Introduction to User Language (UL150)

Duration: 3 Days

Description: Designed for individuals who are new to Model 204, as well as new programmers or others who need to write ad hoc queries or understand prewritten procedures. Lectures combine information on Model 204 User Language syntax with discussions of common programming techniques such as branching and looping. Through classroom training and hands-on exercises, learn how to:

  • Find out more about your data using Model 204 commands.
  • Write requests using ranging and pattern matching without performing Table B scans.
  • Format your reports using headers, sorted data, and ordered fields.
  • Use variables for totals, averages, and accumulators.
  • Access multiply-occurring field values using special syntax.
  • Test conditions within your request and perform specific functions if the conditions are true.
  • Read Model 204 error messages and debug your procedures.

Programmer's User Language (UL200)

Duration: 5 Days

Description: Designed for Programmers who need to write basic and advanced User Language procedures that access Model 204 data, the course begins with a discussion of internal file tables and the techniques used to access both the index and records within the file. In addition to examining basic User Language constructs, the course covers special facilities for screen management, modular program design, program-to-program communication, and controlling the online user's environment. Learn how to:

  • Write efficient requests to avoid Table B scans.
  • Write requests using ranging and pattern matching.
  • Add, change, or delete fields and records.
  • Perform string manipulation and convert dates using $functions.
  • Pass data from one request to another or process data in non-Model 204 files using images.
  • Use global variables to pass information from one request to another.
  • Read Model 204 error messages and debug your procedures.

Implementing Online Applications (UL250)

Duration: 4 Days

Description: Designed for Programmers who have completed the Programmer's User Language class and need to write or maintain an online system, this course focuses on designing and implementing full-screen applications in Model 204 User Language. Through a hands-on case study, students will learn how to:

  • Control the program flow using a driver.
  • Validate PFKEY usage.
  • Handle multiple screens in the same request using global screens.
  • Write code to add or update records via a screen.
  • Maximize data sharing.
  • Ensure data recovery if a system crash occurs.
  • Design an application for use with the Application Subsystem Facility.

Application Development Techniques (UL300)

Duration: 3 Days

Description: Designed for programmers who have completed the Programmer’s User Language class and have at least three months of User Language experience, this course focuses on implementing advanced User Language techniques and features that result in efficient structured programs. Topics include the effective use of images, arrays, lists, complex subroutines and ON UNITS. Learn how to:

  • Modularize your procedures using subroutines
  • Verify the syntax of code when performing pattern matching
  • Write code that tells Model 204 what to do programmatically if one or more users or programs want to access the same record at the same time
  • Write code using images to read or write data from or to an external or Model 204 file
  • Create and maintain lists
  • Use global screens and objects to pass large amounts of data between requests
  • Efficiently test your code

User Language Performance & Tuning (UL350)

Duration: 3 Days

Description: Designed for experienced programmers who want to fine-tune their programming skills to write the most efficient code possible, the course covers the various file and system structures to consider when developing User Language procedures. Also covered is how to determine and monitor the actual efficiency level of a procedure. Learn how to:

  • Examine the internal workings of coding structures to determine the most efficient programming approach
  • Diagnose User Language performance problems
  • Use tuning techniques and tools to optimize User Language code
  • Write or revise applications to reduce overall CPU usage and disk I/O

Application development and the subsystem facility (UL400)

Duration: 5 Days

Description: Designed for programmers who have taken UL200 - Programmer's User Language class and have subsequently been coding or maintaining User Language for at least three months.

This class builds on and extends coding techniques covered in the UL200 class:

  • IMAGES
  • SCREENS
  • FOR EACH VALUE (FRV)
  • LISTS
  • GLOBAL OBJECTS

New techniques and features to write efficient structured programs will also be covered. In addition, this course will introduce the framework needed to maintain or develop full screen User Language applications that run under the control of the Application Subsystem Facility (APSY).

Application Subsystem Facility (AP100)

Duration: 1 Day

Description: Students will be able to identify the coding, operational, and performance considerations for designing and maintaining subsystems. Through hands-on sessions using an actual prototype, learn how to:

  • Differentiate between what can be handled by APSY and what needs to be handled programmatically.
  • Code LOGIN, ERROR and EXIT procedures.
  • Create groups as APSY procedure files.
  • Define a new subsystem.
  • Define user classes and grant user privileges.
  • Start, stop, test, debug, and monitor subsystems.