BCD Adds 'Intelligent Routing' Feature to Catapult 4.0

by Alex Woodie

Taking its cue from IBM, Business Computer Design Int'l has included some "autonomic"-like features in the latest release of Catapult, its OS/400 spool-file splitting, conversion, and distribution utility. In Version 4.0, announced at the COMMON show in Indianapolis last week, BCD introduced what it calls intelligent routing, which allows Catapult to automatically split a report and send the segments to the appropriate printer, fax, or e-mail address, or save them to OS/400's Integrated File System.

Autonomic computing is IBM's term for computer systems that are self-aware and can automatically take action in response to changing situations, threats, and problems. The term borrows from the autonomic nervous system in humans, which regulates a slew of bodily functions without requiring conscious. IBM's hope is that, as computers and networks become increasingly complex, humans will be insulated from much of the busy work of managing them on a minute-to-minute basis by automating a few basic features surrounding security, workload allocation, business intelligence, communication standards, and other areas. For an overview of IBM's autonomic initiative, see its Autonomic Computing Web site.

BCD's hope with Catapult 4.0 is to bring a higher degree of automation to spool file and report distribution, and to relieve users of some administrative duties. "As iSeries machines begin managing themselves with self-diagnostic and self-healing technologies, other facets of system administration should become less operations-intensive," says Eric Figura, BCD's sales and marketing manager. "That's our intention with intelligent routing."

Catapult 4.0 builds off the automatic e-mail distribution capabilities that BCD introduced to the product in August 2002 with Version 3.0, which could automatically grab an e-mail address from a spool file and send the report to that address. With Catapult 4.0, BCD has brought that same level of automation to other output options, including faxing, printing, and saving. Intelligent routing refers to Catapult 4.0's capability to automatically forward spool files via e-mail, fax, a printer, or saving to the IFS, a first step to putting them on the Web.

Catapult is a client/server application, with an OS/400 component that monitors output queues, and a Windows component that handles the bulk of the work, including splitting spool files, distributing reports, managing distribution lists, and logging activities. BCD has made a couple of changes in Catapult 4.0 to ensure seamless faxing and printing from the Windows environment. To simplify printing, BCD has set up Catapult 4.0 to use the default application associated with a given extension (Catapult can convert the original spool file into formats, including HTML, PDF, and RTF). For faxing, Catapult 4.0 uses Microsoft's fax software, called Windows Fax Services, which is included with Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

Several other enhancements have improved the e-mail distribution and logging features of Catapult. In Version 4.0, BCD has added the capability to distribute multiple report segments in a single e-mail and to send a URL link of the report, which is housed on a Web server, instead of the entire report. Meaningful e-mail subject lines can also be created automatically with Catapult 4.0 by combining report data with user input. BCD also says that generic distribution rules are easier to implement because of the addition of *ALL as a group key.

BCD has improved Catapult's logging capabilities, to keep up with the enhanced distribution capabilities, through faxing, e-mailing, printing, and saving of spool files. Users can see all actions taken with a spool file, thanks to improved history logging and query functions in Catapult 4.0, BCD says.

Catapult 4.0 is available now. Pricing is tier-based and ranges from $2,500 to $4,500. For more information, go to www.bcdsoftware.com.

Sponsored By SOFTLANDING SYSTEMS

FREE WEB EVENT: How to Simplify iSeries and Web Development Using WDSc Plug-Ins See the first comprehensive set of iSeries change management plug-ins for WDSc working live in this online demonstration! Experience firsthand the change management support you need for your RPG, COBOL, CL, ILE, and SQL development - all as a seamless part of WebSphere Development Studio client (WDSc). In this live Web presentation, you'll see how the new TurnOver plug-ins simplify native iSeries development by giving you direct access to source and object control, cross-referencing, developer worklists, checkin/checkout, and compile and promotion capabilities without leaving WDSc. Also see how TurnOver plug-ins support Java, XML, HTML, WebFacing components and other non-native files for truly unified iSeries, Web, and multi-platform development. Experience the efficiency of a true WDSc plug-in Learn how you can use iSeries and Web change management without leaving your WebSphere IDE Discover how WDSc and change management can speed your transition to the Web and reduce risk Find out how easy it can be to coordinate multi-team development See how you can schedule and deploy both iSeries and Web components together, even across platforms It takes just 30 minutes to check out WDSc and its new TurnOver for WebSphere Studio plug-ins. Register at www.softlanding.com to reserve your spot now!