The IBM i FileSystem extension provides powerful system views that allow you to monitor and manage various aspects of your IBM i system directly from VS Code. These views provide comprehensive information and interactive actions for jobs, spooled files, subsystems and objects.
All the views can be opened from the FS Quick Start menu in the status bar (see FS Quick Start Menu) or from the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P or Cmd+Shift+P).
📊 Display Object Information (DSPOBJ)
A comprehensive view that displays detailed information about any IBM i object, similar to the DSPOBJD command but with an enhanced, multi-tab interface.
IBM i SQL Services Used
Type
Schema
Name
Purpose
Table Function
QSYS2
OBJECT_STATISTICS
Retrieve comprehensive object statistics and metadata
Table Function
QSYS2
LIBRARY_INFO
Retrieve the ASP group of libraries
View
QSYS2
OBJECT_LOCK_INFO
Retrieve all locks on the object
Table Function
QSYS2
OBJECT_PRIVILEGES
Retrieve object authorizations and permissions
Features
📊 Information Tab: Complete object metadata including owner, creation date, size, and attributes
🔒 Locks Tab: View all active locks with state, scope, and job information
👥 Authorizations Tab: View user and group authorities with specific permissions
📅 Usage Statistics: Last used timestamp, days used count, save/restore information
🎨 Multi-tab Interface: Organized display with badges showing lock and authorization counts
How to Access
FS Quick Start / Command Palette
Select DSPOBJ in the FS Quick Start menu, or run IBM i FS: Additional Information from the Command Palette:
Enter the library name
Enter the object name
Enter the object type (e.g. *PGM)
View the information in a multi-tab interface
Object Browser
Right-click on any object in the Object Browser and select Additional Information from the context menu, or click the Additional Information icon in the editor toolbar when viewing an object.
Information Displayed
Information Tab:
SQL Name and SQL Type
Owner and Definer
Object Size
ASP Group (for libraries)
Text Description
Creation, Change, and Last Used timestamps
Days Used Count
Save/Restore information (timestamp, device, volume, sequence)
⚡ Interactive Actions: Hold, release, end, or debug jobs directly from the view
🎨 Dynamic UI: Action buttons adapt based on job status and type
Available Actions
Action
Description
Availability
Details
Open the WRKJOB view for the job
All jobs except subsystem jobs
Details
Open the Subsystem Description (*SBSD) view
Subsystem jobs
Hold
Hold the job (HLDJOB)
Jobs not held
Release
Release the job (RLSJOB)
Held jobs
End
End the job (ENDJOB)
All jobs except subsystem jobs
Debug
Start service entry point debugging
All jobs except subsystem jobs
How to Access
Select WRKACTJOB in the FS Quick Start menu, or run FS Quick Start: Work with Active Jobs from the Command Palette.
Information Displayed
Subsystem: Subsystem name (blank for non-subsystem jobs)
Job: Full job name (number/user/name)
User: Authorization name
Type: Job type (BATCH, INTER, SBS, etc.)
Function: Current function being performed
Status: Job status (ACTIVE, HLD, etc.)
Temp. Stg.: Temporary storage used
Elapsed CPU %: CPU percentage since last reset
Elapsed I/O: Disk I/O count since last reset
CPU Time: Total CPU time used
Total I/O: Total disk I/O count
💼 Work with Job (WRKJOB)
Display comprehensive information about a specific job with multiple tabs showing job details, statistics, and logs.
IBM i SQL Services Used
Type
Schema
Name
Purpose
Table Function
QSYS2
JOB_INFO
Retrieve comprehensive job information
Table Function
QSYS2
ACTIVE_JOB_INFO
Retrieve active job status and function
Table Function
QSYS2
ACTIVATION_GROUP_INFO
Retrieve activation groups
Table Function
QSYS2
STACK_INFO
Retrieve call stack entries
Table Function
QSYS2
JOB_LOCK_INFO
Retrieve job locks
Table Function
QSYS2
OPEN_FILES
Retrieve open files
Table Function
QSYS2
SPOOLED_FILE_INFO
Retrieve spooled files
Table Function
QSYS2
JOBLOG_INFO
Retrieve job log messages
Features
📊 Job Information Tab: Complete job attributes and configuration
📈 Job Statistics Tab: Library list, activation groups, call stack, locks, open files, and spooled files
📝 Job Log Tab: All job log messages with severity and timestamps, with search and pagination
🔄 Auto-refresh: Automatic updates driven by the code-for-ibmi.views.autoRefreshInterval setting; stops when the job reaches OUTQ status
⚡ Interactive Actions: Hold, release, end, or debug jobs; open, download, or delete spools
🎨 Dynamic UI: Action buttons adapt based on job status
💾 State Preservation: Active tab is preserved across refreshes
Available Actions
Job Actions (from the Job Actions toolbar button):
Action
Description
Availability
Hold Job
Hold the job (HLDJOB)
Active jobs (not held)
Release Job
Release the job (RLSJOB)
Held jobs
End Job
End the job (ENDJOB)
All jobs not in OUTQ status
Debug Job
Start service entry point debugging
Active jobs
Spool Actions:
Action
Description
Open
Open spooled file in editor
Download
Download spooled file as PDF
Delete
Delete spooled file
How to Access
From WRKACTJOB, WRKUSRJOB, a Job Queue or a Subsystem Description: click Details on any job
From the FS Quick Start menu: select WRKJOB and enter the job name
From the Command Palette: run FS Quick Start: WRKJOB and enter the job name
Information Displayed
Job Info Tab:
Job Status and Active Status
Function currently being performed
Job Type and Subsystem
Job Description
Submitter Job Name
Timestamps (entered, scheduled, active, end)
Job Queue and priorities
Threading, storage, and wait settings
CCSID and format settings
Message logging configuration
CPU and I/O statistics
Job Statistics Tab:
Library List: All libraries with type (SYS/CUR/USR), ASP, and description
Activation Groups: Group name and number, state, program library, name and type, in-use indicator
Call Stack: Program call stack with position, program, statement, and procedure
Locks: All object locks with state, status, scope, and member lock type
Open Files: All open files with member, type, option, and I/O counts
Spooled Files: All spools with name, status, pages, and interactive actions
Job Log Tab:
Message ID and severity
Message text (first and second level)
From program and message file
Timestamp
👤 Work with User Jobs (WRKUSRJOB)
Display and manage the jobs (active and inactive) of a user profile with filtering and actions.
