These documents are mostly in Adobe Acrobat format ("pdf files"). We typically write these publications in the process of exploring and organizing our thoughts on topics we are developing courses on. The publications themselves are free and may be freely distributed, printed, and copied as long as you provide proper attribution of the source.
NOTE: Papers marked with an asterisk (*) have supporting files (sample code or data) available for a nominal fee from The Trainer's Friend Store.
The store also provides an opportunity for you to make a donation / contribution to support our publishing efforts. If you find a document has helped you or your organization, we would appreciate getting some small remuneration, so please think about this option. Or, even better: schedule a class; for many of the papers, we have listed related courses below.
See also our very short presentations, which are also free
To download any of the publications below, first set up a directory on your system, say "tech_books". Then simply click on the "File to download" link for the file in the table below and follow the directions to download the file into that directory.
| Publication Title | File to download | Date last updated | Current version / changes from previous version |
| Mainframes for fun and profit (an .rtf file) | MainframesForFunAndProfit.rtf | 2011/01/13 | original |
| z/OS, Language Environment, and
UNIX - How They Work Together
Related courses: Using LE Sevices in z/OS Introduction to z/OS UNIX |
zos_UNIX_and_Language_Environment.pdf
157 pages |
2012/03/19 | larger type font, improved image, fix typos, etc. |
| Introduction to Java in z/OS - an unfinished
course, available as is (still rough)
Course files available from The Trainer's Friend Store |
J510.pdf 459 pages |
2010/06/22 | 1.3 / fixed typos, redid 1st lab writeup |
| Using DIV and style sheets to format an HTML page
Related course: You and z/OS and the World Wide Web |
HTML_and_DIV.pdf 24 pages |
2010/10/05 | first version |
| Setting Up the IBM HTTP Server
Related courses: Introduction to z/OS UNIX You and z/OS and the World Wide Web |
HTTP_Starter.pdf 40 pages |
2011/07/20 | 2.1 / added additional points based on user experience |
| Hosting a Web Site on z/OS - one person's experience
Related courses: Introduction to z/OS UNIX Shell Script Programming in z/OS UNIX You and z/OS and the World Wide Web Introduction to CGIs in z/OS Writing z/OS CGIs in COBOL Writing z/OS CGIs in Assembler |
Host.pdf 17 pages |
2011/07/21 | 1.3 / changed so terms match up with "Setting up the IBM HTTP Server" |
| Porting Apache 2.2.9 to z/OS 1.9 | PortingApache.pdf 34 pages |
2009/03/14 | 2.3 / expanded RACF comment |
| *Coding AJAX Applications (Using XHTML, JavaScript, and COBOL on z/OS)
Supporting files available for purchase from The Trainer's Friend Store
|
CodingAJAX_Applications 66 pages / 80 pages for version 3.3 - see note |
2011/06/30 2012/03/02 - see note |
2.2 / updated testing and examples 3.1 adds 2 examples (including one using POST and a php CGI) and updates some content based on changes to the standard 3.1 is only available on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007FY0EWI, price includes the supporting files |
| * The Arc of DB2 (LOBs, Unicode, and XML in DB2 V9.1)
Supporting files available for purchase from The Trainer's Friend Store |
Arc_of_DB2.pdf 100 pages |
2009/04/12 | 1.2 / Updated based on notes from Abe Kornelis |
| Enterprise COBOL: A tool for growth
Related courses: Enterprise COBOL Update Enterprise COBOL Unicode and XML Support |
COBOL_4.pdf 77 pages |
2009/11/04 | 2.1 / updated to reflect V4.2 |
| Applications Assembler Programming for z
Related course: z/OS Assembler Programming Part 4: z/Architecture and z/OS |
Assembler.Coding.1.pdf 47 pages |
2010/11/06 | 1.6 |
| Writing Reentrant Programs (in Assembler)
Related course: z/OS Assembler Programming Part 2: Interfaces |
Writing_reentrant_programs.pdf 26 pages |
