March 15, 2017

Issue Highlights

March 15, 2017 | Volume 16 Issue 6

• LEAD ARTICLE: A Little Bit More About Meetings

• FEATURED ARTICLE: SQL 101: Tools of the Trade - The ACS Run SQL Scripts, Part 2

• NEWS HIGHLIGHT: HelpSystems Centralizes AIX, VIOS, IBM i Performance Monitoring

• BUYER'S GUIDE: TLAForms by TL Ashford

• FEATURED VIDEO: Why you should use Watson Natural Language Understanding

• EVENT: Give your RPG applications the UI they deserve with ASNA Wings

Lead Article - Career

A Little Bit More About Meetings

In a recent article, it may have seemed that I thought meetings were the end of humanity as we know it. Didn’t mean to be so negative. The real question is whether meetings can be helpful. 

Written by Dave Shirey

Despite my negativity in my article about meetings, if we didn’t have meetings, what would we have? 

OK, greater productivity…but besides that. The truth is, you need meetings. Even if they are just informal meetings around the coffeemaker, there is a need for people to get together and talk about the issues they are working on, exchange ideas, get organized so that multiple people can work on an issue without falling all over each other, etc.

BCD Software

Give Your IBM i Users the Modern UI They Want

It's easier than you think for RPG programmers to give users the modern UI they want. See how BCD's Presto transforms green screens to web pages that:

  • Meet user expectations with a modern look
  • Improve navigation and data entry
  • Work on mobile devices

Watch this video

 

ASNA

ASNA Visual RPG (AVR) empowers RPG programming to integrate your IBM i data and applications harmoniously with your other applications and platforms. With AVR your RPG programmers can build great Windows programs, scalable and performant Web apps, and SOAP and Restful Web services. AVR provides secure connectivity to both the IBM i and MS SQL Server and works with all popular open source tools such as Git, jQuery, Bootstrap/Zurb Foundation, and Backbone. AVR is an IBM i Swiss Army Knife!

MC Press Bookstore

This ain’t your mama’s RPG! Time to move on from OPM—with Evolve Your RPG Coding. This comprehensive new book gives you all the tools to move to a more modern, modular, and efficient ILE RPG. The book guides you through the transition at a comfortable pace, making every ILE concept totally accessible. You’ll start with simple, easy-to-understand examples and analogies to OPM, then advance to complete and complex ILE code. Finally, you’ll go beyond ILE with a detailed discussion of SQL, code organization, and structure. Order by Friday, March 17th and get 20% off.  Use promo code: RAFAEL Get your copy today!

 

Feature Article - Programming

SQL 101: Tools of the Trade - The ACS Run SQL Scripts, Part 2

As promised, here are a few more tricks and tips about ACS’ Run SQL Scripts, including the availability of a new version with some nice features!

Written by Rafael Victória-Pereira

couple of TechTips ago, I explained how to install ACS and remarked that the process was not very user-friendly. Among other things, you need to figure out which JavaScript file to use in order to start the right installation process and, when the said process ends, you have to create your own desktop shortcuts.

MC SCBG Featured Product

TLAForms by TL Ashford converts your traditional IBM i spool files into high quality, professional forms.

Use a GUI Designer to create forms using data from a spool file and data from your IBM i files. Forms can be designed with true-type fonts, bar codes – including QR Code and Datamatrix, color images, overlays, lines, boxes and ellipses all in full color.

The software generates your forms as PDF documents that are archived to the IFS, automatically emailed and/or printed. Forms can be printed to IBM i PostScript printers, any printer connected to the network, or any printer connected to a PC. IFS locations, email addresses, and printers can be variable based on data within the spool file, data within the IBM i file or spool file attributes.

No programming is required to generate the new forms from your existing ERP, WMS or in-house application software.

The experienced TL Ashford technical support team will provide any pre-designed templates like the VICS Bill of Lading, and make sure working with the software is as easy and productive as possible!

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Book Reviews

Resource Center

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  • LANSA Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn: