Carol Woodbury explains the difference between level 30 security and level 40 security on AS/400.  Continue Reading

• Database pooling on iSeries

  Learn why database pooling on iSeries causes jobs on server to remain active.  Continue Reading

• Granting a user SAVSYS authority

  I Series security expert Carol Woodbury explains how to give a user authority to complete a save.  Continue Reading

• Where is user password information stored on AS/400?

  System i security expert Carol Woodbury briefly discusses user password information on AS/400.  Continue Reading

• Password minimum age policy in OS/400

  System i security expert Carol Woodbury addresses minimum age validation in OS/400.  Continue Reading

• Can user passwords in active directory be checked?

  System i security expert Carol Woodbury briefly addresses customizing authentication on iSeries.  Continue Reading

• Back up your System i over the holiday

  Need to make sure your System i is backed up over a holiday or long weekend? I5/OS expert Kenneth Graap helps a user set up a routine that will do a complete back up when the admins are away.  Continue Reading

• Saving the integrated file system

  System i backup and recovery expert Ken Graap explains the correct string for saving the integrated file system.  Continue Reading

• Imaging products for iSeries

  ISeries expert Ken Graap discusses imaging on the iSeries platform.  Continue Reading

• Restoring a spool file

  ISeries backup and recovery expert Ken Graap explains why a user cannot restore a spool file on his system running on V5R3.  Continue Reading

• Using the notification function of Advanced Job Scheduler

  ISeries backup and recovery expert Ken Graap explains how to use job scheduler to send notifications using the Change Notification Command.  Continue Reading

• Error while connecting Client Access v4r5 to to an AS/400 on v4r5

  Expert Shahar Mor explains why a user receives an error message while trying to connect Client Access v4r5 to to an AS/400 on v4r5.  Continue Reading

• Viewing AS/400 directories and folders in Windows

  Expert Shahar Mor explains how to access AS/400 folders though Windows.  Continue Reading

• Creating an SQL command to view two files as one

  Expert Kent Milligan explains an SQL statement that will allow two separate transaction files to be viewed as a single file.  Continue Reading

• Optimizing disk occupation

  Iseries database expert Kent Milligan explains how to optimize disk occupation with the Reuse Deleted Records option.  Continue Reading

• DB2 Connect help

  ISeries database expert Kent Milligan explains why a user receives an error message while trying to pass data from a Unix server with OS/400 V5R2.  Continue Reading

• AS/400 SQL transaction file help

  Iseries database expert Kent Milligan offers an index for an efficient way of selecting the last transactions in a transaction file.  Continue Reading

• SQL packages on remote servers

  ISeries expert Kent Milligan offers AS/400 advice on SQL packages to remote servers.  Continue Reading

• Working with nulls in RPGLE

  ISeries expert Kent Milligan offers help for working with nulls in RPGLE.  Continue Reading

• i5/OS defect when submitting a CHGPF command to an existing physical file

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• Storing XML data in a CLOB field

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• Using indexes on DB2 for i5/OS to improve performance

  Expert Kent Milligan explains how to use indexes to optimize SELECT statement performance on i5/OS.  Continue Reading

• Get descriptive headers in Excel tables when transferring data

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• Using object level security to control data access

  Expert Carol Woodbury explains how to use object level security to control employees' access to files without limiting their method of access.  Continue Reading

• Preventing password hacking

  How to securely implement iSeries for overseas operation.  Continue Reading

• Gaining control over use of SST profiles

  Expert Carol Woodbury explains the only way to extract SST profile information on iSeries servers.  Continue Reading

• Establishing user accountability in AS400

  Expert Carol Woodbury explains what can be done in AS400 to establish accountability for users logged on to the QSECOFR profile.  Continue Reading

• Consider Backup menu alternatives for iSeries

  iSeries backup and recovery expert Kenneth Graap offers his thoughts on the using the backup menu.  Continue Reading

• Saving and restoring job scheduler jobs on AS400

  AS400 backup and recovery expert Kenneth Graap offers some advice about saving and restoring job scheduler jobs.  Continue Reading

• An example of using COUNT() in a STRSQL statement

  iSeries expert Kenneth Graap gives an example of using COUNT() in a STRSQL statement.  Continue Reading

• See who's browsing secret file records

  Expert Ken Graap explains to a reader how he can monitor users who view top secret information using the AS/400 RUNQRY command.  Continue Reading

• Creating a user profile from a file

  iSeries i5/OS expert Ken Graap helps a user with creating a user profile from a file.  Continue Reading

• Advanced Job Scheduler help

  iSeries expert Ken Graap helps a reader build a CL Program to monitor for job completion using Advanced Job Scheduler on iSeries.  Continue Reading

• How do I retrieve the source for an output queue description to put in to a CL program?

  iSeries systems management advice from expert Scott Ingvaldson: Retrieving the source for an output queue description to put in to a CL program.  Continue Reading

