Neil:
Thanks, that helps and also makes me a little more confident that I am not wrong
to tout my batch programming skill albeit dated. 
I have continually done a bit of coding here and there and now with the books
ordered and access to this forum, I think I can survive my eight years until
retirement.

Well there are 2 books listed on the main forum index page, authored by the 
site owner.  You'd probably do fairly well with the Modern RPG Language.

You're probably aware that between RPGIII and RPGIV the source columns were 
reformatted, giving us more space for op-codes and field names.  So at the 
very basic level you can write RPGIII code for RPGIV programs with minor 
changes in syntax.  And while you have the option to use /free form coding, 
there are still many programmers out there that still use the fixed format 
style.  So even using "old" techniques it is still possible to market your 
skills, especially if your prospective client is looking for an EDI guru with  
somewhat aged solid RPG skills.  Afterall batch programming is still batch 
programming.

Probably your main stumbling block is the modularization that ILE made 
possible - note ILE is not an RPG language, it is the environment that RPGIV 
programs MAY run in, allowing a multi-language moduralised coding approach.

However, there are many sites out there that do not use ILE at all, but do 
mistakenly refer to RPG-ILE in their job requirements.  They tried the new 
stuff out, but their "expert" on the subject wasn't very knowledgable and they 
have reverted back to the old style, but now use RPGIV instead of RPGIII.

Where you will have a steep learning curve is the corporation whose RPG expert 
did understand the new concepts, and has taken time to format site standards 
and train folks with the latest ideas and procedures.  However, also on the 
plus side is that these corporations tend to be set up to take on folks who 
don't and train them in the methods of "how we do it".  And while you might 
not be current on how to define a procedure or compile a service program, 
there will probably be a good supply of samples that you can learn from.

Hello all.  I am new to the forum and need advice.   I am primarily an EDI
consultant and have reached my level of knowledge on AS/400 Inovis TLI via a
sacrifice of my RPG skills.  The majority of my 20+ years have been on IBM
mid-range using RPG II, and III with just a dabble into RPGIV. almost all of
this programming has been batch oriented and with my EDI work would likely stay
in that context

Mt question is with very rusty and perhaps dated RPG skills, what book or books
would provide a path to removing the rust and once again offering my skills on
the programming side as well?  While in years past my clients preferred to use
their own programmer, they now want me to be both the EDI ghuru and a solid RPG
ILE programmer.

Any help greatly appreciated.