How Parameter Passing Works in IBM i Programs (RPG / Cobol)

Hello everyone,

I’d like to highlight a very useful article by Marco Riva on Markonetools, where he clearly explains how to pass parameters to a program on IBM i / AS400 written in RPG or Cobol.

🔗 Parameter Passing – Marco Riva

What you’ll learn from his article:

• The main ways to pass parameters between programs on IBM i, specifically in RPG and Cobol.
• The difference between positional parameters and keyword (named) parameters, and how each is used.
• Rules to follow when calling one program from another to ensure parameters are interpreted correctly.
• Practical tips about compatibility, especially in different environments (ILE vs OPM), and common pitfalls to avoid.

Why this matters

Correct parameter passing is essential when you build modular applications, invoke programs from CL/CLP, or integrate systems. Mistakes in definition or invocation of parameters can lead to unpredictable behavior or tricky bugs.

Thanks to Marco Riva.