IBM i SQL Services Used
Type
Schema
Name
Purpose
Table Function
QSYS2
JOB_INFO
Retrieve all jobs (active and inactive)
Table Function
QSYS2
ACTIVE_JOB_INFO
Retrieve active job status
Features
👤 User Prompt: Choose the user profile whose jobs are shown (*CURRENT by default); the user is shown in the tab title
🗂️ Multiple Tabs: Open the view several times, for different users or even the same one
📊 Complete Job List: View all jobs including completed and output queue jobs
🔍 Search Functionality: Filter jobs by name, status, type, completion status, or function
📋 Comprehensive Information: Job status, active status, type, end severity, completion status
⚡ Interactive Actions: View details, hold, release, or end jobs
🎨 Dynamic UI: Action menu adapts based on job status (active/inactive)
🔄 Refresh: Manual refresh button, plus auto-refresh driven by the code-for-ibmi.views.autoRefreshInterval setting
Available Actions
Action
Description
Availability
Details
Open WRKJOB view for detailed job information
All jobs
Hold
Hold the job (HLDJOB)
Active jobs (not held)
Release
Release the job (RLSJOB)
Active held jobs
End
End the job (ENDJOB)
Active jobs
How to Access
Select WRKUSRJOB in the FS Quick Start menu, or run FS Quick Start: Work with User Jobs from the Command Palette, then enter the user profile (or leave *CURRENT).
Information Displayed
Job: Full job name (number/user/name)
Job Status: Overall job status (ACTIVE, OUTQ, etc.)
Active Status: Active job status (HLD, RUN, etc.) - only for active jobs
Type: Job type (BATCH, INTER, etc.)
End Severity: Job end severity level
Completion: Completion status (NORMAL, ABNORMAL, etc.)
Function: Current function being performed (for active jobs)
🖨️ Work with Spooled Files (WRKSPLF)
Display and manage the spooled files of a user profile with pagination, search, and interactive actions.
IBM i SQL Services Used
Type
Schema
Name
Purpose
Table Function
QSYS2
SPOOLED_FILE_INFO
Retrieve all spooled files with details
Function
SYSTOOLS
GENERATE_PDF
Generate PDF from spooled file
Features
👤 User Prompt: Choose the user profile whose spooled files are shown (*CURRENT by default); the user is shown in the tab title
🗂️ Multiple Tabs: Open the view several times, for different users or even the same one
🔍 Search Functionality: Filter spools by name, user, data, status, or job
📄 Pagination: Navigate through large spool lists, with the page size set by code-for-ibmi.tables.itemsPerPage
⚡ Interactive Actions: Open, download as PDF, or delete spooled files
🔄 Refresh: Manual refresh button, plus auto-refresh driven by the code-for-ibmi.views.autoRefreshInterval setting
Available Actions
Action
Description
Open
Open spooled file in VS Code editor
Download
Download spooled file as PDF to local system
Delete
Delete spooled file from the system
How to Access
Select WRKSPLF in the FS Quick Start menu, or run FS Quick Start: Work with Spooled Files from the Command Palette, then enter the user profile (or leave *CURRENT).
Information Displayed
Name: Spooled file name
Data: User data associated with the spool
Status: Spool status (READY, HELD, PRINTING, etc.)
User: User who created the spool
Job: Job name that created the spool (number/user/name)
Number: Spooled file number
Timestamp: Creation date and time
Pages: Total number of pages
Size (KB): Spool file size in kilobytes
Pagination Controls
Items per page: code-for-ibmi.tables.itemsPerPage setting (default 50)
Page navigation: First, previous, next, last page buttons
Total count: Display total number of spools matching search criteria
🏢 Work with Subsystems (WRKSBS)
Display all the subsystems currently active on the system, with the number of jobs each one is running, and drill into a subsystem or end it.
IBM i SQL Services Used
Type
Schema
Name
Purpose
View
QSYS2
SUBSYSTEM_INFO
Retrieve active subsystems (filtered on STATUS = 'ACTIVE')
Features
📊 Active Subsystem List: All active subsystems, sorted by name
👥 Job Counts: Current and maximum active jobs of each subsystem
⚡ Interactive Actions: Open the subsystem description or end the subsystem
🔄 Refresh: Manual refresh button, plus auto-refresh driven by the code-for-ibmi.views.autoRefreshInterval setting
Available Actions
Action
Description
Details
Open the Subsystem Description (*SBSD) view, with memory pools, autostart/workstation/job queue/routing/prestart entries and the list of active jobs
End
End the subsystem (ENDSBS), asking whether to use *IMMED or *CNTRLD; the list is refetched automatically afterwards
How to Access
Select WRKSBS in the FS Quick Start menu, or run FS Quick Start: Work with Subsystems from the Command Palette.
Information Displayed
Subsystem Description Library: Library containing the subsystem description
Subsystem Description: Subsystem name
Maximum Active Jobs: Maximum number of active jobs allowed (*NOMAX when unlimited)
Current Active Jobs: Number of jobs currently active in the subsystem
