Use Named Constants to Write Clearer Code
by Ted Holt

You'd expect experienced programmers to know and use techniques that less experienced programmers might not know. But even programmers with little experience know how to define named constants in one or more languages, although they may not know how to use them effectively. Yet named constants can contribute so much to program clarity, as I wish to show you now. I use RPG IV to illustrate, since that's the language I use most often, but the principles apply to any language that supports named constants. READ MORE >

Securely Resetting Disabled User Profiles
Hey, Wayne O.:

We have set system values QMAXSGNACN and QMAXSIGN to disable user profiles after three invalid sign-on attempts. Therefore, a common daily function that we do is to enable users that have typed their password incorrectly three times. As a result I have provided several people in the IT department with *SECADM authority. However, this allows them to change most, if not all, parameters in the user profiles that they have access to. READ MORE >

  Admin Alert: Searching for Elusive OS/400 Green-Screen Commands
  by Joe Hertvik

In spite of many recent graphical enhancements to OS/400, sometimes the fastest way to finish your work is by running an old-fashioned 5250 green-screen command. But the problem with green-screen commands is that you need to know the exact command name in order to run it, and executing the right command sometimes depends on how good your memory is. Fortunately, IBM offers a few easy to remember green-screen utilities for finding the right command at the right time. READ MORE >

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