How to Learn RDi

"How to Learn RDi"

Experience has shown that those who invest in learning the product get a quick return on their money as well as much happier productive developers.


Online Educational Resources

RDi Documentation

Description URL
IBM Support Portal https://www.ibm.com/mysupport/s/topic/0TO0z0000006uu7GAA/rational-developer?language=en_US&productId=01t0z000007g71QAAQ
RDi IBM Documentation https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSAE4W
RDi help can be local to improve speed and avoid firewall issues.

Active Communities that support RDi

Community URL
DeveloperWorks RDi Hub Forum http://ibm.biz/rdi_forum

WDSCi-l @ Midrange.com - very active

Tutorials that you can follow

Tutorial URL
Hands-on RDi labs

Welcome Page in the RDi product

From the Help menu, select Welcome

Select First Steps

Cheat Sheets in the RDi product From the Help menu, select Cheat Sheets...

Videos and presentations you can learn from

Manual URL
Great videos on YouTube about RDi (Charlie Guarino, Jeff Berman, etc.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiSbPNd_E_o&index=1&list=PLPXmBSxtNwSlcVtSqt8Ks8kvx35Et4wLN
PDM perspective https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FYawz-YIv0&t=124s
RDi videos including 9.6 videos and Code Coverage - Charlie Guarino https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hbazFpFj8U&list=PLPXmBSxtNwSlcVtSqt8Ks8kvx35Et4wLN
Register to get access to more free instructional videos from Charlie Guarino https://www.centralparkdata.com/contact.html
RDi and Data Studio creating connection and stored procedures - Professor Saad https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2njJhyuJ0G4&feature=youtu.be
Code Coverage with V9.6.0.5 using SEP - Susan Gantner https://www.itjungle.com/2019/07/22/guru-how-thorough-was-your-last-test-rdi-code-coverage-can-tell-you/
What's New in RDi With V9.6 - Susan Gantner http://ibmsystemsmag.com/Power-Systems/01/2018/new-in-rdi-with-v96
RDi 9.6.0.1 - New Year, New RDi - Susan Gantner

https://www.screencast.com/t/wYON0QhkT

RDi 9.6.0.1 - Big Changes, Part 1 - Key Behavior - Susan Gantner https://www.itjungle.com/2018/02/26/guru-ready-not-big-changes-rdi-v9-6-part-1-key-behavior/
RDi 9.6 Hover/Annotations/Enter Split/Tab Indent/Compare/Merge - Susan Gantner https://www.screencast.com/t/wYON0QhkT
RDi 9.6 Debugging - Susan Gantner https://www.screencast.com/t/ot2Ev5e3UcZ
RDi 9.6 Fast Views - Susan Gantner https://www.screencast.com/t/MDdiZGVhNj
RDi Demo Video - Brad Adams https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/community/files/app/file/ca0f620b-6a15-4ea6-88e0-fc917eb3e331
STRPDM to RDi - Charlie Guarino https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-RW9VafQNM
Free-form support in RDi - Charlie Guarino https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8tj9wqHdKw
Push to client (new as of v9.1.1) - Dave McKnight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEBKyI8QjTA
Interactive code coverage (new as of v9.1.1) - Edmund Reinhardt https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/community/files/app#/file/23fef9e9-6d5e-4712-920b-ba91b33a7908
What's new in RDi 9.5.1 RDi What's new 9.5.1.pdf
What's new in RDi 9.5.1 and 9.5.1.1 RDi What's new 9.5.1 and 9.5.1.1.pdf
Editing free-form RPG in Rational Developer for IBM i - Edmund Reinhardt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIgpgGEc5PQ&feature=youtu.be
What's new in RDi 9.6

Relevant articles

Description URL
New Code Coverage feature http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/library/d-code-coverage-tools-rational-developer-i/index.html
Refactoring by the Guru

https://www.itjungle.com/2018/04/16/guru-rdi-and-refactoring/

https://www.itjungle.com/2018/05/07/guru-refactoring-into-routines/ 

Debugger overview

http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/rational/library/debugger-rational-developer-power-systems-software/index.html
Stored Procedure Debugger using Data Studio http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/ibmi/library/i-debugger-db2-i/index.html?ca=dat-

Hands-on Labs

Try out the Rational Developer for i product with hands-on exercises that step you through real-world scenarios. All the server software is pre-installed on a demo IBM i server for you.

