Stuff
OS/400 Edition
Volume 3, Number 2 -- January 14, 2003

News Briefs and Product Shorts


  • Installation of a new Internet-based EDI system is well under way at PHD, a midsized distributor of small kitchen appliances and housewares located in Wickliffe, Ohio. PHD chose EDI specialists Inovis and IPNet Solutions to build its new EDI/INT (electronic data interchange over the Internet) infrastructure, which includes Inovis TrustedLink software and IPNet Solutions BizManager400. PHD decided to move to an Internet EDI solution because one of its largest customers required inventory feeds be sent every 15 minutes, with pick-up and drop-offs of purchase orders acknowledgements occurring on the hour. The software PHD was using for its dial-up EDI solution, which was provided by Inovis (formerly Peregrine and Harbinger) and connected to PHD's AS/400-based J.D. Edwards ERP system, did not meet this requirement. The company decided to stick with Inovis for its new Internet-based EDI system because of Inovis' extensive partnership with IPNet, which provides the OS/400-based software used to exchange certain types of electronic documents, such as AS2 shipping notices. So far, more than 200 customers have been moved from the old dial-up value-added network (VAN) EDI system to the Internet-based EDI system, with more expected to make the move shortly.
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  • The newly merged operations of Generic Software and WorksRight Software took little time in announcing an upgrade to the major breadwinner in Generic Software's product family, Save Output Queue, a spool file management utility that allows users to archive spool files to tape, DASD, or optical devices; to restore these files to a live environment; and to do other neat things like moving, duplicating, or deleting spool files, or converting them from EBCDIC to ASCI. With Save Output Queue 8.8, the company has introduced several new features, including support for media library devices, such as tape autoloaders and libraries; a new command to purge online history; an improved installation process; and an enhanced user interface. Save Output Queue has been around for 15 years and has been installed at more than 2,500 companies, its developer says. Save Output Queue licenses cost $695. In other company news, WorksRight Software announced that it will no longer be marketing its 1099 and W-2 Magnetic Media Reporting solutions. Customers requiring updates for the 2002 tax year should contact the software's developer, Acclaim Software, of Decatur, Alabama. WorksRight and Generic merged on January 1, and are doing business under WorksRight's name. (For more on the merger, see "WorksRight, Generic Software Merge, Southern Style.")

  • Insurance agents at Columbus, Ohio, based American Commerce Insurance Company are apparently happy with their new browser-based interface to an AS/400 processing system. The insurance agency, which serves AAA-affiliated insurance agencies in 17 states, contracted with Results International Systems, a local software and services company specializing in the property and casualty insurance industry, to convert and consolidate its 5250 green screens into Web screens. Last week the companies reported that the new GUIs have eliminated a significant volume of data entry for American Commerce's insurance agents, and that the number of data entry errors has gone down as well. Results International, based in Dublin, Ohio, offers programming services as well as outsourcing.

  • PRISM product specialist Solzon recently announced new software that simplifies integrating OS/400-based ERP systems with radio frequency (RF) barcode scanners and networks. Solzon says the new product, which the company calls both the PRISM Radio Frequency Interface and the RF Actuator Suite for PRISM, will allow PRISM users to easily bolt the wireless barcode system onto the ERP system without modifying a line of code or re-creating business logic. Solzon's solution features pre-built "actuators" for all PRISM transactions; support for new transactions such as cycle counting, shipping, and containerization; the capability to individually configure RF devices; support for all major vendors of RF devices; and a pre-built interface to T.L. Ashford's OS/400 barcode label creation software. For more information, go to Solzon's Web site, at www.solzon.com.

  • Better On-Line Solutions last week announced that its subsidiary, BOScom, has launched a new Web site to help educate customers about connectivity issues involving its products. The new Web site, www.bosweb.com, features a searchable knowledge base and a series of mini white papers that tackle topics such as PC connectivity, Twinax connectivity, remote access via TCP/IP, WebFacing OS/400 applications, disaster recovery for twinax users, and GUI emulation. BOScom's president for the United States, Martin Pladgeman, says the new Web site gives everybody access to the knowledge and experience of BOScom's technical support staff. "This information is there for anyone with a question--no password or log-in is required," he said. Visitors can search the BOScom knowledge base by text or by article ID. There were 52 articles in the knowledge base at press time.

  • Think it's tough remembering your server's proper name? (It's still e[logo]server iSeries, in case you've forgotten). Try following the lineage of names Microsoft has rolled out for its latest, greatest "enterprise" operating system. Last week, the Redmond, Washington, software giant announced that it has changed the name of its forthcoming server operating system--for the fourth time. Instead of Windows .NET Server 2003, the operating system, which is the kicker to Windows 2000 Server and was originally scheduled to ship in 2001, will simply be called Windows Server 2003. The operating system was christened Windows 2002 Server back in April 2001, following its first delay. In June 2001, Microsoft changed the name to Windows .NET Server, to better reflect its role in the company's .NET Web services strategy. In March 2002, Microsoft again delayed shipment of the operating system, and several months later renamed it Windows .NET Server 2003, lest anybody expect the software that year. This latest move seems to solidify Microsoft's commitment to ship the operating system sometime this year. It is currently scheduled for April, but who knows? Windows 2004 Server kind of has a nice ring to it.