2006/12/03 | 2.1 / minor editoral changes; convert to Ventura 10.3 |
| I/O and AMODE 31
Related course: z/OS Assembler Programming Part 2: Interfaces |
amode_31_io.pdf 7 pages |
2005/01/10 | first version |
| UNIX Shell Commands: tsort
Related course: Shell Script Programming in z/OS UNIX |
tsort.pdf 3 pages |
2002/06/17 | 1.0 / sample from z/OS UNIX course |
| The Future of Mainframes Is Now
Related course: Introduction to z/OS |
Future_of_Mainframe.pdf 28 pages |
2009/03/27 | 3.1 / updated for zEnterprise systems |
| Introduction to Unicode
Related courses: Assembler Language Update z/OS Assembler for Applications Programmers Enterprise COBOL Unicode and XML Support You and z/OS and the World Wide Web Introduction to CGIs on z/OS Writing z/OS CGIs in Assembler Writing z/OS CGIs in COBOL |
uncdtalk.pdf 52 pages |
2011/07/22 | 1.8 / updated to reflect Unicode 6.0 |
| Introduction to XSLT
Related course: Introduction to XML |
xslt01.pdf 30 pages |
2003/09/22 | 1.1 |
| The UNIX bc programming language
Related course: Shell Script Programming in z/OS UNIX |
bc.pdf 36 pages |
2006/12/01 | 2.1 / minor editoral changes; convert to Ventura 10.3 |
| Serving Java docs from z/OS
Related course: You and z/OS and the World Wide Web |
Java_docs.pdf 20 pages |
2007/05/13 | 2 / updated to reflect Java SE 6 |
| Unlock Free Software on your z/OS System (promotional piece) | TrainersFriend.pdf 2 pages |
2007/03/08 | 1.1 |
| Creating Modern Business Applications on z/OS
Related courses: ISPF Update Assembler Language Update z/OS Assembler for Applications Programmers Enterprise COBOL Update Enterprise COBOL Unicode and XML Support Using LE Services in z/OS Cross Program Communication in z/OS Creating and Using DLLs in z/OS DB2: Greatest Hits Introduction to z/OS UNIX Shell Script Programming in z/OS UNIX Developing Applications for z/OS UNIX You and z/OS and the World Wide Web Introduction to CGIs on z/OS Writing z/OS CGIs in Assembler Writing z/OS CGIs in COBOL Using DFSORT and ICETOOL |
Modern Apps.pdf 24 pages |
2011/07/19 | 1.3 / updated to reflect new Unicode version |
| SHARE Presentations | |||
| * z/OS Control Blocks for Beginners
Supporting files available for purchase from The Trainer's Friend Store Related course:z/OS Assembler Programming Part 2: Interfaces |
ControlBlocks.pdf 52 pages |
2009/09/06 | 1 |
| * DB2 and LOBS
Supporting files available for purchase from The Trainer's Friend Store |
DB2-LOBs.pdf 50 pages |
2009/09/06 | 1 |
| * Doing Arithmetic Using Packed Decimal Instructions
Supporting files available for purchase from The Trainer's Friend Store Related course:z/OS Assembler Programming Part 1: Beginnings |
PackedDecimalArithmetic.pdf 100 pages |
2009/09/06 | 1 |
| DB2 and XML | DB2-XML.pdf 56 pages |
2009/09/06 | 1 |
In addition, here are some links regarding the IBM mainframe that have been recommended by members of the IBM-Main listserv / usenet group that you might find interesting:
We have started placing some code that we have found useful available for free, also.
Currently this is what we have available:
| Description | File to download | Date of most recent update | Comments |
| COBOL program that interacts with user at terminal: prompts for file name then displays first two lines of data in the file. | peektop2.txt | 2011/03/22 | calls C functions directly; runs from TSO READY or ISPF 6 or z/OS UNIX shell, with no changes and no JCL |
| SMTP exit routine; includes instructions for install and use | smtpexit | 2004/11/01 | allows all outgoing email, blocks incoming email not addressed to our URL |
Email us if you would like additional information.
Or call us at: 303-355-2752
Our standard mail address is:
The Trainer's Friend, Inc.
6790 E. Cedar Avenue, Suite 201
Denver, Colorado 80224
USA
We would love to see your comments and recommendations for our site.
This page last updated: 19 March, 2012
Copyright © 2012 by The Trainer's Friend, Inc.