Capitalware Rolls Out Visual Editing Tools for MQSeries

Published: January 19, 2010

by Alex Woodie

Capitalware last month debuted two new tools that allow users to browse and edit the contents of their MQSeries (WebSphere MQ) messages. MQ Visual Edit version 1.5.1, which supports full editing capabilities, and MQ Visual Browse version 1.5.1, which restrict users to viewing messages, will be welcomed by programmers and testers who need to work with MQ messages, the company says.

MQ Visual Edit provides a full range of capabilities for developers and support professionals working with MQ messages. The Java-based software provides a graphical environment that allows users to open and work with the contents of MQ messages from multiple queue managers, including those running on IBM i/OS and nearly every other major platform.

With MQ Visual Edit, users can copy, edit, update, or delete MQ message fields; paste contents of an MQ message into desktop applications; print or export MQ messages; back up or restore an MQ message; and open MQ messages in an XML tree, a Hex editor, or in EBCDIC format.

The software includes four stress testing tools for simulating MQ workloads during quality assurance (QA) testing; three monitoring tools for MQ messages and queues; and several other tools that provide, among other things, the capability to compare and highlight the difference between two MQ messages.

Capitalware also released a sister tool to MQ Visual Edit that has less functionality and also costs less. MQ Visual Browse lets users do all the opening, copying, printing, exporting, and backing up of WebSphere MQ queues and messages that its larger sibling does. But users cannot edit or modify the messages or queues in any way. And while MQ Visual Browse does include the same comparison functionality of MQ Visual Edit, it does not include the stress testing or monitoring capabilities.

Capitalware, which is based in Markham, Ontario, says the tools will be useful to application programmers, JMS developers, quality assurance testers, and production support personnel. "The tool allows for quick problem solving because the data is presented in a very logical and insightful manner," the vendor says.

Capitalware may be familiar to i/OS shops as a provider of security tools for MQ environments. Last year, the vendor debuted i/OS support with its MQ security tools, including MQ Standard Security Exit (MQSSX), MQ Authenticate User Security Exit (MQAUSX), and MQ Instant Secure Data (MQISD).

MQ Visual Edit and MQ Visual Browse versions 1.5.1 run on any computer that supports the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) version 1.4 or higher; while i/OS does support JRE 1.4, Capitalware did not list i/OS as a supported platform for running the software. However, the company did list i/OS as a supported platform for monitoring remote MQ queue managers with the tools. The software requires MQSeries version 5.1 or higher or WebSphere MQ version 5.3 or higher, and is available in eight languages.

MQ Visual Edit has received IBM's ServerProven validation for System x, System p, and System z platforms. Single licenses range from $74 to $99 per computer, depending on the number of licenses. Site licenses, which allow unlimited use of the software at a single site, cost $10,000, while enterprise licenses, which allow unlimited use at multiple sites, cost $25,000.

Single licenses for MQ Visual Browse range from $19 to $29. Site licenses cost $2,500, while enterprise licenses cost $7,500. For more product information or free 30-day trial downloads, visit the company's Web site at www.capitalware.biz.

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