Midrange Stuff, OS/400 Edition

Many users have come to rely on the OS/400 platform's query capabilities to generate reports on a regular basis. However, those queries could suddenly stop working if a change is made to the database. Kisco Information Systems announced new software last week called QRYTool/400, designed to keep AS/400 and iSeries queries running smoothly after a database change has been made.

QRYTool/400 helps users find important Query/400 information so queries can be updated and made to work properly with the changed database. The green-screen utility works by finding queries in libraries and by analyzing Query/400 definitions to see which file objects they use. If they are using a file object that has been changed in the database, the user knows the query needs to be updated before any queries are run; otherwise the query will not function properly. QRYTool/400 includes options for analyzing a specific library, or analyzing all libraries.

Once the analysis has been run, QRYTool/400 lets users sort the results in two ways. They can view the list of file objects included in the set of query definitions that were analyzed, which gives a list of definitions that use a particular file object. Or users can choose to see the analysis set by query name, which shows the file objects associated with each query definition.

Users can print out their QRYTool/400 analysis for archival purposes or view it in online mode. If they choose to view in online mode, they gain the option of being able to work with queries and run them directly from the QRYTool/400 display.

Kisco sees QRYTool/400 being used at AS/400 and iSeries shops where Query/400 has become more than an ad hoc reporting tool and is now part of the production environment. Remembering which queries are running isn't such a big deal when there is only a handful. But when a company relies on many queries in its production environment, it can be a real pain to track and update them along with the database.

QRYTool/400 is available immediately for $395. Free 30-day trials are available from Kisco's Web site, at www.kisco.com.

Sponsored By

ASNA

Sandusky International

Sandusky International used ASNA Visual RPG (AVR) to reinvent their data collection and time keeping application. The original application was written in green screen RPG and used a non-GUI, IBM plant maintenance and control front-end package. Due to the clumsiness of this non-visual package, Sandusky decided to use AVR to develop a visual application that could take advantage of Windows functionality. Sandusky has reaped the benefits of their new Windows application: they attest that the AVR-developed application has simplified their data collection methods and made their floor employees more efficient. Overall, minus development cost, Sandusky will save approximately $60,000 by using the AVR-developed application instead of the green screen application.

"AVR was better suited for our development needs than green screen RPG. With AVR we were able to create an application that is easier for end users to understand and takes them less time to use."
--Mike Aken

Download your FREE copy of ASNA Visual RPG today!

http://www.asna.com/AVR_literature.asp