RE: Uncle Bob

I just run the same question though ChatGPT and CLAUDE.
Claude suggested to run the QUSRJOBI (which is one of the 2 Methods I know ... the other is calling a CL-Program that retrieves the Job attribute (RTVJOBA).
ChatGPT insisted to use the *INRT-Indicator or the %INRT() BIF which both do not exist.
None of them pointed to the program status data structure.

In either way the Program Status Data Structure, does not include a job type.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen / Best regards

Birgitta Hauser
Modernization – Education – Consulting on IBM i
Database and Software Architect  
IBM Champion since 2020

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-----Original Message-----
From: RPG400-L <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Gad Miron
Sent: Sunday, 25 January 2026 08:05
To: [email protected]
Subject: Uncle Bob

What am I missing?


I asked Bob the following question:

As an expert RPG programmer, How can you tell if an RPG program runs in Batch or Interactive (PSDS?)

I got the following
Using PSDS to Detect Batch vs Interactive Mode

The PSDS (Program Status Data Structure) contains information about the program's execution environment. The key field for determining batch vs interactive mode is at positions 244-253, which contains the job name.
Method 1: Check Job Type Field (Position 244-253)

Here's how to implement this in free-format RPGLE:

**FREE// Define PSDSDcl-Ds PSDS Qualified;  PgmName     Char(10)
Pos(1);  Status      Zoned(5:0) Pos(11);  PrevStatus  Zoned(5:0)
Pos(16);  LineNum     Char(8)    Pos(21);  Routine     Char(8)
Pos(29);  Parms       Zoned(3:0) Pos(37);  ExcpType    Char(3)
Pos(40);  ExcpNum     Char(4)    Pos(43);  PgmLib      Char(10)
Pos(81);  ExcpData    Char(80)   Pos(91);  ExcpId      Char(4)
Pos(171);  Date        Char(8)    Pos(191);  Year        Zoned(2:0)
Pos(199);  LastFile    Char(8)    Pos(201);  LastFileLib Char(10)
Pos(209);  JobName     Char(10)   Pos(244);  // Job name  UserId
Char(10)   Pos(254);  // User profile  JobNumber   Zoned(6:0)
Pos(264);  // Job number  JobDate     Zoned(6:0) Pos(270);  // Job
date  RunDate     Zoned(6:0) Pos(276);  // Run date (YYMMDD)  RunTime
   Zoned(6:0) Pos(282);  // Run time (HHMMSS)End-Ds;Dcl-S JobType Char(1);// Determine if batch or interactiveIf
%Subst(PSDS.JobName:1:1) >= '0' and    %Subst(PSDS.JobName:1:1) <=
'9';  JobType = 'B';  // Batch job (starts with number)Else;  JobType = 'I';  // Interactive job (starts with Q)EndIf;

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Method 2: Using Job Type from PSDS (Position 304)

In newer IBM i versions, there's a dedicated field:

**FREEDcl-Ds PSDS Qualified;  // ... other fields ...  JobType Char(1) Pos(304);  // 0=Batch, 1=InteractiveEnd-Ds;If PSDS.JobType = '1';  // Interactive jobElse;  // Batch jobEndIf;

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cobolcodeownerscodeqlcoffeecoffeescriptcommon-lispconsolecoqcppcqlcrystalcs
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edgeelispelixirelmemacs-lisperberlerlangff#f03f08f18f77f90f95fennelfish
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mediawikimermaidmipsmipsasmmmdmojomovenarnarratnextflownfnginxnimnixnu
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Method 3: Using API (Most Reliable)

For the most reliable method, use the QUSRJOBI API:





I see no such fields in RPG Reference Manual , PSDS section.

I must be missing something.


Gad
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