Sponsored By
ASNA/GUILD COMPANIES

Enter to Win
Free Airfare!
Free Luxury Accommodations!
Free Conference Registration!

ASNApalooza - March 5-7, 2003
Westin Riverwalk Hotel, San Antonio, Texas

ASNApalooza is ASNA's annual educational conference featuring three days of Visual RPG (AVR) sessions and hands-on labs. It is a perfect opportunity for AS/400 and iSeries professionals to learn more about leveraging RPG and DB2/400 to the Web, Windows and the .NET development environment. See the conference agenda at www.palooza.asna.com/2003_agenda.asp for more information.

To enter the drawing for FREE airfare, accommodations, and registration for ASNApalooza, send us your name, the name of the company you work for, your phone number and email address to: ASNApalooza2003@itjungle.com

If you are not a subscriber to the Guild Companies email newsletters, we will begin your free subscriptions immediately and enter your name in the ASNApalooza drawing. Of course, all current subscribers will also be entered in the drawing.

Please note: All entries must be emailed no later than January 31, 2003. The winner will be announced February 3, 2003.

Airfare includes a round-trip flight from a major regional airport near your home to San Antonio, Texas. Accommodations include three nights at the Westin River Walk, the host hotel for ASNApalooza. Registration includes admittance to all tech sessions, two lunches, and two cocktail receptions.

