Modern IBM i applications increasingly demand sophisticated data handling capabilities beyond traditional character and numeric fields. This technical deep-dive session explores the powerful arsenal of SQL data types available to ILE RPG developers, demonstrating how to leverage CLOBs, BLOBs, and XML structures for real-world business solutions.Through hands-on code examples, attendees will discover practical implementations of Character Large Objects (CLOB) for managing extensive text data, Double-Byte CLOBs (DBCLOB) for multilingual applications, and Binary Large Objects (BLOB) for document and media storage directly within Db2 for i.The session goes beyond basic usage to address performance considerations through LOB Locators, enabling efficient manipulation of large objects without loading entire contents into memory. We'll explore File Reference Variables for seamless integration between IFS files and database LOB columns, demonstrating bidirectional data flow patterns that modernize legacy document management approaches.Special attention will be given to XML_CLOB_FILE handling, showcasing how ILE RPG can natively process XML data structures stored in CLOB fields—a critical capability for web services integration and data interchange scenarios.Each data type will be illustrated with production-ready RPG code snippets, common pitfalls to avoid, and performance optimization techniques. Attendees will leave with immediately applicable knowledge to modernize their IBM i applications, eliminate external file dependencies, and implement robust, database-centric data management strategies that leverage the full power of Db2 for i.
This session demonstrates how to move beyond traditional automation by building intelligent, hybrid workflows that leverage the distinct strengths of AI, the low-code flexibility of n8n, and the rock-solid reliability of the IBM i platform.Attendees will witness a live demonstration of how to construct a complete, end-to-end process. We will explore practical, real-world use cases where AI models analyze data directly from the IBM i, and n8n acts as the central orchestrator to trigger complex business logic, send notifications, and update multiple systems. This presentation is designed to fundamentally change how you think about integration, providing actionable strategies for creating smarter, more responsive, and highly automated business processes.