• Is there a way to get and modify the source for QDSIGNON2?

  iSeries systems management expert offers help on how to personalize the initial sign-on screen.  Continue Reading

• Force AS/400 passwords to have uppercase and lowercase letters

  One Search400.com member asked, "Is there a way to force passwords in the AS/400 to have uppercase and lowercase letters?  Continue Reading

• Passing parameters in an ILE RPG module

  iSeries application development expert John Blenkinsop explains about passing parameters in an ILE RPG module.  Continue Reading

• Importing iSeries data directly into an Excel spreadsheet

  Kent Milligan, DB2 UDB expert helps a Search400.com member t import iSeries data directly into an Excel spreadsheet .  Continue Reading

• What's happening to my subfile?

  Search400.com development expert John Blenkinsop helps an iSeries user out with a subfile problem.  Continue Reading

• Configuring the iSeries to send email

  Systems management expert Rich Belles explains how to configuring the iSeries to send email.  Continue Reading

• SQL statement error

  DB2 expert Kent Milligan explains why this Search400.com member is receiving an error , "Position 1 Null values not allowed in column or variable VC_EST_PAYMENT. "  Continue Reading

• What happening to my subfile?

  I am writing a program using subfiles. My subfile is doing something strange. When I call the program it displays on the last page of records in the subfile. I need it to display from the first record it finds down. I assume this can be corrected ...  Continue Reading

• How do I automate a full system backup on my i5 server?

  Backup and recovery expert Ken Graap explains how to automate a full system backup on the i5 server.  Continue Reading

• How can I save and restore spool file data as part of my backup/recovery process?

  Search400.com expert Ken Graap explains how to save and restore spool file data as part of a backup/recovery process.  Continue Reading

• Disabling QTSTRQS on AS400

  Can I disable QTSTRQS on AS400 (V5R3)? What is this profile used for?  Continue Reading

• Error message not displaying correctly when user has not established a 5250 connection

  We've created our own program to do additional password validation, but we're running into problems displaying the error message. We used the sample program from the iSeries Security Reference Manual as a template. Messages are sent using the ...  Continue Reading

• Adopted authority and ALLOBJ special authority

  I have two questions about security:

  1. How can we use the adopted authority for users that have access to the command line?

  2. If I have 800 users working on an i5/OS400, what will be the acceptable average for users that have ALLOBJ ...  Continue Reading

  3. Locking down FTP from AS/400 to PC

     Is there any to locked down FTP so that a person on a PC can't FTP a file from the AS/400 to their PC?  Continue Reading

  4. Resetting the SST user profile

     One member asks, "Can the SST user profile be reset? My company changed all default users. I have QSECOFR access. " Search400.com security expert Carol Woodbury responds.  Continue Reading

  5. Backing up the iSeries directly to a DVD device

     One Search400.com expert writes, "I have a iSeries model 150 on V4R1, and on my PC I have a DVD/CDROM-write. I want to use that device to have a backup directly from my iSeries. Is this possible?"  Continue Reading

  6. Printing AFP output

     One Search400.com member writes, "What non-IBM printers support advanced function printing (AFP) on the iSeries? Is there a list of HP printers that support AFP? Does the printer have to be *IPDS compatible?" iSeries printing/output expert Chip ...  Continue Reading

  7. Answering and deleting messages in QSYSOPR message queue

     One Serch400.com member writes, "What controls a user's ability to be allowed to answer and (especially) delete messages in the QSYSOPR message queue? How can we restrict them?"  Continue Reading

  8. Managing the iSeries Navigator Application Administration functions

     One Search400.com member writes, "We have the need to allow a support profile that does not have *ALLOBJ authority to view a production user's profile joblog. We have found the way to address this via Skyview/Ops Navigator/Host Applications/...  Continue Reading

  9. Should the subsystems be shut down?

     One Search400.com member writes, "We have an old model F35 AS/400. I have been advised to do a SAVSYS. Do I need to shut down the subsystems prior to doing save system?" Backup and recovery expert Ken Graap responds.  Continue Reading

  10. Why are the locked objects shown as addresses only

      One Search400.com member writes, "Why are the locked objects shown as addresses only and not by name, library and type?"  Continue Reading

  11. What does the QDBSRVnn job do?

      One Search400.com member writes, "What does the QDBSRVnn job do?"  Continue Reading

  12. Printers remain in a PND status

      One Search400.com member writes, "We have three *IPDS printers attached to one e-Twinax controller -- all sharing the same IP. All spool files sent to these three printers remain in a PND status, forever. What can be done to clear this?" Backup and...  Continue Reading

  13. Finding the value for the 'message key' parameter

      One Search400.com member writes, "I am trying to set up a reply to a message that I am monitoring for. How do I find the value for the 'message key' parameter for the sndrpy command?"  Continue Reading

