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IBM Focuses on Usability with HATS 6.0
by Alex Woodie
IBM is shipping a new version of its Host Access Transformation Services (HATS) software that it says makes it even easier to convert and deliver HTML-based screens and Web services from 5250 and 3270 datastreams. HATS version 6.0, which IBM announced two weeks ago, enables users to customize their new applications by simply dragging and dropping components in the HATS editor. It includes support for HTML DDS keywords, among other enhancements aimed at simplifying the screen customization process and delivering a richer Web interface.
Along with the WebFacing Tool for iSeries, IBM's HATS software has become one of the favored Web-enabling weapons in IBM's arsenal. HATS uses a rules-based engine, which means users first define the rules for how all of their 5250 or 3270 screens will be transformed into HTML. Then the HTML for the application is generated on-the-fly, as needed. But there are important differences between the tools. Unlike the WebFacing Tool, HATS does not require access to source code, and does not require screens to be converted one at a time, as the WebFacing Tool does. For these reasons, IBM recommends HATS for shops looking for ease-of-use and very fast turnaround times.
With HATS 6.0, IBM has delivered a number of enhancements designed to make it easier to customize newly generated HTML screens and to more deeply integrate the Java objects that HATS creates with the host applications. First off, the HATS Studio now lets users to customize HTML pages by dragging and dropping HATS components on those pages. The tool also makes it easier for users who only want to make a few changes by pre-populating screen transformations with default renderings. Better integration with IBM's Rational Studio also makes it easier to arrange HATS components and "widgets" without worrying about the underlying table cells.
A new preview function lets developers see what HATS screens are going to look like before setting them loose in a live environment. Similarly, the Design view now supports the application of Cascading Style Sheets, enabling the developer to fine tune certain effects during the customization phase, which they couldn't do in previous releases. Debugging problems with macros should be easier now that HATS supports "stepping," which slows down the replay of macros to one step at a time.
The OS/400 story gets even better with HATS 6.0 due to enhanced 5250 subfile support. HATS users can now trick out their new Web interfaces with text input, drop-down, popup, link, check box, and radio button thanks to new support for graphical DDS keywords. DDS programmers can use HTML keywords like PSHBUTTON and PULLDOWN to embed raw HTML data into the 5250 data stream, which is then rendered by the HATS server as it is sent to the Web browser. (This is functionally equivalent to what PHP-based content management systems do over in the Linux and Unix worlds, and this is extremely useful.)
Other improvements in HATS 6.0 include the capability to replace text in HATS applications with any text, image, or HTML at the component tag level, while in studio mode. This should make it easier to do global text replacements. Previously, HATS 5.0 only supported this at the project and screen customization levels. An improvement to the search function should also improve the process of text replacement, while the capability to replace text with a button or a hypertext link will improve users' ability to customize a HATS application.
HATS first debuted at version 4.0 in the fall of 2002 (see "HATS Off to IBM for New Rules-Based Screen Converter") and was chosen to replace another IBM screen-scraping tool (see "IBM Gives HATS the Nod As Host Publisher Is Retired from HIS" in the Host Integration Solution version 4.1 in January 2004.
HATS 6.0 is available in iSeries and zSeries versions, or in a Multiplatform edition for supporting 5250 and 3270 simultaneously. HATS for iSeries and the Multiplatform edition both ship with a restricted version of WebSphere Application Server (WAS) Express application server. HATS 6.0 requires a WAS to work, and also supports WAS for iSeries V5.1 and V5.1.1. Presumably it will also soon support the new WebSphere V6.0, which was just announced two weeks ago as well.
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Sponsored By
 PATRICK TOWNSEND & ASSOCIATES
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Alliance XML/400 Translator
XML translation for the iSeries
- XML to database, database to XML translation
- Complete mapping, translation and communications
- Automatically generate maps from any XML document
- Free 30-day trial. Fully functional software - Not a demo.
Find out more at www.patownsend.com
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Alliance XML/400 is the completely native AS/400 and iSeries solution for XML translation. You can translate any XML document to an AS/400 database file, and create XML documents from your database without complicated programming. Alliance XML/400 is a complete solution providing XML translation, user-friendly mapping, communications, XML automation, security, and systems management. A fully functional 30-day trial is available with working XML translation examples. You can be processing and creating XML documents in minutes, not days!
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You can evaluate a fully functional version of Alliance XML/400 directly on your own AS/400. This is not a web demo or simulation software. The working XML translation examples will get you up and running with XML translation quickly. You will be able to create your own XML maps and translation during the trial period. Contact Patrick Townsend & Associates to request a 30-day free trial, or visit our web site at www.patownsend.com.
Find out more at www.patownsend.com
Visit us for 30-day trial
Deploy. Run. Manage. Succeed.
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Editor: Timothy Prickett Morgan
Managing Editor: Shannon Pastore
Contributing Editors: Dan Burger, Joe Hertvik, Shannon O'Donnell,
Victor Rozek, Kevin Vandever, Hesh Wiener, Alex Woodie
Publisher and Advertising Director: Jenny Thomas
Advertising Sales Representative: Kim Reed
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