Other ERPsFree referencePDF, Excel, Word exportInfor XADiscrete Manufacturing

IBM i Commands for Infor XA Administrators

Infor XA (MAPICS) runs on IBM i, so day to day administration happens in CL commands. This cheat sheet groups the commands that come up most for jobs, output, libraries, files, data exchange and backup, with a one line purpose for each.

Download:

Command	Area	What it does
WRKACTJOB	Jobs	Work with active jobs, CPU use and status
WRKSBMJOB	Jobs	Work with jobs you have submitted
WRKJOBQ	Jobs	Work with job queues and the jobs waiting in them
WRKSBS	Jobs	Work with subsystems
ENDJOB	Jobs	End a job, normally or immediately
CHGJOB	Jobs	Change attributes of a job such as priority
DSPJOBLOG	Jobs	Display the job log to see messages and errors
WRKJOB	Jobs	Work with one specific job and its attributes
WRKSPLF	Output	Work with spooled files, such as reports
WRKOUTQ	Output	Work with an output queue
CPYSPLF	Output	Copy a spooled file to a database file
DSPMSG	Messages	Display messages for a user or message queue
WRKMSGQ	Messages	Work with message queues
DSPLOG	Messages	Display the system history log
WRKSYSSTS	System	Show system status, storage and memory pool activity
WRKDSKSTS	System	Show disk unit status and percent used
WRKSYSVAL	System	Work with system values
DSPLIB	Libraries	Display the objects in a library
WRKLIB	Libraries	Work with libraries
CRTLIB	Libraries	Create a library
WRKOBJ	Objects	Work with objects by name and type
DSPOBJD	Objects	Display object description including size and dates
DSPFD	Files	Display file description, record count and members
DSPFFD	Files	Display file field descriptions, to learn column names
DSPPFM	Files	Display physical file member contents
CPYF	Files	Copy records between files
CLRPFM	Files	Clear the records from a physical file member
CRTDUPOBJ	Files	Duplicate an object, often used to copy a file before a change
CPYTOIMPF	Data exchange	Copy a database file to a delimited stream file such as CSV
CPYFRMIMPF	Data exchange	Copy a delimited stream file into a database file
STRSQL	Data exchange	Start an interactive SQL session
RUNSQLSTM	Data exchange	Run SQL statements held in a source member
WRKLNK	Data exchange	Work with objects in the integrated file system
SAVLIB	Backup	Save one or more libraries
RSTLIB	Backup	Restore a saved library
SAVOBJ	Backup	Save specific objects
RSTOBJ	Backup	Restore specific objects
WRKUSRPRF	Security	Work with user profiles
CHGUSRPRF	Security	Change a user profile, for example enable or reset
DSPAUT	Security	Display authority to an object
STRPDM	Development	Start programming development manager for source and objects

Commands are listed by name only to help you recall them. Use F4 to prompt any command and F1 for help. Authority needed varies by command, and some such as ENDJOB, CLRPFM and RSTLIB can cause data loss, so use them with care and with a recent backup.

Capture your XA operator knowledge

An optional discussion on documenting jobs, files and procedures before they are lost.

Optional. The tool and every export work without this. No spam.

How to use the cheat sheet

Search for the task, such as spool, backup or csv, or filter by area. On a 5250 session, type the command and press F4 to prompt for parameters. Export the list to Excel or PDF and keep it beside new operators, along with notes about your own library names and job naming standards, which differ from site to site.

Use F4 to prompt, F1 for help
Add your own library and job names to the export
Take care with commands marked as destructive in your notes

The commands most used day to day

For problems, start with WRKACTJOB to find a looping or waiting job and DSPJOBLOG to read its messages. For missing reports, check WRKSPLF and WRKOUTQ. To find a column name, DSPFFD lists the fields of a file, and DSPFD shows record counts. When users report slow response, WRKSYSSTS and WRKDSKSTS show memory and disk pressure.

Data exchange and safety

CPYTOIMPF and CPYFRMIMPF move data to and from delimited files in the integrated file system, which is how many sites feed spreadsheets and other systems. Always copy production data to a test library first. Destructive commands such as CLRPFM, ENDJOB and RSTLIB should be used only with a verified save and, where possible, a second person's review.

Test data loads in a test library
Verify saves before restoring over live data
Record who ran what and when

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need special authority to run these commands?

Many display commands need only normal authority, while system level commands such as work with user profiles, system values and restore need special authorities. Ask your security officer before requesting more authority than needed.

How do I find the files behind an XA screen?

Use the application documentation or file reference for your release, then DSPFD and DSPFFD on the file to see its fields. Job logs and program messages can also reveal which files a program opens.

Is it safe to query production files with STRSQL?

Read only queries are generally safe, but heavy joins can slow the system for users. Run large queries off peak, limit rows while testing, and never run update or delete statements without a backup and approval.

Does this apply to all IBM i versions?

These commands exist across many releases, but parameters and defaults change. Prompt the command with F4 on your own system and check the help text for the version you run.

If much of your XA knowledge sits with one operator, we can help capture it and add a read only question layer over your XA data.

Talk to an Expert Explore More Free Tools

Related Tools

Developer Tools

More Other ERPs tools

See all

Back to All Tools