MC Press Desktop Encyclopedia of Tips, Techniques, and Programming Practices for

Consists of 900 entries categorized into 21 chapters by broad categories, such as control language (CL), database, operations, RPG, TCP/IP, security, and utilities. Some of the major job areas addressed by the tips and techniques are data handling, subfiles, data and time, debugging, file handling, messaging, performance, printing, SEU, sorting and sequencing. Topics include string manipulation, altering run priority of submitted jobs, sorting tables in COBOL, month-end file purge jobs, entry field attributes, comparing objects against source, level breaks on partial fields, trimming leading zeros, invisible passwords, using SQL to merge files, and logging SNDMSG usage. The CD-ROM contains zip files of uploadable source code. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Ted Holt has been working with midrange systems since 1981 and has been associated with Midrange Computing since 1990. In addition to serving as a senior technical editor for Midrange Computing, he is a consultant specializing in EDI, Y2K, and AS/400 application development. He holds a master of science degree in computer science, and has taught in many universities and technical schools.Because Ted has been a programmer for many years, he understands the challenges facing AS/400 programmers. He understands both S/36 and AS/400 native software, and therefore he understands what problems programmers face and how to fix them. Readers count on him for solid programming advice and tips. Shannon O’Donnell has been a frequent contributor and technical editor for Midrange Computing since 1997 and joined the staff as a senior technical editor in 1999. In his decade (and then some) of IBM midrange computer experience, Shannon has held a variety of positions, most of them as a consultant, in dozens of industries. This breadth of experience gives him insight into multiple aspects of how the AS/400 is used in the real world. Shannon continues to work as a consultant, in addition to his full-time responsibilities with Midrange Computing. This dual role ensures that the coverage he helps to bring to the magazine is on target for what today's IS professionals are searching for. Shannon is an IBM Certified Professional--AS/400 RPG Programmer, and is the author of an industry-leading certification test for RPG IV programmers available from ReviewNet.net.