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IBM i (AS/400) CL Command Cheat Sheet

Most daily IBM i work in a JD Edwards World shop uses a few dozen CL commands. This sheet groups them by task so a new operator or analyst can find the right one fast.

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Command	Task group	What it does	Practical note
WRKACTJOB	Jobs	Work with active jobs	Sort by CPU with F16 style options, check status such as MSGW.
WRKSBMJOB	Jobs	Work with jobs you submitted	Use to find your own batch jobs.
WRKUSRJOB	Jobs	Work with jobs for a user	Handy for finding a user's stuck job.
SBMJOB	Jobs	Submit a job to batch	Specify JOBQ and JOBD to control where and how it runs.
HLDJOB	Jobs	Hold a job	Pair with RLSJOB.
RLSJOB	Jobs	Release a held job	Works for jobs on a job queue or active.
ENDJOB	Jobs	End a job	Use OPTION(CNTRLD) first, then IMMED if needed.
CHGJOB	Jobs	Change attributes of a job	Change priority, output queue or logging level.
DSPJOBLOG	Jobs	Display a job log	First stop when a job ends abnormally.
WRKJOBQ	Jobs	Work with job queues	Check whether a queue is held.
WRKSBS	Subsystems	Work with subsystems	See which subsystems are active.
WRKSBSJOB	Subsystems	Work with jobs in a subsystem	Filter by SBS name.
STRSBS	Subsystems	Start a subsystem	Needs the subsystem description.
ENDSBS	Subsystems	End a subsystem	Use *CNTRLD with a delay for normal shutdowns.
WRKSYSSTS	System status	Work with system status	Shows CPU, ASP use and memory pool faults.
WRKDSKSTS	System status	Work with disk status	Look for uneven disk unit utilization.
WRKSYSVAL	System status	Work with system values	Compare against your standards.
DSPLOG	System status	Display the history log (QHST)	Search by date range.
DSPMSG	Messages	Display messages	Use MSGQ(QSYSOPR) for operator messages.
WRKMSGQ	Messages	Work with message queues	Find unanswered inquiry messages.
WRKSPLF	Spool	Work with spooled files	Use the output queue column to find lost reports.
WRKOUTQ	Spool	Work with an output queue	Check for held or released status.
CPYSPLF	Spool	Copy a spooled file to a database file	Common way to capture report text.
WRKLIB	Objects	Work with libraries	Supports generic names such as PROD*.
DSPLIB	Objects	Display objects in a library	OUTPUT(*PRINT) for a listing.
DSPOBJD	Objects	Display object description	Shows create date and save date.
WRKOBJLCK	Objects	Work with object locks	First step when a file is locked.
DSPFD	Files	Display file description	Record count, member and journal details.
DSPFFD	Files	Display file field description	Lists field names, length and type.
DSPPFM	Files	Display physical file member	Quick data view without a query tool.
CPYF	Files	Copy file	Use FMTOPT(MAP DROP) for different formats.
CLRPFM	Files	Clear physical file member	Irreversible without a backup, use carefully.
STRSQL	SQL	Start interactive SQL	Good for quick checks, F4 prompts help.
RUNSQLSTM	SQL	Run SQL statements from a source member	Set COMMIT and naming options explicitly.
ADDLIBLE	Library list	Add library list entry	Use POSITION to control order.
CHGLIBL	Library list	Change library list	Replaces the user part of the list.
DSPLIBL	Library list	Display library list	Check this first when a program calls the wrong object.
CHGCURLIB	Library list	Change current library	New objects are created here.
SAVLIB	Backup	Save library	Use SAVF or a device. Check for locks first.
SAVOBJ	Backup	Save objects	For selected objects only.
SAVCHGOBJ	Backup	Save changed objects	Incremental backup based on reference date.
SAV	Backup	Save integrated file system objects	Used for IFS directories.
SAVSECDTA	Backup	Save security data	Saves user profiles and authorities.
SAVCFG	Backup	Save configuration	Saves device and line descriptions.
SAVSYS	Backup	Save system	Needs restricted state on a console.
RSTLIB	Restore	Restore library	Use ALWOBJDIF carefully.
RSTOBJ	Restore	Restore objects	Specify SAVLIB and device.
CRTSAVF	Backup	Create save file	Allocate enough space before saving.
WRKUSRPRF	Users	Work with user profiles	Filter by group profile.
DSPUSRPRF	Users	Display user profile	Shows special authorities and status.
CHGUSRPRF	Users	Change user profile	Enable a disabled profile with STATUS(*ENABLED).
DSPOBJAUT	Users	Display object authority	Check public authority.
GRTOBJAUT	Users	Grant object authority	Use authorization lists to scale.
DSPJRN	Journal	Display journal entries	Useful for audit and recovery questions.
WRKJRNA	Journal	Work with journal attributes	Check receiver size and retention.
NETSTAT	Network	Work with TCP/IP network status	Look at connections and interface status.
PING	Network	Test TCP/IP connectivity	Run from the IBM i toward the target.
STRTCP	Network	Start TCP/IP	Starts interfaces and servers as configured.
PWRDWNSYS	Power	Power down system	Use CNTRLD with a delay and RESTART(NO) or *YES as needed.

