Improve Your TN5250 Experience in VS Code for IBM i

Update: New installations of Code for i include the +uninhibited option by default, as described here.

The open-source TN5250 emulator provides a handy way to launch IBM i 5250 sessions from within VS Code for IBM i.

The one drawback I’ve found in TN5250 is the Cursor in protected area of display error when I accidentally type on a protected area of the screen—an area where input isn’t allowed. The error must be cleared before I can continue to work.

Read more

Compare Source Between Two Partitions using VS Code for IBM i

Comparing source code between IBM i partitions has been a desired feature of Code for i. Although connecting to two systems within one Code for i window is not yet supported, comparing source from two systems IS possible.

Patrick Behr recently posted a comparison technique using Git that works for multiple files. Another technique, which seems well suited for comparing single files rather than multiples, was provided by Christian Jorgensen in the Code for i Github repository. We share both versions below.

Read more