Generic Software Gets COLD with Spool Utility

by Alex Woodie

Sometimes the limits to what you can do with your spool files can put you in a bind. For instance, you may have run into a wall trying to duplicate a specific spool file or delete a group of them. Generic Software a Madison, Mississippi, company that specializes in OS/400 utilities, has bundled these commands, and more, into a popular package it calls Save Output Queue. Last month, the software vendor announced a new release of Save Output Queue that includes several enhancements, including support for computer output to laser disk (COLD) storage of OS/400 spool files.

Save Output Queue allows the user to perform a range of actions on a single spool file or on groups of spool files. The package, which is currently shipping at the 8.7 release level, allows operators to use any combination of up to 14 different criteria to identify the groups of spooled files to be processed, including output queue name, spool file name, user name, job name, forms type, the creation date, and more.

Save Output Queue uses IBM's APIs for reading output queues and retrieving spool file attributes. In addition to saving output queue (hence the name), Save Output Queue allows users to archive and restore spool files to and from removable media such as tape, disk, and optical devices; restore spool files; prepare spool files for microfiche or CD-ROM; convert spool files to data files (either ASCII or EBCDIC); and move and duplicate spool files. Users can work with the utility through its menu interface, and it can also be accessed from other applications via the command interface. It also allows users to generate reports on the spool files.

With Save Output Queue 8.7, which started shipping in June, Generic Software is now providing support for direct attached optical devices. Other new features include a command for archiving a single spool file, system defaults that Generic Software says can dramatically improve archive/restore performance, and support for extended library lists.

While Generic Software offers a number of utilities, Save Output Queue is its most popular product. It has been shipped to more than 2,500 companies over the past 14 years, the company says. Licenses for Save Output Queue cost $599, which includes one year of maintenance. Save Output Queue 8.7 works with all versions of OS/400, from V3R1 through V5R1. Save Output Queue 8.5 and earlier releases are not compatible with OS/400 V5R1. For more information, visit www.genericsoftware.com.

Sponsored By TRAMENCO

Introducing a New Source for Training and Mentoring. Follow this link to a vital new source for how-to technical information: www.tramenco.com. Unlike companies that offer training as an afterthought, The Training and Mentoring Company (Tramenco) is dedicated to just one thing: Advancing your career by giving you the skills you need to solve real-world business problems. You get the best information from the world's leading experts--Howard Arner, Kelly Conklin, Don Denoncourt, Susan Gantner, Skip Marchesani, Glen Marchesani, Shannon O'Donnell, Craig Pelke, and Richard Shaler. Choose from a menu of training options to fit your needs: onsite seminars, public seminars, mentoring, consulting, books, CBTs, and Web-based training. And make plans to attend the 2002 iSeries Connection Conference, the multi-day, multi-track conference that was the only sold-out iSeries training event this year, co-sponsored by the Education Connection and Tramenco. For more information about Tramenco's career enhancing opportunities, call (800) 421-8031 or go to www.tramenco.com.