Prospero Software for ISeries AS/400 AS400 utilities

ISeries Utilities

Our ISeries (AS/400, AS400) Utilities are available as native commands running on any release of OS/400 from V5R1 upwards. Many use IBM-defined APIs for performance reasons.

The utilities are delivered in a library called PSPUTIL, which is less than 10MB in size when restored to your ISeries. We deliver the software to you direct over the Internet as a 2.5MB email attachment or as a number of smaller email attachments. See our installation instructions.

Our complete set of utilities costs only US$550 per CPU, with source code also available by negotiation. We offer a free 30-day trial of the utilities. To request a trial, please send us an email (click here).

Some of our Users
Allied Waste    McKesson
Abbey International     Alanod
Hitachi Transport    Loves
American Automobile Association
Murata    GBSIO    ISupply
AmerUs Annuity    ScotiaBank
DesJardins    Dean Foods
Meredith Village Savings Bank
Wolseley Canada    Philips
Computer Research    Manner
Uni-Collect    UniGroup
Corning    Bank Paribas

Commands Overview

Documentation for each command is available in HTML format. You can download the documentation for all commands in one ZIP file or click the command name in the table below to see the documentation for that one command. Our release history shows how each command has evolved over time.

PCHKACT		Checks whether a job is active given only the job number. Not a command - just one CL program which you call passing in the job number, which then returns a boolean flag (Y/N) indicating whether that job is active. Uses several APIs, so much quicker than using WRKACTJOB to an OUTFILE.
PCLRPFM		Clears multiple members in physical files (using the CLRPFM command for each member) in one library. Unlike the IBM-supplied CLRPFM command, clears one or more members at a time.
PCMPDBF		Compares records in two versions of same ISeries database or DDM file at field level. One record for every field difference is written to a results file that you can analyse further. Use it to track low-level differences in your database files e.g. to verify that file records (number of records and value of every field on every record) are the same in two files with the same record layout.
PCMPFMT		Compares database file record formats (PFs and LFs) in two ISeries libraries. If differences detected (object mismatch or different record formats), produces a report.
PCMPJRN		Compares ISeries database journal entries in the same or different journals/receivers. Use it to compare database updates in a controlled change environment i.e. to verify that program changes have altered the pattern of database updates (or not) as you expect. PCMPJRN saves you the tedious work of comparing DSPJRN output manually.
PCMPLIB		Compares the contents (all objects) of two ISeries libraries. If differences detected (object mismatch or different creation dates or object text), produces a report.
PCMPOUTQ		Compares two sets of ISeries spool files, based any selection of 1) output queue and 2) job number and 3) user profile. Two subfiles display one record per spool file. Subfile selections ‘5’ and ‘8’ display the spool file and its attributes respectively (same as options from WRKSPLF or WRKOUTQ). The third subfile option ‘1’ compares spool file records by running the PCMPSPLF command below.
PCMPSPLF		Compares contents (print records) in two same/similar ISeries spool files using a screen split horizontally to show records from each of the two selected spool files. You can step forwards and backwards through the differences between the 2 files (F8 and F7 respectively). Differences are highlighted on the screen. Other navigation (page up/down, window left/right, jump to specific page/line) is allowed.
PCMPSRC		Compares two ISeries source members for differences, ignoring source line numbers and change dates i.e. the compare is based only on the actual source code. If source differences are detected, a report is printed showing the different source lines.
PCPYFRMCSV		Builds regular ISeries database file (PF, LF etc.) records from their equivalent CSV (comma-separated value) equivalents. Typically used where data must be imported from a non-DB2 database e.g. exported as CSV from a PC database then uploaded 'as is' to the ISeries, then converted and imported using the ISeries only. Much quicker than conversion/import using only PC-based software because the ISeries does the grunt work of the CSV conversion.
PCPYTOCSV		Converts regular ISeries database files (PFs, LFs etc) to their equivalent CSV (comma-separated value) equivalents. Typically used where data must be exported to a non-DB/2 database e.g. converted on the ISeries to CSV, then downloaded 'as is' to a PC, then imported into an external database such as Microsoft Access or SQL Server. Much quicker than export/conversion using only PC-based software because the ISeries does the grunt work of the CSV conversion.
PCVTCLSRC		Converts records in a CL source member to a standard format. All stand-alone comments (not associated with any CL statement) are preserved intact. All CL statements are formatted as if you had prompted them with F4 in SEU then pressed ENTER. That is, lower-case is capitalised, all parameter names are inserted, and the code itself is column-aligned (without indentation for nested logic).
PFIXDBF		Fixes invalid decimal numeric data in ISeries physical file - that if unfixed would typically generate MCH1202 Decimal Data Error. Replaces leading blanks (hex 40) in the field with zero (hex 00, 0F or F0 as required). There is no check/fix for the entire field e.g. via TESTN. Suitable for older files where numeric fields have been partially or completely incorrectly initialised to blanks.
PFNDBADLF		Finds ISeries logical files that are based over physical file(s) in a different library. For example a logical file CUSTL1 in library TESTDB that is based over a physical file CUSTPF in library LIVEDB. Files like this are often a mistake rather than deliberate database design, and can cause problems with save/restore operations. Advises these files via messages to your user profile message queue for you to correct as you see fit.
PRGZPFM		Reorganizes multiple members in physical files (using the RGZPFM command for each member) in one library. Unlike the IBM-supplied RGZPFM command, reorganizes one or more members at a time. Allows you to specify criteria for the minimum number of records to trigger a reorganise.
PRTVMSF		Retrieves a file from a Microsoft Sequel Server (MS SQL) database and places the records in an equivalent database file on your ISeries machine. All required software runs on the ISeries - no additional software is required on the Windows system running MSSQL.
PRTVPFSZ		Retrieves the SIZE() attributes of an ISeries database physical file to variables in a CL program. For example if the file has SIZE(10000 1000 3), then the 3 values - 10000, 1000, 3 - are retrieved to variables.

IBM rebranded the AS/400 - some users called it AS400 - to ISeries several years ago. All 3 names - ISeries, AS/400, AS400 - refer to exactly the same system.