This is a quick lookup, not a replacement for the IBM i documentation. Press F4 on any command on the system to prompt its parameters.

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How to use the sheet

Search by command, task group or a word such as spool or backup. Each row says what the command does and gives a short practical note. On a green screen, type the command and press F4 to prompt for parameters, or type the command name followed by F1 for help. Export the list to Excel or PDF to keep a laminated style reference for the operations desk.

Commands for troubleshooting a stuck batch job

The usual path is WRKACTJOB to find the job and its status, DSPJOBLOG to read why it stopped, WRKOBJLCK to see if a file lock is the cause, and DSPMSG MSGQ(QSYSOPR) for pending inquiry messages. A job in MSGW status is waiting for a reply. After the fix, release or restart through your job scheduler rather than resubmitting by hand, so the audit trail stays intact.

WRKACTJOB: status and CPU
DSPJOBLOG: reason for failure
WRKOBJLCK: lock holder
DSPMSG: inquiry messages

Backup and restore commands

SAVLIB, SAVOBJ, SAVCHGOBJ, SAV, SAVSECDTA and SAVCFG together cover data libraries, changed objects, the integrated file system, user profiles and configuration. SAVSYS covers the operating system and needs restricted state. A restore with RSTLIB is only as good as the last verified save, so test restores on a non-production partition on a schedule.

Common mistakes

CLRPFM and DLTF cannot be undone without a backup. ENDJOB with *IMMED can leave files in an inconsistent state, so try *CNTRLD first. CHGLIBL replaces the user part of the library list for the job, which can break later calls. Check DSPLIBL before and after changing it, and never test destructive commands on a production library.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between SAVLIB and SAVOBJ?

SAVLIB saves an entire library with its objects. SAVOBJ saves only the objects you name or select. Use SAVLIB for scheduled full saves and SAVOBJ or SAVCHGOBJ when you need a smaller targeted or incremental save.

How do I find who has a file locked?

Run WRKOBJLCK with the object name, library and type. It shows each job holding a lock and the lock state. You can then look at that job in WRKACTJOB to decide whether to wait, message the user or end the job.

Can I run these commands from SQL?

Yes, on supported releases you can use QSYS2.QCMDEXC to run a CL command from SQL, and many commands have SQL service equivalents in QSYS2. Behavior depends on release level, so test on a non-production system first.

Are these commands specific to JD Edwards World?

No. They are standard IBM i commands. JD Edwards World adds its own menus and objects on top, but the operating system tasks for jobs, spool, library lists and backup use the same commands on any IBM i.

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