IBM Adds New PDM Perspective to RDi
May 9, 2018 Alex Woodie
IBM is receiving high marks for a new feature called PDM Perspective that it just launched in Rational Developer for i version 9.6.0.2. The new feature gives users the capability to filter libraries or members in RDi that’s very similar to the way PDM functioned in SEU. It’s so good, according to some IBM i experts, that it eliminates any reason not to use RDi.
There are several new features in RDi version 9.6.0.2, which IBM released May 2, but it’s the PDM Perspective feature that’s getting the most attention. According to IBM, the new PDM Perspective in the Object Table function of RDi “make[s] it easy for PDM users to migrate to RDi while still using similar keystrokes and ways of working.”
The key element added to RDi is the “quick filter panel” that allows IBM i coders “to quickly identify a set of items to work with using similar criteria as PDM.” Users can select options in the filter panel that allows them quickly enter PDM options and user defined commands to act on the library, object, or member in a row, IBM says. What’s more, filters can optionally be named and reused in the Remote Systems Explorer view in RDi.
“Many RSE power users may prefer to work in the enhanced table view because of its ease and power,” IBM says. “Similar to F17 in PDM, there is Subset tab to subset a list on a keystroke basis without any communications delay. Additionally, a rich history mechanism provides easy reuse of filter values.”
IBM i expert Charles Guarino provided a demo of the new PDM Perspective in a May 3 YouTube video. The new feature is going to be a big hit among IBM i coders — particularly those who so far have resisted leaving the comfortable familiarity of the greenscreen SEU environment for the GUI goodness of RDi.
“I can tell you this new PDM Perspective is going to be a real time saver and more importantly it’s going to eliminate, in my opinion, many of the barriers that have been put in place to using RDI,” Guarino says in his YouTube video.
The new PDM Perspective in RDi (highlighted in red) will give users an SEU-like experience in IBM’s flagship IDE for IBM i.
“This filter control session . . . is phenomenal,” he continues. “And it really give me a PDM experience. There’s absolutely no reason why you should not be using this to quickly get onto RDi, and even if you’re an experienced RDi user.”
The capability to manipulate, name, and re-use filters in the object table function of RDi in the same manner that users were accustomed to using PDM in SEU will be very useful, Guarino says.
“Check it out,” he says. “I think you’re going to really enjoy using it. Again, IBM is listening. This was a great enhancement and I’m looking forward to using it.”
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Just tried it and as a RDI only user with occasionally use of PDM for stuff like copy of sources etc I would still stick to the greenscreen. Reason is the popups (at different places at the screen) and mouse navigation makes things much slower. If i use the 3 copy option I would had liked a exactly similar popup as the one available in the original PDM – not a popup first of where I want to put it which list a bunch of my filters and requires mouse action, then another popup in the far left corner of the screen with the promted command for me to review. Original PDM = fast, PDM in RDI = slow. Also when in a line command text box in the RDI-PDM you cannot use arrow keys or PGUP/PGDOWN, again the need for a mouse which makes things slower.