IBM Rational Developer for i (RDi)

Prepare to re-learn how to use software, because the RDi interface sucks.

• There is no View menu. Instead, look in the Window menu
• Looking for Settings/Preferences? That's in the Window menu, too.
• Many options are poorly or vaguely named, so prepare to read the user manual just to learn how to do simple tasks.
• The menu option “Convert all to free-form” (under the Source menu) DOES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
  • Correction. It displays a “Conversion complete” message, but it doesn't actually convert any code.
• What the hell is File > Restart supposed to do?
  • Let's check the Help menu
  • Well, crap, the Help Contents includes the programming references for RPG, Java, JavaScript, and a bunch of other junk. So, searching for restart brings up 72 hits
  • Wait, there's a “scope” option. Maybe that will narrow down the search. Nope, that's empty. What's this “New” button for? Let's try it. OK, I can select RPG. Nope, that only brings up one print-related hit. Oh, well, I guess I'll have to research that option later. If I have time. And if my curiosity outweighs my distaste for poorly designed software.

Reformat rpg-free code

• Ctrl+Shift+F will sometimes re-format your RPG free-format logic.
  • it often does absolutely nothing
  • when it does work, it only works on calcs (c-specs)

Indenting existing code

1. Alt-R (for Rectangle Selection Mode)
2. Select the block to indent/move
3. Alt+F7 moves left
4. Alt+F8 moves right
5. Alt+U deselects

Indenting existing code using tabs

• For RPG, RDi has a silly default of just moving the cursor when tabbing