--Contest co-sponsored by ASNA and Guild Companies


OFFICIAL RULES
No purchase is necessary to enter or win this sweepstakes.
The following promotion is intended for participation in the 50 United States and the District of Columbia only (excluding, without limitation, overseas military installations, Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories) and shall only be construed and evaluated according to U.S. law. Do not proceed if you are not a legal U.S. resident of (and currently located in) the 50 United States or the District of Columbia only excluding overseas military installations, Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories, 18 years of age or older with a valid driver's license. Entrants must have Internet access prior to entering. Void where prohibited by law.
1. SWEEPSTAKES TERM: From January 6, 2003, to January 31, 2003.
2. MEANS OF ENTRY: No Purchase Necessary. To enter you must agree that Guild Companies, Inc. is permitted to add your email address to the list of subscribers to our free newsletters. There is no charge to register. There is a limit of one (1) sweepstakes entry per person (regardless of whether a person has more than one email address) or email address (regardless of whether more than one person uses the same email address). If more than one (1) sweepstakes entry is received per person or email address, only the first sweepstakes entry will be accepted. All sweepstakes entries become the property of the sponsors and none will be acknowledged or returned. EMAIL CHANGE OF ADDRESS POLICY: It is the sole responsibility of the entrant to notify Sponsors if his or her email address changes. In the event of a dispute about the identity of an entrant, entries will be declared made by the authorized account holder of the email address submitted at time of entry. Authorized account holder is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider or other organization (e.g., business, educational institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address. The potential winner may be required to provide Sponsors with proof that the potential winner is the authorized account holder of the email address associated with the winning entry. Entries must be submitted from a valid email account, which may be identified by reverse domain name search.
3. PRIZE DRAWING: One (1) grand prize winner will be selected from among all eligible entries received. Drawing to take place on or about February 3, 2003 by Guild Companies, Inc., whose decision is final in all matters relating to this sweepstakes.
4. PRIZE: One (1) grand prize winner will receive: a complimentary round-trip airline ticket from the regional airport closest to the winner's home address; complimentary accommodations for three nights at the Westin River Walk Hotel on March 4, 5, and 6, 2003; and free ASNApalooza 2003 Conference registration including admittance to all tech sessions, two lunches, and two cocktail receptions. Other costs and expenses not specified herein are not included and are solely the winner's responsibility. All federal, state and local taxes (and any other applicable taxes, fees, and surcharges) are the sole responsibility of the grand prize winner. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. No substitution or transfer of grand prize or cash equivalent is permitted.
Grand prize winner will be notified by phone, email, U.S. mail, and/or overnight courier, within seven (7) days after the drawing date and must complete, sign, notarize and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability Release, and where permitted by law, a publicity release within seven (7) days following attempted notification. Failure to comply with the requirements above within this time period may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner. Any grand prize notification/documentation/grand prize returned as undeliverable for any reason may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner. If a winner is ineligible or cannot be notified an alternate winner will be selected.
5. ELIGIBILITY: This sweepstakes is open only to legal U.S. residents of (and currently located in) the 50 United States and the District of Columbia (excluding, without limitation, overseas military installations, Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories) who are 18 years of age or older. Void where prohibited by law. Entrants must have Internet access prior to January 6, 2003. Employees (and the members of the immediate families or households of such employees) of Guild Companies Inc. and ASNA, affiliates, subsidiaries, related entities, agents, advertising, promotion, fulfillment agencies, and anyone involved in this sweepstakes' production, development or handling, and all other sweepstakes promotional partners are not eligible to participate in this sweepstakes.
6. TERMS: By participating entrants agree (a) to be bound by these official rules and by the decisions of the sponsors, which are final on all matters pertaining to this sweepstakes, and (b) to release, indemnify and hold harmless Guild Companies Inc. and ASNA ("Sponsors")
from any and all liability, claims for damages, losses or injuries of any kind, including death, resulting from or in connection with the sweepstakes or from (i) altered, late, lost, damaged, destroyed, inaccurate, defaced, misdirected, mutilated, illegible, stolen, delayed, garbled, misrouted, incomplete entries or human, telephone, computer, online or technical malfunctions (including busy lines and disconnections), or (ii) their participation, or (iii) the awarding, acceptance, receipt, use, misuse, possession, loss or misdirection of grand prize or preparing for or participation in any grand prize-related activity and any travel related thereto. This sweepstakes is governed by, and these rules will be construed and interpreted pursuant to, the laws of the United States. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. Restrictions, conditions, and limitations apply. The acceptance of the grand prize constitutes the grant of an unconditional right for sponsors and promotional partners to use winner's name, address, voice, likeness, photograph, biographical and grand prize information and/or statements about the promotion, for any publicity, advertising and promotional purposes in any media without additional compensation, except where prohibited by law. Sponsors and promotional partners are not responsible for the inability of a winner to accept the grand prize for any reason nor for any delivery cancellations, delays or interruptions. Sponsors and Promotional Partners will not replace any lost or stolen grand prize items. Normal Internet access and usage charges imposed by an entrant's online service will apply. Due to possible scheduling changes, sponsors reserve the right, at their sole discretion, to adjust the dates/times of this sweepstakes.
7. CONDUCT: Sponsors reserve the right at their sole discretion to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the sweepstakes or web site; to be acting in violation of the official rules; or to be acting in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person. Sponsors reserve the right to lock out an entrant whose eligibility is in question or who has been disqualified or is otherwise ineligible to enter. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT OR ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL TO DELIBERATELY ALTER OR DAMAGE ANY WEB SITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE SWEEPSTAKES IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSORS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH ENTRANT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
8. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY: Sponsors and promotional partners are not responsible for typographical, printing or other errors in the offer or administration of this sweepstakes, including but not limited to errors in advertising, the official rules, the selection, notification and announcement of the winner or the distribution of the grand prize, nor are they responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by Web site users or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the sweepstakes or by any technical or human error which may occur in the processing of submissions in the sweepstakes. Sponsors and promotional partners assume no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft of or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries. Sponsors and promotional partners are not responsible for any problems, failures or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, servers or providers, computer equipment, hardware/software, players or browsers, failure of email or entrants due to or resulting from technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any Web site or combination thereof, including injury or damage to participants or to any other person's computer related to or resulting from participating or downloading materials in this sweepstakes. If for any reason the sweepstakes is not capable of running as planned due to: (a) infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failure or other causes which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the sweepstakes; or (b) earthquake, flood, fire, storm or other natural disaster, act of God, labor controversy or threat thereof, civil disturbance or commotion, disruption of the public markets, war or armed conflict (whether or not officially declared) the sponsors reserve the right at their sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the sweepstakes without obligation or prior notice and in such event to determine the winner via random drawing from among all valid entries received up to the time of such cancellation, termination, modification or suspension.
9. PRIVACY: By entering the sweepstakes, you agree to the use of your personal information as described in the privacy policy, located at www.itjungle.com. You further agree that the personal information collected during this sweepstakes may be shared with the aforementioned companies (sponsors/promotional partners) above whose use of such information shall be governed by their own privacy policies.
10. RULES/WINNERS LIST: This sweepstakes is subject to these complete and official rules.
11. SPONSORS: Guild Companies, Inc., 50 Park Terrace East, Suite 8F, New York, NY 10034; and ASNA Inc., 14855 Blanco Road, Suite 300, San Antonio, TX 78216.


THIS ISSUE
SPONSORED BY:

Affirmative Computer
Aldon Computer Group
Midrange Performance Group
Computer Keyes
RJS Software Systems
ASNA/Guild Companies


BACK ISSUES

TABLE OF
CONTENTS
Plasmon to Bring Ultra Density Optical Technology to iSeries

EXE Technologies Pins Hopes on Midmarket

iTera Unveils Major New Release of Purge & Archive

Help/Systems Ships SAP Interface for Robot/SCHEDULE

Shield Updates FTP Security Tool

News Briefs and Product Shorts


Editor
Alex Woodie

Managing Editor
Shannon Pastore

Contributing Editors:
Dan Burger
Joe Hertvik
Shannon O'Donnell
Timothy Prickett Morgan

Publisher and
Advertising Director:

Jenny Thomas

Advertising Sales Representative
Kim Reed

Contact the Editors
Do you have a gripe, inside dope or an opinion?
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