Client System Requirements:

The labs require IBM Rational Developer for IBM i (RDi) to be installed on your workstation. If you do not yet have this, you can download it for free from http://ibm.biz/rdi_trial.  

Host System Requirements:

Here is a savefile which provides the RSELABxx library used by the labs: rselabxx.savf.

Scripted, hands-on exercises:

Lab 01 - Getting started: Lab01_RDi_intro.pdf
Note:  in Section 1, the IBM i demonstration server is no longer available.  Use the rselabxx.savf for the host requirements. 

This lab needs to be done first.
All other labs can be done in any order.

Lab 02 - Edit RPG applications - fixed form variant: Lab02_RDi_editing.pdf
Lab 02 - Edit RPG applications - free form variant: Lab02_RDi_editing - FreeForm.pdf
Either fixed or free form variant of this lab can be done. The free form variant requires V7R1 or later.
Lab 03 -  Verify and compiler RPG applications: Lab03_RDi_compile.pdf
Lab 04 - Debugging IBM i programs: Lab04_RDi_debug.pdf
Lab 05 - Design DDS screens graphically: Lab05_RDi_screen_designer.pdf
Lab 06 - Use the Application Diagram Viewer: Lab06_RDi_application_diagram.pdf
Lab 07 - Customize the Remote Systems Explorer: Lab07_RDi_advanced_topics.pdf
Lab 08 - Work with offline projects: Lab08_RDi_working_offline.pdf
Lab 09 - Work with Report Designer: Lab09_RDi_report_designer.pdf
Lab 10 - Code Coverage analysis of tests: Lab10_RDi_code_coverage.pdf Use Code Coverage to see exactly which lines are covered by your testing.

Useful links:

Purchase Rational Developer for i

Online Educational Resources

RDi product evolution

Training Partners

Training Provider URL Description
Partner400 www.Partner400.com Hands on training in all aspects of RDi, RPG, SQL, and more.
Central Park Data Charles Guarino is a professional speaker and trainer who provides training is onsite or at remote locations. 
EASI EASI Training Practical workshops for new or experienced IBM i developers in all aspects of RDi, RPGLE, Db2 SQL, provide and consume web services on IBM i and ARCAD tools in Dutch, French, or English.
PKS Software GmbH www.pks.de Hands-on training in all aspects of RDi, RPG, SQL, and more.
Strongback Consulting www.strongback.us Adoption planning, implementation, and training of RDi along with source code management tools such as Team Concert, and ARCAD. Training can be delivered remote, or on site.
Theo Baer, IT Consulting / Training www.edv-baer.com Hands-on training in all aspects of RDi, RPG, SQL, WebQuery, EGL, and more.
ComCon www.comconadvisor.com Hand-on training for i developers - RDi, RPG, ILE, SQL, PHP and more
ASIST www.asist.be Hands-on training in all aspects of RDi, RTC, ARCAD tooling. Can be in English, French or Dutch.
Volubis www.volubis.fr Training in all aspects of RDi, RPG, SQL, and IBM i in general, in French language/cours en Français.
ATS Automated Training Systems Ltd (UK)

www.atstraining.co.uk

Self Study 

Class Room Course

iSeries Training available on all aspects of the iSeries from Introduction, Operations, CL, RPG, SQL, and RDi

Both self-study and instructor led courses on RDi.

Other classes also available as listed here

Binary Computer Services
 
www.binarycomputer.co.uk Hands-on training in all aspects of RDi, RPG, SQL, WebQuery, PHP and more
Sirius Computer Solutions
Oxford International
Royal Cyber http://www.royalcyber.com/
Sierra Training www.sierra.co.uk System i instructor led training on RDi, RPG, SQL, CL, and all aspects of development and support.

imPower Technologies LLC

impowertechnologies.com

Online Class - Learn RDi, RPG Free, SQL, Procedures, Modules, and Service programs. Includes weekly meet-ups, how-to videos, and sample programs. Prepare your new developer for the COMMON Associate Application Developer - RPG Certification

Speaking sessions and Schedule

Corporate onsite training - Contact Us!