This page is a task-first index to everyday IBM i commands. It is not a replacement for F4 prompting or the IBM command reference; it is a fast route from the thing you are trying to do to the command family that usually owns it.
Read-only commands are separated from commands that change the system. When a command can end a job, change a library list, delete output, clear a queue, or alter authority, treat it as an operational action and use your site’s change process.
Job and work management
| Task | Start with | Changes something? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| See active jobs | WRKACTJOB | No, until you take an option | Best first screen for CPU, status, subsystem and function |
| Inspect one job | WRKJOB, DSPJOB | No, until you take an option | Use the qualified job name when duplicates exist |
| See a job log | DSPJOBLOG, WRKJOB OPTION(*JOBLOG) | No | For ended jobs, look for the QPJOBLOG spooled file |
| End a job | ENDJOB | Yes | Prefer a controlled end before OPTION(*IMMED) |
| Hold or release a job | HLDJOB, RLSJOB | Yes | Useful for batch work that has not yet run |
For the detailed job command lookup, use the IBM i Job Commands Reference. For a symptom-based runbook, use Troubleshooting an IBM i Job Stuck in MSGW.
Library lists
| Task | Start with | Changes something? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display your library list | DSPLIBL | No | Shows the current job’s library list |
| Add a library to the user library list | ADDLIBLE | Yes, for the current job | Use POSITION(*FIRST) or POSITION(*LAST) deliberately |
| Remove a library | RMVLIBLE | Yes, for the current job | The library must be in the user part |
| Replace the user library list | CHGLIBL | Yes, for the current job | Common in job setup CL programs |
| Edit the list interactively | EDTLIBL | Yes, for the current job | Lets you add, remove and reorder entries |
| Change current library | CHGCURLIB | Yes, for the current job | Affects unqualified create and lookup behavior |
Use IBM i Library List Commands Reference when the problem is library resolution, wrong object found, or a batch job using a different list than an interactive test.
Objects, libraries and members
| Task | Start with | Changes something? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Find an object | WRKOBJ | No, until you take an option | Good for name and type searches |
| Display object details | DSPOBJD | No | Shows owner, type, library, attributes and dates |
| Check whether an object exists | CHKOBJ | No | Often used in CL with MONMSG |
| Work with a library | WRKLIB, DSPLIB | No, until you take an option | Use authority carefully from work-with displays |
| Work with members | WRKMBRPDM, DSPFD | No, until you take an option | PDM options can change or delete source |
Use the IBM i Object and Library Commands Reference for practical lookup patterns.
Spooled files and output queues
| Task | Start with | Changes something? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| List your spooled files | WRKSPLF | No, until you take an option | Filter by user, job, output queue or form type |
| Work an output queue | WRKOUTQ | No, until you take an option | Shows files waiting on a queue |
| Display a spooled file | DSPSPLF | No | Reads the output |
| Hold or release a spooled file | HLDSPLF, RLSSPLF | Yes | Controls whether the writer can print it |
| Change or delete a spooled file | CHGSPLFA, DLTSPLF | Yes | Security and owner rules matter |
| Hold or release an output queue | HLDOUTQ, RLSOUTQ | Yes | Affects the queue, not just one file |
Use the IBM i Spooled File and Output Queue Commands Reference when output is missing, stuck, private, on the wrong queue, or safe to delete.
Messages and logs
| Task | Start with | Changes something? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| See job messages | DSPJOBLOG | No | Read earlier diagnostic messages before the escape message |
| Look up message text | DSPMSGD | No | Name the message file when it is not QCPFMSG |
| Work with a message queue | WRKMSG, DSPMSG | Usually no | Replying to inquiry messages changes processing |
| Reply to an inquiry message | RPGMMSG, display option replies | Yes | Reply only when you know the consequence |
The IBM i Job Log and CPF Messages Reference covers message IDs and job logs.
Subsystems, queues and scheduled work
| Task | Start with | Changes something? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| See subsystem status | WRKSBS, WRKACTJOB SBS(...) | No, until you take an option | Good for operations triage |
| Start or end a subsystem | STRSBS, ENDSBS | Yes | Production-impacting |
| Submit a batch job | SBMJOB | Yes | Creates a job on a job queue |
| Work with job queues | WRKJOBQ | Yes, depending on option | Holding a queue stops new work from starting |
| Work with scheduled jobs | WRKJOBSCDE, ADDJOBSCDE | Yes | Scheduling changes should be reviewed |
For background, read IBM i System Operations with CL.
Security and authority
| Task | Start with | Changes something? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display object authority | DSPOBJAUT | No | Review before changing authority |
| Grant or revoke object authority | GRTOBJAUT, RVKOBJAUT | Yes | Security change |
| Change owner | CHGOBJOWN | Yes | Ownership affects authority and responsibility |
| Work with user profiles | WRKUSRPRF, DSPUSRPRF | Yes, depending on option | Protect special authorities |
Security commands are not just lookup tools. Use site approvals, and read IBM i Security Fundamentals and Best Practices before broad changes.
Backup, recovery and maintenance
| Task | Start with | Changes something? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Save objects or libraries | SAVOBJ, SAVLIB, SAVCHGOBJ | Yes | Writes save media or save files |
| Restore objects or libraries | RSTOBJ, RSTLIB | Yes | Can overwrite or replace objects |
| Work with PTFs | WRKPTFGRP, DSPPTF, LODPTF, APYPTF | Yes, for load/apply | Coordinate with maintenance windows |
| Power down | PWRDWNSYS | Yes | System-wide impact |
Common mistakes
- Using a work-with display as if every option is read-only.
- Running a command in the wrong job and assuming the library list changed globally.
- Omitting the object type on object commands and finding the wrong thing.
- Deleting or changing spooled files without checking owner and output queue authority.
- Ending a job before reading the job log and message wait details.
Summary
- Start with read-only inspection commands:
WRKACTJOB,WRKJOB,DSPLIBL,WRKOBJ,DSPOBJD,WRKSPLF,DSPJOBLOG. - Treat
ENDJOB,CHGLIBL,DLTSPLF,CHGSPLFA,HLDOUTQ, authority commands and save/restore commands as operational changes. - Use the family references for details: jobs, library lists, objects, spooled files and messages.