IBM i Run SQL — User Guide

A desktop "Run SQL Scripts"-style app for IBM i (macOS / Windows / Linux). Designed for IBM i by Bob Cozzi.

Requirements

• Java 17 or newer on your PATH (java -version to check). The app uses it for the IBM i bridge.
• Network access to your IBM i (ports 8471/8475/8474, or 9471/9475/9474 with TLS).

Connecting (Quick Connect)

The Quick Connect panel is at the top when no connection is open:

1. Host — system name or IP. The field suggests saved connections as you type (matches name, host, or user); the × clears it, ▼ opens the full list.
2. User / Password — your IBM i profile. Check Save password to store it in the OS credential vault (Keychain / Windows Credential Manager / Secret Service) — never in a file.
3. Default schema (optional), Naming (SQL or System), Secure (TLS) — encrypts all traffic.
4. Click Connect (or the green GO after picking a saved connection).

Connections are remembered automatically and editable in the Connections tab: name, host, user, schema, naming, TLS, password, preload-spool, script, plus reorder (drag or A-Z), New/Duplicate/Delete, and Connect in new Tab.

Connection Tabs

• + in the Connection Tab opens a new connection tab. Each connection tab keeps its own script, results, and messages.
• The bottom bar holds tabs for panels with other features, including: Messages / Results / Spooled Files / Connections / Settings. Connections and Settings work even when disconnected.

The Scripts input area

Type SQL statements or CL commands, one or many; a statement ends at ;.

• Run (▶ / Cmd/Ctrl+Enter) — statement at the cursor (or the selection).
• Run All — every statement in order. Run From — cursor statement through the last. Cancel stops a running statement.
• CL commands: prefix with CL: — e.g. CL: WRKSYSSTS OUTPUT(*PRINT). When the command name can't collide with SQL you can omit the prefix, but CL: is recommended.
• CL prompting: caret on a CL command + F4 (or Prompt) opens a form-driven prompter with validation, dependencies, and special values. SQL prompting is planned for a future release.

History & scripts

• F8/F9 (or ↑/↓ on the first/last editor line) recall previous statements; F6 or History opens the searchable, timestamped per-connection log (Enter inserts at the cursor, × deletes).
• Your script text is saved per connection automatically and restored at connect when Save SQL/CL script between sessions is on in the Connections tab. File... saves/opens a .sql file via the system dialog.

Results

• Click column headers to sort; NULLs sort last. Load more / Load all page large result sets.
• Save as... exports the grid as CSV, TSV, JSON, or Markdown (system Save dialog); Open Folder reveals the download folder.

Spooled Files

• List/filter by user and output queue; sortable columns; multi-select with Ctrl/Cmd+click and Shift+click.
• Double-click views (or the action chosen in Settings). Right-click for View / Download PDF / Download Text / Save Raw / Print / Move / Hold / Release / Delete.
• Open Download Folder (filter row) shows where downloads land. Downloads are named name_jobnumber_splfnumber so repeats never overwrite.

Settings tab

Theme (System/Light/Dark, mirrors the titlebar dropdown), spool download folder (native picker), default fetch size, double-click action on spooled files, default naming mode, results font size, spool list cap, and delete-confirmation toggle. All apply immediately.