  14. Changing user profile authorities

      One Search400.com member writes, "When changing a user profile CHGUSRPRF USRPRF(PERSON) SUPGRPPRF(PERSONALLO), when does the authorities of the supplemental group PERSONALLO go into affect for user PERSON? In this case PERSONALLO has *ALLOBJ special...  Continue Reading

  15. Print PDF documents that are stored in IFS

      One Search400.com member writes, "How can I print PDF documents that are stored in IFS? The PDF's contain images and text; I want to print them on Laser printers with CL code."  Continue Reading

  16. Performance degradation

      One Search400.com member writes, "If the cache battery failed for the iSeries system (RAID5), is the system performance degraded?" Systems management expert Rich Belles says yes.  Continue Reading

  17. Extract info from the i5 into an Excel database file

      One Search400.com member writes, "I am the sales/marketing manager for a telephone company. We use an i5 system. How can I extract information from the i5 into an Excel database file? I need customer mailing information for direct mailers, and I ...  Continue Reading

  18. Profile without ALLOBJ authority to view joblog

      One Search400.com member asks, "We have the need to allow a support profile that does not have *ALLOBJ authority to view a production user profile's joblog. We have found the way to address this via Skyview/Ops Navigator/Host Applications/Customize...  Continue Reading

  19. Answer and delete in the QSYSOPR message queue

      One Search400.com member writes, "What controls a user's ability to be allowed to answer and (especially) delete messages in the QSYSOPR message queue? How can we restrict them?" Security expert Carol Woodbury explains.  Continue Reading

  20. Working with ODBC and dates

      One Search400.com member writes, "I use Business Objects and Viewpoint to access DB2/400 via ODBC. Since the new year some PTF's were applied (I don't know which ones) and now any SQL that converts strings to dates fails. The iSeries is managed ...  Continue Reading

  21. Run command on a PC

      One Search400.com member writes, "I want to start a .Wav file from my iSeries. It works with the STRPCCMD but the length of the parameter is limited to 123, which is too small. Are there any alternatives?" PC/Windows connectivity expert Shahar Mor ...  Continue Reading

  22. Working with the SAVSYS command

      We have an old model F35 AS/400. I have been advised to do a SAVSYS. Do I need to shut down the sub-systems prior to doing save system?  Continue Reading

  23. What is a Decimal Data Error?

      One Search400.com member writes, "Can you please tell me what a Decimal Data error is, and what is the scenario in which it is received?" Search400.com's application development expert John Blenkinsop explains.  Continue Reading

  24. Problems with print screen function on iSeries CA since upgrade

      One Search400.com user writes, "I am having an issue using the print screen function on iSeries Client Access since we upgraded it to 5.7." iSeries printing/output expert Chip Milosch offers some advice.  Continue Reading

  25. Finding users with passwords the same as the profile

      One Search400.com member writes, "We have eight iSeries systems, with the same user ID's on them, plus our clients user ID's. We need to check to see if user profiles are EQ to user passwords. Would IBM API's QSYRUPWD and qsycupwd be used for this...  Continue Reading

  26. Print a PDF file from the iSeries

      One user writes, "I'm having trouble with embedded spaces with the STRPCCMD command. The following works when I type it into the Windows start, run box: "C:Program FilesAdobeAcrobat 6.0acrobat.exe /p M:Blueprintssample.pdf" Thanksfully, Shahar Mor...  Continue Reading

  27. Command to manage longer addresses

      One user wirtes, "I am working with an iSeries application that uses the commands: strpccmd/strpco to redirect the user to a Web page on a local server. I would like the application to redirect to a different Web page but the address is too long ...  Continue Reading

  28. CPF3291 error on a rstlib command

      On a rstlib command (from a sav lib created tape) I get a CPF3291 error when the restore is to a second library (development restore of production data). All of the data and logical files are contained in the same directory, though the logicals ...  Continue Reading

  29. Who signed on to the production system?

      One Search400.com member writes, "I want to know who signs on to our production system during non-supported hours and report on this (for SOX reasons).Simply manually scanning through the History log is not enough any longer. How can I automate this...  Continue Reading

  30. Convert iSeries output into a PDF

      One Search400.com member writes, "Please recommend the best way to convert iSeries output into a PDF and then e-mail it to recipients. The programs generating the output are written in COBOL. We are licensed for Infoprint Server." Printing/output ...  Continue Reading

  31. Granting user B the same private authorities as user A

      One Search400.com member writes, "I have a new user, and I want to give him all the authorities on objects which his predecessor has in his profile. To further clarify my query, I would like to give same authorities on objects to profile B which ...  Continue Reading

  32. Security implemented via default settings

      One Search400.com member writes, "I'm looking at security implemented via default settings." Do you see a risk of having any of the above commands not set to *EXCLUDE (e.g., *USE)?" Security expert Carol Woodbury says it depends. Click over and see...  Continue Reading